Simple tomato salad

What you need: 2 sliced ripe tomatoes mozzarella cheese slices olive oil and balsamic vinegar fresh basil What you do: Arrange the tomatoes and cheese on a plate. Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with basil. Submitted by Margaret Sutherland • Photo: Unsplash/Marcus Spiske

Sun tea

Sun tea is tea that is brewed using heat from the sun. What you need: 4 black tea bags 8 cups of water a large glass jar with a lid What to do: Fill the large glass jar with the water. Add tea bags to the jar. Cover with lid. Place the jar in a…

Make a milk jug greenhouse

A milk jug greenhouse is a great way to reuse empty and clean milk jugs. When it is too cold to plant seeds in the ground, you can start growing them in a milk jug greenhouse. What you need: clean, plastic milk jug knife seeds soil duct tape water What you do: Cut around the…

Swedish butter ball cookies

These cookies are tasty and easy to make. They are great for all year round.   What you need: 1 cup soft butter ½ cup icing sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 ¼ cups white flour 1 cup chopped pecans ¼ cup icing sugar What you do: Heat the oven to 400 degree F. Cream the…

Be prepared

  Winter driving can be dangerous. Roads can be slippery. It can be hard to see the road when it is snowing. Sometimes cars get stuck. You might have to wait for help. A winter emergency kit can help you stay safe and warm. Your winter emergency kit doesn’t have to be big. You can…

Make a snowman card!

When you give someone a card, it shows you care. Here is a card you can make yourself. A homemade card can be special. What you need: white cardstock paper orange paper pink paper a black marker scissors glue stick What you do: Fold a piece of white cardstock in half. Cut out a carrot…

Keep children safe on Halloween

Halloween is on October 31. Children will be going out in costumes at night for candy. B.C. Children’s Hospital has these tips to keep children safe: Safe costumes Use face paint, not masks so children can see better. Costumes should not drag or trip. Stick together An adult should always be with children. Hold hands…

How to French tuck or half tuck

Do you tuck in your top or leave it untucked? Before, people either tucked in a shirt, or they didn’t. But now, some people tuck in only part of the shirt. There are two ways to do this: the French tuck and the half tuck. These are casual looks. Use loose, lightweight tops and mid-to-high…

Secret climbing tree

There’s a big tree in Vancouver. The tree has many branches. Some people climb this tree. Up high, they can see downtown. They can see the mountains, too. The tree is a giant sequoia. Giant sequoias are very wide. They live for hundreds of years. Where is this tree? That’s a secret! Only local people…

Swimmer finds ring

On August 18, a man was swimming in the Penticton Channel.   He found a ring. It was a man’s wedding ring. There was writing on the ring: “Noel loves Stephanie.” The man gave the ring to the police. The police asked for the owner to claim it.   Noel claimed the ring. He had…

Start running

Summer is a good time to do things outdoors. Running is a fun outdoor thing to do. Running can help improve your health. It is good for your body and mind. Running is free. You can run anywhere. It is also an easy sport to learn. You only need a pair of running shoes! Set…

What is paddle boarding?

Paddle boarding is a popular water sport. You stand up on a board that is like a surfboard. The shape of the board helps you to keep your balance. You use a paddle to steer and move through the water. Paddle boarding is a good workout. It helps build muscles in your arms, shoulders, stomach…

The little yellow house

This house is famous. It’s called Leslie House. It was built in 1888. The house is in downtown Vancouver. Mr. Leslie was the first owner. He was a carpenter. His family lived there for 60 years. Then, the house was used for business. It was a restaurant for many years. Leslie House is for sale….

Make a mason bee house

You can make a simple mason bee house. Use things you have around the house. What you need: Empty milk carton  Paper bags Tape measure or ruler Scissors Pencil What you do: Cut the top off the milk carton. Cut at an angle to make a roof for your house. Cut the paper bag into…

Maureen is a hero!

Maureen lives in Yale, BC. One day she looked out the window. She saw smoke. The smoke came from a window at the Gold Nugget Motel. Maureen called 911. She ran to the hotel. She knocked on doors. Two people came out. They didn’t know the hotel was on fire. Maureen said, “Move your cars!”…

Bobcat rescued

A bobcat was on a railway track near Trail, BC. It was eating a duck. It was cold out. The bobcat’s back paws stuck to the frozen rail. Train workers saw the bobcat. The workers came to help. They tried to cover the bobcat with a coat. But it hissed and growled. It tried to…

May and Ham

May and Ham are cats. They live in a barn in Maple Ridge. May and Ham live with goats and chickens. May and Ham help The barn has rats. The rats eat the goat and chicken food. May and Ham hunt the rats. They keep the food safe. Their owners give them lots of love….

Protecting the eagles

A homeowner in French Creek wanted to cut down an old tree. Workers came to check the tree. They saw bald eagles making a nest. Don’t cut it down! People were worried about the birds. The eagles needed the tree for their nest. The Ministry of Forests and Lands put a sign around the tree….

Haida Gwaii

Haida Gwaii is a group of islands. It is off the west coast of British Columbia. Haida Gwaii means “islands of the Haida people.” It used to be called the Queen Charlotte Islands. Haida art is famous. Many people have seen Haida totem poles. Haida Gwaii is beautiful. It is a good place to travel….

Hearts in windows

Some houses in BC have hearts in the windows. Why are the hearts in the windows? Many people are worried about COVID-19. Most people stay at home. They want to stop the virus. Some people still need to go to work. Doctors, nurses, policemen, and grocery store workers go to work every day. Thank you!…

Plant a herb garden

Do you like to use fresh herbs in your cooking? Plant a herb garden in a container. You can put it in a sunny window. Or, you can put it on your deck or patio. Enjoy fresh herbs all summer! What you need: pot with holes in the bottom potting soil herbs trowel water What…

Frost flowers

Special flowers are growing on lakes in the Cariboo and Central Interior. The flowers are made of ice. They are called “frost flowers.” Frost flowers are rare. Frost flowers only grow when the air is very cold and calm. The ice on the lakes must be thin. How do frost flowers grow? The air is…

Wreck Beach

Wreck Beach was named for shipwrecks in the water. What is Wreck Beach? Wreck Beach is the largest nude beach in Canada. It is 7.8 km long. People started swimming naked at Wreck Beach in the 1920s. Wreck Beach became an official nude beach in 1991. It was the first nude beach in Canada. How…

2020 Calendar

Which holidays do you celebrate? What about your family and friends? What do you do on your favourite holiday? Do you spend time with your friends or family? Do you prepare special food or give special gifts? Here is a calendar with some of Canada’s holidays. What is a statutory holiday? On a statutory holiday,…

Polar bear on field

People saw a polar bear. They saw the bear in Churchill, Manitoba. They called for help. Two officers tried to catch the bear. The bear ran across a baseball field.   Everyone is safe The bear was caught. Everyone is safe. The bear was let go. It was let go away from town.   Watch…

Friendly Winston

Winston is a friendly dog. He is a mix of Labrador and golden retriever. He is two-and-a-half years old. Winston’s job Winston works at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC. What does Winston do? Winston greets guests at the hotel. He goes for walks with hotel guests. Too friendly to be a guide dog…

Recipe for French toast

LEVEL 1 This recipe feeds four people. Visit the links: How to make French Toast Recipe reprinted from The Westcoast Reader newspaper, September/October 2016  

Zen helps Hoshi get around

LEVEL 1 Hoshi is blind. He is 12 years old. Hoshi is a big dog. He is an American Eskimo dog. Hoshi has a friend. Find out more. Read the whole story. Try the exercise Zen helps Hoshi get around Listen to the story Zen helps Hoshi, Reading by: Patty Bossort The two dogs have accounts…

Tips to keep your brain healthy

Story adapted from The Vancouver Sun by Patty Bossort LEVEL 1 You can keep your brain healthy. Five simple ways to keep your brain healthy: Reading by: Patty Bossort Listen “Tips to keep your brain healthy

Meet a cat for coffee

LEVEL 1 Come in. Drink a coffee. Pet the cats. Take one home. Meet the cats at the Catfé This café is in Vancouver. It’s called the Catfé. Michelle Furbacher owns the café. Michelle wants cats to live in the café. She wants people to come and enjoy the cats. Read the story and do…

Seven steps to a healthier life

Adapted from The Vancouver Sun Level 1 It is simple. Eat less and move more. Lose weight and feel healthier by doing these things. Read the PDFs. Try the exercises. Seven steps to a heathier life Your Health is part of an e-book on healthy living from Best of the Reader Visit the links: Best of the…

Baseball treasures found in the attic

Story adapted from The Vancouver Sun by Patty Bossort                           LEVEL 1   Edward Bradford loved baseball. He liked to save things. He was a “packrat”. Download the story Baseball treasures found in the attic Listen to “Baseball treasures found in the attic” Reading…

Four female rowers rescued in Atlantic

Adapted from The Vancouver Sun level 1 Four women tried to row across the Atlantic. They were from England. The women planned to row over 4,000 km. They planned to row from Spain to Barbados. Read the story Four female rowers rescued in Atlantic

Family Day in British Columbia

Adapted from The Province by Patty Bossort Level 1 The first Family Day holiday in BC was in 2013. Family Day in BC is on the second Monday of February. Other provinces have their holiday on the third Monday of February. Change the day? A lot of people want BC to change the day. They want…

A new totem pole for the Haida Gwaii

Adapted from The Vancouver Sun Level 1 A totem pole is a carved log. The carvings tell stories and history. The new totem pole is 14 metres tall. Read the PDF.  Try the Exercise. A new totem pole for the Haida Gwaii-PDF Visit the links: Watch this video.  See the community set up the new…

Andong Song

Adapted from The Province and NHL.com by Nila Gopaul Level 1 Listen to “Andong Song”– Level 1 Reading by Jessica Heafey Andong Song is 18 years old. In June 2015, he became the first Chinese player in the NHL. “I am the first,” he says. Andong started to play ice hockey in China. He was six years…

Woman, 80, lands plane

  “Cessna Grand Caravan” by PinCheck is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0  Adapted from The Vancouver Sun by Nila Gopaul Level 1 Helen Collins flies to Florida with her husband. They enjoy eating and sitting by the ocean at Easter. John Collins, 81, is a pilot. They start to fly home.

How old is a lobster?

Adapted from The Vancouver Sun by Nancy Carson Level 1 Now scientists know the age of a lobster. They count the lobster’s rings. We do this with trees. We count the rings in the wood. Visit the link: Some interesting facts about lobsters for teachers Crustaceans, like lobsters and shrimp

October 1 is National Senior’s Day

A House of Baba Yagas Adapted from CBC.caradio by Nancy Carson Level 1 Thérèse Clerc is in her 60s. She lives in Paris, France. She knows she is getting old. She thinks where will I live? How will I live? Who will live with me?

Wilbur the pig

Wilbur the pig Adapted from The Province by Nila Gopaul Level 1 Listen to “Wilbur the pig” – Level 1 Reading by Nila Gopaul Wilbur has a good life now. He lives at a dog day care in Vancouver. The day care is called Canine Adventure Den. His owner, Kirsty MacGregor, found Wilbur on the Internet. Wilbur lived in Edmonton, Alberta….

Lawyer loves law

Lawyer loves law Adapted from The Vancouver Sun by Nila Gopaul Level 1 Listen to “Lawyer loves law”– Level 1 Reading by Jessica Heafey Constance Isherwood is a lawyer. She lives in Victoria, B.C. Constance is 95 years old. She has 100 clients. She enjoys going to court. She likes to prepare cases for the judge. “No…

Backpack safety

Level 2 Special thanks to the BC Chiropractic Association Illustrations: Nola Johnston Choose a backpack: with many pockets, so you can balance your heavy things, such as books. with wide, padded shoulder straps: Read the PDF Backpack Safety-PDF

A healthy start to school

A healthy start to school Adapted from The Province by Nila Gopaul Illustrations by Nola Johnston Level one September 2014 Listen to “A healthy start to summer school” – Level 1 Reading by Nila Gopaul Kiera Thompson and Stephanie Hai are 10 years old. They joined a cooking class last summer. They learned to make healthy foods, such…

Gurdial Oppal’s 100-year journey

Gurdial Oppal’s 100-year journey Adapted by Nancy Carson from the book 100 Year Journey  Level 1 It is the early 1900s. South Asian people begin to come to B.C. In 1932 in Punjab, India, Gurdial Oppal gets married. She is young. She is under 20. Two years later, she travels on a ship to Duncan,…

Best Mayor in the world

Best mayor in the world Adapted from CBC News by Nila Gopaul Level 1 In 2014, Naheed* Nenshi was voted the best mayor** in the world. * say:  nah-heed ** say: may-er – the head of a city or town Nenshi is the mayor of Calgary. Calgary is in Alberta, Canada. Nenshi heard the news…

A man gets a surprise

A man gets a surprise Adapted from The Westerly News by Nila Gopaul Illustrations by Nola Johnston Level 1 Listen to “A man gets a surprise”– Level 1 Reading by Nila Gopaul Ted Benson, 37, lives in Ucluelet*, B.C. It is January 2015. Ted is getting ready for bed. It is late. It is quiet. Earlier, Ted made…

Food is not garbage

Food is not garbage Adapted from The Vancouver Sun by Nila Gopaul Level 1 Listen to “Food is not garbage”– Level 1 Reading by Jessica Heafey Metro Vancouver* wants you to recycle your food scraps. Starting in January 2015, food scraps must go into a green bin. Then the city collects the scraps. The scraps make compost…

Knitting

Knitting Adapted from The Vancouver Sun by Nila Gopaul Level 1 Grandmother, mother and daughter love to knit. Francesca, Zoe and Aija have a knitting store. The store is called Three Bags Full. The store opened in 2006. It sells knitting needles. It sells yarn. Knitting is popular again Many people come to the shop….

Afghan refugee wins scholarship

Afghan refugee wins university scholarship Adapted from The Vancouver Courier by Nancy Carson Level 1 It is over three years ago. A young girl comes to Vancouver. She and her parents are refugees. Her name is Somaya Amiri. She cannot write English. She can only write Dari. She can only say two words: “Hi” and…

Write to Read

Adapted from The Vancouver Sun by Nila Gopaul Level one Listen to “Write to Read”– Level 1 Reading by Jessica Heafey Look on a B.C. map. Can you find Old Masset* or Toosey** ? They are very small places. *Say:  ma-sut     **Say: too-see About 300 people live in Toosey. About 600 people live in Old Masset. These…