Reading Champion: Make a Cake: Independent Reading Green 5
Reading champion Series
What’s inside...
This engaging book introduces young readers to the process of making a cake, with simple recipes and step-by-step instructions. It is part of Reading Champion, a series designed to encourage independent reading skills, linked to book bands and developed with experts from UCL Institute of Education. The series offers original stories with engaging artwork and reading activities, carefully graded to match a child's reading ability and encourage reading for pleasure.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-7
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What steps did the characters take to make a cake? Can you list them in order?
How did the characters work together to solve problems in the story?
What would you do if you were in the story and something went wrong with the cake?
How do you think the characters felt when they finally finished making the cake?
If you could add a new character to the story, who would it be and what role would they play in making the cake?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to describe their favorite part of the cake-making process in the story and why it stood out to them.
Ask your child to imagine and discuss alternative endings or mishaps that could happen while making a cake.
Relate the story to personal experiences by discussing a time you and your child made a recipe together, focusing on teamwork and problem-solving.
After reading, involve your child in a simple real-life baking activity to bring the story's themes to life and enhance comprehension.
Use expressions and enthusiasm when discussing the story to make the conversation more lively and engaging.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Following Directions
Explanation: In the story, as the characters prepare to make a cake, they learn to follow specific steps and instructions to ensure a successful outcome.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by understanding the importance of following directions in school assignments, building projects, or during organized activities.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: The characters in the book work together to gather ingredients and tools needed to make the cake, demonstrating collaboration and collective effort.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the value of cooperating with others in group tasks at school or in sports, fostering better interpersonal skills and shared success.
Example Lesson: Patience
Explanation: Making a cake requires waiting for it to bake and cool down, teaching children the virtue of patience through delayed gratification.
Real-World Application: Children learn to wait patiently for their turn, for events, or for results, which is crucial in managing expectations and reducing frustration in daily life.
Example Lesson: Creativity
Explanation: Decorating the cake allows characters to express their creativity, showing that there are many ways to approach a task.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to explore creative solutions in their play, projects, and problem-solving tasks.
Example Lesson: Pride in Accomplishments
Explanation: Once the cake is finished and enjoyed, the characters feel a sense of pride and accomplishment, reinforcing the satisfaction of completing a task.
Real-World Application: This helps children appreciate their achievements, big or small, boosting their confidence and motivation in future endeavors.