Lesson 4

LAUNCH INTO READING

A Helping Hand

Have you ever experienced running in a race?

Matty and his family recently

transferred to their new home. Their
house was in a hilly village.

Matty loved to run. Every morning
he joined his father jog around their village.
It was always a pleasant run for them.

Matty’s new school was quite near their house. He enjoyed walking to school.
On his first day in school, Matty had fun in meeting his new classmates and teachers.
He smiled at everyone. He began to make friends too.

One day, Matty saw a poster posted on the school’s bulletin board. Children
from different schools were being invited to join a fun run. The fun run was for the
benefit of street children. The organizers were planning to build a house for the
homeless children in their community.

Upon reaching home, Matty excitedly asked his parents, “Mom, Dad! There is
going to be a fun run next Saturday. May I join? This will be my chance to meet other
children in our village.”

“Of course, you may join,” his father said. “We shall all go together and have
a picnic at the park afterwards,” his mother added.

recently – a time just before the present

pleasant – giving pleasure
organizers – persons who make plans for a common cause

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 “I will practice running every day starting today. Will you come run with me?”
Matty asked his father.
Father said “We can do it every day after school.” From then on, Matty and his
father tirelessly ran every day.
On the day of the fun run Matty and his family went early to the park. There were
many children who were all set to join the race. The air was filled with excitement.
The contestants wore their T-shirts with numbers. Then everybody went to the
starting line. At the sound of the air horn, they all started to run.
Matty was at the forefront. He felt confident he would win the race. The finish
line was within his sight when suddenly he heard a painful cry. The boy behind him
was sitting on the ground. He was holding on to his knees.
Matty stopped running and went to the boy. “What is wrong? Can I help you?”
asked Matty. “I tripped and scraped my knees. My elbows hurt too. I cannot run
anymore,” cried the boy.
“Let me help you up. Hold on to me and we shall finish the race together,”
Matty replied. Matty picked up the boy and asked him to put his right arm around his
shoulder. Together they walked the last meters to the finish line.
Matty and Miguel, the boy he helped, did not win any medal, but they were
‘finishers’ and given consolation prizes. Matty lost the chance to win the race, but
gained a new friend.
The organizers were amazed to see what Matty did. A special recognition was
given to Matty. His family was very happy to see what Matty did unselfishly.
Matty and Miguel shook hands and promised to be the best of friends forever.
They were even more surprised when they found out that they shared the same birth
date, June 16.
Matty’s parents approached and embraced him. Mother said, “We are very
proud of you, Son! You are right. Winning is not the most important thing in life.
Showing compassion for others in need is.”

tirelessly – by being able to work a long time without becoming tired

forefront – the very front
scraped – cut or scratched by a rough rubbing contact
compassion – pity for someone and a desire to help him/her

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How Well Did You Read?

1. Why was Matty in a new school?

2. At first, why was Matty confident, he would win the race?
3. Why was Matty given special recognition by the race organizers?
4. What lesson did Matty learn from his experience?

Develop Your Reading Skills

Build Your Vocabulary

Using Context Clues

Read each sentence. Choose the meaning of the word printed in boldface
(dark print). Write only the letter.
1. Every morning we jogged around the village.
a. ran fast
b. walked slowly
c. ran slowly
2. The fun run was for the benefit of the street children.
a. something bad for one’s health
b. something that does good for a person
c. something that is not good for a person
3. The doctors tirelessly treated the sick people.
a. by being able to work for a long time without getting tired
b. with no energy left
c. by easily getting tired
4. The runner tripped on the stony road.
a. continued running
b. fell
c. jumped over
5. Matty was given recognition for being helpful.
a. punishment
b. reminder
c. special attention
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 Differentiating English Words from Filipino Words

Kinds of Shapes

English Filipino

triangle tatsulok

square parisukat

circle bilog

rectangle parihaba

oval habilog

oblong bilohaba

Look around you. Draw things with the following shapes.

circle square rectangle oval

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 More to Read and Think About

Comprehension Skills

Recalling the Story through Pictures

The pictures show the most important events that have happened in the story.
Write a sentence on what has happened in each picture. Try to retell the story
in class.

1. 2.

3. 4.

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Giving an Appropriate Title

Which do you think is a more fitting title for the story you have just read?
Encircle your choice.

A Race to the Finish

Gaining a New Friend

Winner of the Race

Identifying Cause-Effect Relationships

Cause is the reason why something happens. Effect is what happens

next as a result. Usually the word because refers to the cause of an event;
so signals the effect.

A. Give the cause of each of the following events. Write the letter only.

1. Matty was attending a new school because

a. his old school closed.
b. his family moved to a new house.
c. he wanted to be with his sisters.
2. Every morning Matty ran with his father because
a. he did not like to stay at home.
b. he had to do it.
c. he enjoyed running.
3. Matty wanted to join the fun run because
a. he wanted to show he could run fast.
b. he wanted to meet other children in their village.
c. he wanted to show off.
4. Miguel was sitting on the ground because
a. he was looking for his number.
b. he was tying his shoelace.
c. he fell and scraped his knees.
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 5. Matty received special recognition because
a. he gave a helping hand to Miguel.
b. Miguel became his best friend.
c. he and Miguel had the same birthday.

B. Give the effect of each of the following events. Write the letter only.

1. Matty greeted everyone and smiled at them, so

a. he enjoyed playing with them.
b. he made several friends.


c. he walked home by himself.
2. A fun run was organized in school, so
a. Matty bought a new pair of rubber shoes.
b. Matty stayed in the gym most of the time.
c. Matty asked his parents’ permission to join the event.
3. Every day Matty practiced with his father, so
a. they were well-prepared for the race.
b. they were hardly ready for the race.
c. they were afraid to join the race.
4. Miguel tripped and scraped his knees, so
a. he could no longer continue running the race.
b. he could no longer watch the fun run.
c. he could no longer hear his coach.
5. Matty helped the injured Miguel walk to the finish line, so
a. he won a gold medal.
b. he received a special recognition.
c. he delivered an inspiring message.

Making a Poster

Pretend your school is having a fun run. The theme is “Run for a Healthy
Body.” Make a poster about this activity so that the students in your school
will be interested in joining it. Do the poster in an oslo paper.

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 Study Skill

Taking Care of Books

Do you enjoy reading books? Books

are our special friends. They teach us
many things. Books take us to different
wonderful places. We can even share
them with our younger brothers, sisters,
and friends. We should have respect for books. They need care so that they will
last for many years. Just like us, books also need love and careful treatment.

Here are some tips on how you can take good care of your books.

1. Wash your hands before reading a book. Dirty hands can make your
book dirty too.

2. While reading a book, avoid eating or drinking. Some of your food might
accidentally spill on your book.

3. When opening a book or turning a page, hold the top right-hand corner,
then, turn the page slowly.

4. Do not fold the page when you stop reading. Instead, use a bookmark.

5. Never draw or write on a book.

6. Do not read books near any body of water. If your book falls into the
pool, it will be very hard to restore it.

7. Do not leave your book near very young children and pets. The young
children might tear or draw on your book and your pet dog might chew
on the book.

8. Keep your books well-arranged in a cabinet so that they will be safe and
easy to find.

It is fun to take care of one’s books. Happy reading!

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 Read each sentence. Write Yes or No on the space provided.

________ 1. Books can easily get damaged.

________ 2. Clean your hands before reading a book.

________ 3. Eat your snacks while reading a book.

________ 4. In turning the page of a book, turn it over quickly.

________ 5. Let your younger brother or sister draw things on your book.

________ 6. When it is raining, use your book to cover your head.

________ 7. Cover your books to protect them from dirt.

________ 8. Leave your books anywhere in the house.

________ 9. Slowly turn the page of a book.

________ 10. Books are important. They teach us many things.

Making a Poster

Make a poster with pictures that will show ways of taking care of books.
Write a theme that is catchy and interesting. Do this in an oslo paper.

Say It!

Seeking Help

Pretend you are one of the organizers

of a fun run to promote good health. You
are assigned to go to the different sections
in Grade 2 to encourage the pupils to join
the activity.
Use the poster you have made about “Run for a Healthy Body.’’ Imagine
you are in front of your class. How will you invite your classmates? How will you
make them interested in the fun run? Deliver your speech with confidence.

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 Using Appropriate Expressions in Common Situations

Asking for Help

Do you ask for help from anyone in your family or your friends?
What kind of help do you need?

Dana has a project to do in school. She needs to collect things in their

garden or yard. She wants to ask her elder sister to help her.

I have a project to do. Can you Sure! Bring a small basket with
help me collect leaves and you. Let us go!
twigs in our yard.

Thank you for helping me.

Now I can do my project. You are welcome. Call me if you
need any help.

Do the dialogue with your seatmate.

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 View and Write

Using the Internet

Matty and Miguel share the same birth date, June 16. What important events
around the world do you think had happened on this date? Log on to the Internet
to research for important events that had occurred on this date.
List down the year and the events.
Year Events

Making a Timeline

A timeline helps us arrange events in the order of the dates that they
happened.
When is your birthday? Use the Internet to take note of the important events
that happened on this day around the world. You may ask help from your parents
or elders.
Complete the timeline.
2016
| ________________________________________________________
2017
| ________________________________________________________
2018
| ________________________________________________________
2019
| ________________________________________________________

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 Literary Appreciation

Illustrating the Best-Liked Parts of the Story

Which part of the story about Matty did you like best?
Draw and color your favorite part in your notebook.

Listen!

Making Predictions
Matty enjoyed running with his father. Would you like to run like Matty too?
Listen as your teacher reads the safety tips to follow before and during running.
• Use the right kind of running shoes and socks to protect your feet.
• Keep your body hydrated. Drink water before you run. Bring a bottle of
drinking water with you.
• Run on sidewalks or streets with wide shoulders to avoid vehicles.
• Wear white or bright colored clothes.
• Watch out for bumps on your running path.
• Check that your shoelaces are tied well.

Encircle the letter of the best answer.

1. Wear white or bright colored T-shirts while running.

a. You will not feel warm.
b. You can be seen/spotted easily by drivers.
c. You will not perspire.

2. Your shoelaces are not properly tied.

a. You will fly high.
b. You will run faster.
c. You might trip.
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 3. Wear the right kind of running shoes and socks.
a. Your feet will be painful.
b. Your feet will be well protected.
c. Your feet will get twisted.

Focus on Phonics and Word Recognition

Short and Long Vowel Sounds

There are five vowels in the English alphabet. The vowels can either
have a short or a long sound.

Read the words with short vowel sounds.

crab bed six

log duck

bat pen hill

box drum
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A. Name each picture. Supply the missing vowel to form a word with a short
vowel sound.

___nt t___n k___ng m__g

t___p c___t b___ll w___g

b___s fr___g c___p d___t

___gg p___n n___ts n__st

Read the words with long vowel sounds.

grapes key rice

soap mule
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 cane feet t ie

toad flute

B. Name each picture. Write the missing vowel to form a word with a long
vowel sound.

c___ke ch___ese k___te j__ice

c___ne r___ke c___at f___re

b___e c___be ___agle r___ pe

l ___af tr___in m___sic l__on

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C. Read the words in the box. What vowel sounds do you hear?
Write the words with short vowel sounds inside the apple.
Inside the ice cream cone, write the words with long vowel sounds.

bean chicken jet kit

fuse fan pot tie

butter frame rose tube

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 Phonological Awareness
Musical instruments make different sounds. When these are played together
they create melodious music that is pleasant to hear.
Listen as your teacher plays a video of different musical instruments.
Here are some of the instruments you heard.

Would you like to make your own musical instrument?

Do the following.

1. Musical Comb
 Get a comb and cover it with a piece of wax paper.
 Put the comb near your lips. Blow gently to create music.

2. Musical Leaf
 Get a leaf and fold it into two.
 Put the leaf between your lips.
 Blow gently to create music.

3. Musical Bottles
 Get seven bottles of the same kind.
 Put water in the bottles. The levels of water should be graduated.
 Use a stick to tap each bottle to create a melodious sound.

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 LEARN GRAMMAR AND USAGE
Nouns
Look at the picture below. Name the places, people, animals, and things that
you see. List down the words on the lines provided.

Persons Places Things Animals

____________ ____________ ___________ ____________
____________ ____________ ___________ ____________
____________ ____________ ___________ ____________

Use in simple sentences the words you have listed.

Words that name persons, places, things, animals, or events are called nouns.
Examples
Person Place Thing Animal Event
doctor zoo pencil lion birthday

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 Practice

A. Encircle all the nouns in each sentence.

1. The family will go to the park on Independence Day.

2. The children are playing with a ball.

3. A young man is selling colorful balloons.

4. The trees are big and shady.

5. Maria loves to see the beautiful flowers.

6. The old man is walking with the help of a cane.

7. There are ducks and fish in the pond.

8. The boys are happily flying their kites.

9. The sun is shining brightly.

10. Look at the birds in the sky.

B. Choose a noun from the box to complete each sentence. Capitalize a word
when it is needed.

banana boat lifeguard seashells waves

beach sand castles shells turtles
crabs sea creatures

1. My family went to the _______________ last summer.

2. We gathered ________________ at the seashore.

3. A _______________ watched over us while we were swimming.

4. We enjoyed riding on a ____________________ .

5. The children made delightful ____________________ on the shore.

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 6. Many _______________________ live along the seashore.

7. __________ live in muddy shores.

8. The giant _______________ crashed to the shore.

9. Big, green ____________ laid eggs in dug-up holes in the sand.

10. __________________ are home to some sea animals.

C. Encircle the noun in each sentence. Put a check () in the column that tells
what it names.
Person Place Thing Animal Event

1. The giraffe is tall.

2. My sister is talkative.

3. Did you buy a pencil?

4. Let us go to the park.

5. It is Valentine’s Day
tomorrow.

6. Would you like to use
the ladder?
7. The dentist will treat
me now.
8. Have you been to the
library?
9. The rabbits hopped away.

10. I will celebrate my birthday.

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 D. Study each sentence. Put a check mark () on the line if the underlined noun
is used correctly in each sentence. If not, write an appropriate noun that will
make the sentence correct.

1. Martin is reading a book.

2. I am eating a crunchy red apple.
3. The train is sailing by the sea.
4. Would you like to put your toys in your room?
5. She loves to see tigers in the farm.
6. A tricycle has two wheels.
7. Does a hen lay eggs?
8. Are green mangoes sweet?
9. The dark side of the moon is cold.
10. A frog eats insects.
11. Trees bear fruits.
12. The dentist takes care of our teeth.
13. We use a paintbrush to brush our teeth.
14. A monkey eats bananas.
15. Girls usually play with dolls.

When writing a noun, you may use the article a or an before it.
Examples: an apple a dog
an egg a whale

E. Write a or an before each word.

1. _______ house 6. _______ alligator

2. _______ table 7. _______ eagle
3. _______ umbrella 8. _______ car
4. _______ octopus 9. _______ igloo
5. _______ gorilla 10. _______ deer

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F. Read the words in the box. Write each word in the correct petal.

ape carrot hat idea officer

boat elephant heart leaf umpire

a
an

If the noun begins with a vowel sound, the article an is used before it.
If the noun begins with a consonant sound, the article a is used before it.

Enrichment Activity

Partner with your seatmate. Go out of your classroom. Look out for people, places,
things, and animals. List down their names in the chart below. Read your list aloud in
class and find out if you and your classmates saw the same things.
People Places Things Animals

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