What do you do when you wake up in the morning? Child: I wake up, stretch my arms and legs, and get out of bed. Then I go to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. After that, I get dressed and have breakfast.

1. Reading Works! 1
Textbook

2. Reading Works! 1
Textbook
Philippine Copyright 2012 by DIWA LEARNING SYSTEMS INC
All rights reserved. Printed in the Philippines
Editorial, design, and layout by University Press of First Asia
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing
from the copyright owner.
Exclusively distributed by
DIWA LEARNING SYSTEMS INC
4/F SEDCCO 1 Bldg.
120 Thailand corner Legazpi Streets
Legaspi Village, 1229 Makati City, Philippines
Tel. No.: (632) 893-8501 * Fax: (632) 817-8700
ISBN 978-971-46-0290-8
Authors
Ma. Genevieve Bustos holds a master’s degree in Education from Miriam College, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in
child development and education. She is presently a preschool teacher at Miriam College Child Study Center and an instructor for a
special program launched by the Quezon City government and Miriam College. A part of the academe for more than 19 years now,
Ms. Bustos has taught in various levels in different disciplines. She has also authored several short stories for children’s magazines,
workbooks for preschoolers, and training manuals for teachers.
Andrea Pauline B. Perlas is presently pursuing her master’s degree in early childhood education at the Philippine Normal
University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. She is currently a preschool teacher at GCF South
Metro Christian School. Ms. Perlas previously taught language and reading classes for elementary pupils at Woodridge College.
She has been teaching early language and reading literacy for four years.
Consultant
Corazon Y. Delgado holds a master’s degree in education, major in English, and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education both
from the University of the Philippines–Diliman. She is presently a part-time professor of English at Far Eastern University–Makati.
Ms. Delgado was a former faculty member of the Colegio San Agustin–Makati, where she served as the academic coordinator in
reading and the head teacher for grades 4 and 5. She was a part-time college professor of English at the De La Salle University–
Manila and a full-time professor of English at the Far Eastern University–East Asia College, where she was also a staff member of
the English Resource Center.
Reviewer
Bryan Alvin Gregory T. Nespral is currently finishing his practicum paper for his master’s degree in basic education from
the Ateneo De Manila University, where he also earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology. He has worked as a
basic education teacher, focusing on reading and language in Assumption College Grade School, Assumption San
Lorenzo from 2000–2010. Mr. Nespral has attended various academic seminars and workshops facilitated by local organizations
such as the Reading Association of the Philippines and the International Reading Association.

3. To the Pupils
The Reading Works! series was especially designed and created for you, the
21st century learner. It aims to make you see that reading is still an important and
enjoyable activity even in this very modern world dominated by super computers and
hi-tech gadgets. To do this, the selections were specifically written to match your
actual experiences as a family member, as a pupil, as a community member, and as
a Filipino citizen.
Each textbook is divided into four units. Unit 1 will let you get to know yourself
through your views, ideas, and feelings as a person. Unit 2 will help you develop a
deeper and more meaningful relationship with others, particularly your family, your
friends, and the people in your community. Unit 3 will help you prepare for the future
and its many challenges. Finally, Unit 4 will tell you more about your role in ensuring
a better tomorrow for yourself, your family, your community, and the world.
Each unit contains useful discussions and activities which will help you become
a critical, highly skilled, and well-rounded person.
• Connect – contains activities that will relate your stock knowledge and
previous experiences to the lessons
• Search – contains activities that will help you discover the meaning of
unfamiliar words and phrases
• Download – contains specially written stories, poems, essays, and scripts
which will engage your interest
• Click – contains comprehension questions which will measure your
understanding of the reading selection
• Link – contains discussions and exercises on important reading skills
• Upload – contains activities that will help you apply what you have learned
in each lesson
It is hoped that through this book, you will be able to learn not only a variety
of readings skills, but also important life lessons which will help you become the best
person you can possibly be.
Happy reading!

4. Table of Contents
Unit 1 Knowing Myself
Chapter 1 Discovering Me ............................................................................... 2
Lesson 1 I Am Special ...................................................................................... 2
(Consonant and Vowel Sounds/Rhyming Words)
Lesson 2 I Recognize How I Feel .......................................................................8
(Reading Stories or Poems)
Lesson 3 I Take Care of Myself ......................................................................13
(Kinds of Sentence)
Lesson 4 I Am Thankful for Being Me ...........................................................19
(Making Predictions)
Chapter 2 Proud to Be Me ............................................................................ 25
Lesson 1 Me and My Family ...........................................................................25
(Characters of a Story)
Lesson 2 I Spend Time with My Family .........................................................32
(Analyzing Story Characters)
Lesson 3 My Family Helps Me ........................................................................38
(Problem and Solution in a Story)
Lesson 4 I Am Thankful for My Family ..........................................................45
(Alphabetizing)
Unit Test ......................................................................................................... 50
Unit 2 Growing with Others
Chapter 3 Meeting New Faces ...................................................................... 56
Lesson 1 I Am Not Alone ............................................................................... 56
(Identifying the Main Idea)
Lesson 2 Making Friends………………………………………………………… 65
(Story Characters)

5. Lesson 3 Having Fun Together with Friends .................................................71
(More on Problem and Solution)
Lesson 4 My Friends Are Special Like Me .....................................................77
(Cause and Effect)
Chapter 4 Let Us Be Friends ........................................................................ 82
Lesson 1 I Can Be a Friend .............................................................................82
(Sequencing Events in a Story)
Lesson 2 I Care for My Friends .......................................................................89
(Comparison and Contrast)
Lesson 3 My Friends and I Are Uniquely Different ......................................96
(More on Comparison and Contrast)
Lesson 4 I Am Thankful for My Friends ......................................................102
(Cause and Effect in Stories)
Unit Test .........................................................................................................109
Unit 3 Gearing Up for Success
Chapter 5 Key to My Success ...................................................................... 118
Lesson 1 Reviewing My ABCs .......................................................................118
(Alphabetizing Words)
Lesson 2 Working on My Words ....................................................................124
(Words with Multiple Meanings)
Lesson 3 Getting to Know My Book ..............................................................132
(Parts of a Book)
Lesson 4 Searching for Information ..............................................................139
(Different Kinds of Reading Materials)
Chapter 6 Ready, Get Set, Work ................................................................. 148
Lesson 1 Putting Things Together ................................................................148
(Organizing Ideas)
Lesson 2 Finding Connections .......................................................................154
(Perceiving Relationships)

6. Lesson 3 Making Pictures ..............................................................................161
(Making Inferences)
Lesson 4 Seeing and Telling ..........................................................................167
(Predicting Outcomes)
Unit Test .........................................................................................................173
Unit 4 Keeping Up with the World
Chapter 7 Getting Along .............................................................................. 180
Lesson 1 Stop, Look, and Find ......................................................................180
(Differentiating Pictures)
Lesson 2 Reading Between the Lines ...........................................................189
(Understanding Maps)
Lesson 3 Spotting Differences .......................................................................197
(Comparison and Contrast)
Lesson 4 Read and Obey ................................................................................204
(Following Directions)
Chapter 8 Moving Forward ......................................................................... 210
Lesson 1 Stop, Listen, Learn, and Go! ..........................................................210
(Elements of a Story)
Lesson 2 Going Back to My 123s ...................................................................218
(Sequencing of Events)
Lesson 3 Going Straight to the Point ............................................................224
(Summarizing)
Lesson 4 Obeying Signs .................................................................................233
(Common Signs)
Unit Test .........................................................................................................242

7. Knowing Myself
UNIT
1
This unit will review your understanding of what you
have learned during your preschool years. It will prepare
you to learn more listening, reading, writing, and speaking
skills, too. Here, you will study about consonant and vowel
sound and rhyming words. You will also find out how to make
predictions, and how to read and write simple sentences.
The selections in this unit will introduce you to different
story characters; and how and why they behave in stories.
Finally, you will familiarize yourselves with the alphabet and
with alphabetizing.

8. Chapter 1
Discovering Me
In this chapter, you will learn about consonant and vowel
sounds as well as rhyming words. You will read poems with
feelings and write simple sentences. You will also learn to say
what might happen next by making predictions.
Lesson 1 I Am Special
Connect
Read the poem below.
We are ready to go to school,
because it is fun and cool.
Come, let us go,
let us all say hello!
Say these pairs of words: school and cool; and go and hello.
These pairs of words have the same ending sound. Can you
give other pairs of words that have the same ending sound?
2 Reading Works! 1

9. Search
Box the word that has the same meaning as each encircled
word.
1. sting bite hit cratch
2. hum sing yell talk
3. bunnies bread rabbits cats
4. leap hop fly walk
5. different same like unlike
Download
We are special
because there is Oh! So that is
no other person what makes us
exactly like us! special.
Knowing Myself 3

10. Special Like Me
M.G. Bustos
I look around and I see different things.
Birds have wings and bunnies have long ears!
Kangaroos hop and frogs leap.
I may not do what they can,
But I can do lots of things!
Like bees and birds, I can hum and sing.
Oh beetles and bugs––I wish I had wings.
But I cannot fly. I do not sting!
I can hop, but I cannot leap.
But I am special too, you see.
Everything else around is as special as me.
Each can do things differently.
Some can fly. Some can swim.
Some can just move about, just like me!
4 Reading Works! 1

11. Click
1. Name three animals that are mentioned in the poem.
2. What can these animals do?
3. Can you do any of the things the animals can do?
4. What things can you do?
5. Do you think everyone is special? Explain your answer.
6. What makes you special?
Link
Consonant and Vowel Sounds
Consonants and vowels make up words. The following
letters are consonants: b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t,
v, w, x, y, z. The following letters are vowels: a, e, i, o, u. Each
letter has its own sound.
Vowels have short and long sounds. Words such as bake,
woke, and rise have long vowel sounds while words such as
tin, sun, and dot have short vowel sounds. Below are more
words with short and long vowel sounds. Read them aloud
with your teacher.
Short Vowel Sound Long Vowel Sound
tag cape
set heel
tin pie
cot go
mug flu
Knowing Myself 5

12. Rhyming Words
By using the sounds of letters to form words, you can also
make words rhyme. Making words rhyme just like in a poem
makes reading fun. Rhyming words are words that sound
the same. The following are some rhyming words from the
poem “Special Like Me.”
sing – sting see – me wings – things
Activity 1
Now, it is your turn to write words with short and long
vowel sounds. Use the pictures below as your guide.
1. 3.
_____________________ _____________________
2. 4.
_____________________ _____________________
6 Reading Works! 1

13. Activity 2
Make words rhyme by completing the poem below. Circle
the correct word in each line. Then read the poem aloud.
My Big Cat
I have a (pet, pit) cat.
Its name is (Mat, sat).
Its eyes are (wig, big).
It likes to (rub, dig).
See how fast it can (run, bun),
Under the hot sun!
Upload
Look for a partner. Together, create a poem about what
makes you special. Your poem should have six lines and
should use words with short and long vowel sounds. It should
also rhyme. Write your poem below.
Knowing Myself 7

14. Lesson 2 I Recognize How I Feel
Connect
Below are five kinds of feelings. Draw one kind in each
circle.
sad happy mad
surprised scared
Search
Tell what kind of feeling is being shown in each picture.
Choose your answer from the box. Write it on the blank.
happy sad surprised
1. 2.
_____________________ _____________________
8 Reading Works! 1

15. Download
Why are you My room is a mess!
sad, Sara?
You are right, Darren. I need
Then you need to pack away my toys, dust the
to clean it. shelves, and fix my clothes.
I Feel Good
M.G. Bustos
It is fun to do things on my own.
I am surprised to know how much I have grown!
I am happy to see what good things I can do,
Do not be sad, you can do it, too!
Knowing Myself 9

16. I can comb my hair or put on a cap,
Or brush my teeth after a nap.
I can eat by myself and then pack away after.
Or feed my pet cat and give it some water.
Things can be easy or hard as they say,
But I learn a lot from day to day.
Click
1. What makes the person in the poem feel good?
2. Name two things that the person in the poem can do on
his or her own.
3. What things can you do on your own?
4. Does being able to do things on your own make you
happy? Why or why not?
5. What else makes you happy?
10 Reading Works! 1

17. Link
Reading Stories or Poems
When you read stories or poems, you feel different kinds
of emotions. The emotions you feel depend on how the story or
poem affects you. Some stories or poems can make you happy,
sad, scared, surprised, or excited. Some can even make you
feel mad.
Activity 1
Tell how each story makes you feel. Write your answer on
the blank before each number.
______1. A story about two playmates who do not share their
toys with each other. They even hurt each other.
______2. A poem about a stormy night. There is thunder
and lightning. Rain is pouring heavily on the roof.
The wind is blowing so hard bending trees and
destroying roofs.
______3. A story about a little boy who is sick. He cannot
go out to play. He cannot enjoy the day with
his friends. He has to stay home and take his
medicine.
Activity 2
Recall an experience that made you feel each emotion
below. Share your answers with your classmates.
1. excited
2. frightened
3. glad
Knowing Myself 11

18. Upload
Make a mask to show how you feel. You will need the
following materials: paper plate, markers or crayons,
string or rubber bands, and scissors. Then just follow these
instructions:
1. On a paper plate, draw a face that expresses the feeling
you want to show.
2. Cut out small circles for the eyes so you can see through.
3. Color your drawing. You can even decorate it if you
want.
4. When you are done, wear the mask in class.
12 Reading Works! 1

19. Lesson 3 I Take Care of Myself
Connect
Answer the following questions. Then share your answers
with the class.
1. What will happen to your teeth if you brush them every
day?
2. What will happen to you if you eat plenty of vegetables
and fruits?
Search
Margaret played the whole day. She is covered with sweat.
Germs might make her sick! But she does not want to wash
herself. Now, she is starting to feel itchy all over! Help Margaret
choose the objects she needs to clean herself up so she will stop
feeling itchy. Color these objects.
Knowing Myself 13

20. Download
Keeping ourselves Yes, Darren! That is
clean will make us why I shower every day.
healthy. I also brush my teeth
three times a day.
Keep It Clean
M.G. Bustos
“It is time to go to bed. Please wash up now, Kassey.”
Kassey heard her mother say
after dinner. She knew what to
do. She took out her pajamas
and got ready to wash up.
She took her towel and went
straight to the bathroom. She
washed her body with soap
really well. She knew she had
to clean herself before going
to bed. After this, she brushed
her teeth and combed her
hair. Now, she is ready to go
to bed.
14 Reading Works! 1

21. The next morning, Kassey got ready for school. She
washed herself again, brushed her teeth, combed her hair,
and put on some fresh clothes. “Let us go, Kassey. You do
not want to be late for school,” Kassey’s mom said. Kassey
hurriedly took her bag and off they went.
“Good morning, children,” Miss Marti said.
The children greeted her back. “Did you all have a good
night’s rest?” she asked. Everyone seemed to have had a
good night’s sleep, but one of Kassey’s classmates raised
her hand and said, “I did not, Miss Marti.”
Miss Marti wondered and asked, “Is that so? Why did
you not sleep well, Margaret?” Margaret stood up and said,
“I was itching all over! I could not sleep well because every
part of my body was itchy!” Margaret showed scratches on
her arms and legs!
“I wonder why, Margaret? What did you do yesterday
that made you itchy?” asked Miss Marti. “I do not know,
Miss Marti. All I know is that after school, I went home,
did my homework, ate dinner, and then went to bed. But
while I was trying to get some sleep, my body started to
itch!” The class listened as Margaret explained.
“Ah!” said Miss Marti. “I think you forgot to do something
before going to bed.”
Margaret could not think of what she might have
forgotten. “I don’t remember, Miss Marti,” said Margaret
with a puzzled face.
“I know, Miss Marti!” Kassey remembered what she
did last night before going to bed. “Yes, Kassey. What did
Margaret forget before going to bed?” asked Miss Marti.
Knowing Myself 15

22. “Margaret forgot to clean herself! That is what she did
not do!” said Kassey, sure of her answer.
“That is right, Kassey. You should clean yourself before
going to bed. This will wash away all the dirt from your
body. Doing many things during the day fills your body
with dust, sweat, and germs,” explained Miss Marti.
Everyone listened to what Miss Marti said. They all
nodded and agreed to what she told them. Then, Margaret
suddenly raised her hand and said, “Tonight, before I go
to bed, I will wash myself well to keep my body clean.”
Everyone clapped for Margaret. Kassey was so happy that
she knew what to do.
Click
1. What did Kassey do before going to bed?
2. How did she keep herself clean?
3. What happened to Margaret? Did she sleep well? Why or
why not?
4. What will happen if you do not keep your body clean?
5. How else can you keep yourself healthy?
Link
Kinds of Sentence
A sentence is a group of words that has a complete
thought. It ends with a punctuation mark. Punctuation marks
are marks put at the end of every sentence.
16 Reading Works! 1

23. A telling sentence tells about someone or something. It
ends with a period (.).
Examples:
• She always washes her face.
• They ride on a bus.
An asking sentence asks questions. It ends with a
question mark (?).
Examples:
• What are you doing?
• Who are you?
A commanding sentence gives a command or order.
Like a telling sentence, a commanding sentence ends with a
period (.)
Examples:
• Please come here.
• Please pass the sugar.
An exclamatory sentence shows a strong feeling. It ends
with an exclamation point (!).
Examples:
• Wow!
• Help!
Knowing Myself 17

24. Activity 1
Reread the story “Keep It Clean.” As you read, look for an
example of each kind of sentence. Write it on the blank.
1. telling sentence
______________________________________________________________
2. asking sentence
______________________________________________________________
3. commanding sentence
______________________________________________________________
4. exclamatory sentence
______________________________________________________________
Activity 2
Put the correct punctuation mark after each sentence.
1. Fire___
2. Kassey is a healthy girl___
3. Why does the body need to be healthy____
4. Please pass the chicken ___
5. Oh my___
Upload
Draw one thing you do to keep your body clean. Then
tell the class something about your drawing using simple
sentences. Be sure to use different kinds of sentence.
18 Reading Works! 1

25. Lesson 4 I Am Thankful for Being Me
Connect
Study each picture. Tell what might happen next. Circle
the letter of your answer.
1.
a. The mangoes will fall from the
tree.
b. The strong wind will stop.
c. The leaves of the tree will not
move.
2.
a. The balloon will fly away.
b. The balloon will pop.
c. The pin will bend.
3.
a. The boy will keep on skating.
b. The boy will fall and hurt himself.
c. The skates will come off from his
feet.
Knowing Myself 19

26. Search
Guess what is being described in each sentence. Circle the
letter of the correct answer.
1. This light that cuts across the sky tells you that rain is
coming.
a. stars b. lightning c. fireworks
2. It is a loud sound from the sky that you hear when it
rains.
a. drums b. horn c. thunder
3. It is used to cover yourself when it is cold.
a. blanket b. pillow c. bed
Download
Yes, Darren. The
We better hurry home, thunder is just too loud
Sara! It is starting to and it scares me! We
rain hard. Look, there is better hurry before we
lightning in the sky and get all wet!
the thunder is just so loud!
20 Reading Works! 1

27. My Big Sister
M.G. Bustos
It was a stormy night. Thunder and lightning shook
the dark skies. The rain poured like marbles on the roof.
Josh could not sleep at all. He was scared.
“Ate Mandy, are you awake?” asked Josh as he covered
himself with a blanket.
“What’s the matter, Josh?” asked his sister.
“I’m scared, Ate.” Josh could hardly speak. The thunder
was making such loud noises! “Ate!” yelled Josh after a
sharp lightning lit the skies.
Mandy sat next to Josh’s bed and said, “Oh Josh, do
not be scared. It is just lightning and thunder. Go on and
sleep. I will watch over you.” Mandy tried to keep herself
awake and waited for Josh to fall asleep.
Morning came and the sun was brightly shining. “Josh,
wake up. It is morning already,” Mandy said as she woke
up next to Josh. She must have fallen asleep on Josh’s bed
last night. Josh opened his eyes and sat up.
Knowing Myself 21

28. “Is the rain over?” asked Josh as soon as he saw his
sister.
“Yes, Josh. The rain is over. Look,” Mandy pointed to
the window to show Josh how brightly the sun was shining.
Josh smiled and sighed, “You are right, Ate. Thanks for
watching over me. You are really my big sister.” Josh gave
her a big hug. Mandy felt happy and proud of herself. She
really is a big sister.
Click
1. Who are the children in the story?
2. What happened one night?
3. Why was Josh scared?
4. Why did he call his sister?
5. Do you think Josh felt safer with his sister next to him? Why?
6. If you were Mandy, what could you have done to help
Josh feel better?
Link
Making Predictions
Making a prediction is saying what might happen next in a
story or situation. You can do this by analyzing the information
provided. You can also use your imagination to picture what
is going on and imagine what might happen next.
For example, when you see dark clouds outside and you
feel cold wind blowing, you will instantly think that it will
rain anytime soon. You know from experience and from your
22 Reading Works! 1

29. science class that dark clouds and cold wind are signs of a
coming rain.
You can also make predictions when reading. It will keep
you excited and make you look forward to how the story will
end or how the events in the story will go on. For example,
you can make the following predictions for the story in the
selection based on its title, “My Big Sister.”
• The story will be about someone’s older sister.
• The story will be about an older sister doing something
good for her younger sibling.
Activity 1
Read each situation below and predict what might happen
next. Write your answer below.
1. A flower is growing in a pot. It will be bright and sunny
for the next few days, but no one will be around to water
the flower.
______________________________________________________________
2. Jan wakes up early. He goes to work without eating
breakfast.
______________________________________________________________
3. It is Ron’s birthday today. His door bell rings. He sees a
delivery van outside his house.
______________________________________________________________
Knowing Myself 23

30. Activity 2
Read the situation below. Make three predictions on what
might happen next. Write your predictions below.
Jay watched TV the whole day. He knew that
he had a test the next day. Jay did not study. The next
morning, Jay went to school and took the test.
Upload
You will be divided into three groups by your teacher.
Each group will be given a situation with no ending. Read
the situation carefully. Discuss among your group mates how
you want the situation to end. Then prepare to act out your
assigned situation with the ending your group has agreed on.
Use objects in the classroom to help you act out the story.
24 Reading Works! 1

31. Chapter 2
Proud to Be Me
In this chapter, you will listen to and read selections about
families and how they show their love to one another through
the different activities that they do together. As you read and
listen, you will meet different characters. You will discover
how these characters make stories more interesting. You
will also identify problems and search for solutions. Lastly,
the selections will bring you challenges which will help you
develop into a better person.
Lesson 1 Me and My Family
Connect
Identify each family member described in each item on the
next page. Choose your answer from the pictures below. Write
the letter of your answer on the blank before each number.
a. father b. mother c. sister d. brother e. baby
Knowing Myself 25

32. ____ 1. I am small and still cannot walk. I drink a lot of
milk to help me grow.
____ 2. I help take care of my children. I teach them how
to be good and to love each other.
____ 3. I am a boy. Mother and Father always remind me
not to play rough with my sisters.
____ 4. I am a girl. I help Mother and Father do things in
the house after I study my lessons.
____ 5. I gave birth to my beautiful children. I take care of
them and teach them how to be good people.
Search
Fill in the blanks to find out the word described below.
You may use the words in the box as clues.
sister name baby yawn
crib diaper whisper
1. This is where a baby sleeps. ___ r i ___
2. This can serve as a baby’s underwear. ___ ___ a ___ ___ r
3. This is a sign when one is sleepy or bored. ___ ___ w n
4. This means “to talk softly.” ___ h i ___ ___ ___ r
26 Reading Works! 1

33. Download
How did you feel when Of course, I was so
your baby brother excited! He was so
finally arrived? cute.
A New Baby Brother
M.G. Bustos
Kaye woke up early one morning. She knocked on her
parents’ door to wake them up.
“Good morning, princess,” greeted Kaye’s mom and dad.
“Good morning, Mom. Good morning, Dad. How is my
baby brother? Can I see him?” asked Kaye.
“Your baby brother slept well. Of course, you could see
him,” Kaye’s dad told her. She quietly entered her baby
brother’s room and went straight to his crib.
“Good morning, baby brother,” Kaye whispered as
she watched him yawn in his sleep.
Knowing Myself 27

34. “We will have to wait until he wakes up,” Kaye’s mom
said. “For now, you can help me fix some fresh clothes for
the baby so that when he wakes up, I can give him a quick
bath.” Kaye hurriedly opened the baby’s drawer and pulled
out a small shirt and a new diaper.
“Will these do, Mom?” she asked.
“That will do, princess. Good job! You are really being
a big sister,” Kaye’s mom said as she smiled and winked at
Kaye. “We’ll just wait for him to wake up.”
Kaye’s mom made some pancakes and hot chocolate
for breakfast. While eating, Kaye could not stop thinking
about her new baby brother.
“I promise you, Mom, that I will be the best big sister
to my baby brother,” Kaye told her mom excitedly. “I will
take care of him, make his bottle, play with him, and watch
him while he sleeps.” Kaye’s mom smiled as Kaye spoke.
“I’m sure you will, princess,” she replied.
Just before Kaye could eat her last bite of pancake, she
heard a soft cry. “My baby brother’s awake, Mom!” Before
her mother could say anything, Kaye hurriedly ran to her
baby brother’s room. As soon as she got there, the soft cry
was gone. Only the soft voice of Kaye was heard as she
sang to her new baby brother.
Click
1. Who are the people in the story?
2. Who was the new member of their family?
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35. 3. Why was Kaye excited?
4. What did Kaye promise to do for her baby brother?
5. Do you think Kaye’s parents will be happy if she takes
care of her new baby brother? Why or why not?
Link
Characters of a Story
Characters are the people, animals, or make-believe things
talked about in a story. They make the story interesting.
They build the story according to what they do or say. In the
story that you read, Kaye, Dad, Mom, and baby brother are
important. They are the people talked about in the story. They
make things happen.
Activity 1
Who or what could this character be? Write your answer
on the blank.
1. An animal that hops on lily pads
which lives in a pond
________________________________________
2. A man or woman who flies an
airplane
________________________________________
Knowing Myself 29

36. 3. An animal with wings that makes
nests for its babies
________________________________________
Activity 2
Read the story below. Then answer the questions that
follow.
The Special Coin
Grace promised her new friend to show her the special
coin she had kept for a long time. It was the coin that her
best friend gave her before she left last summer. It was
the only time she ever took it out from the box to show it
to someone. As she placed her special coin on the table and
got ready to go out, her brother said that they needed to buy
some things for school. Hurriedly, Grace went away and
forgot about the coin. When she came back, she returned
to where she had left it but it was gone! Grace felt bad. She
looked under the table and around the room but she could
not find it. Suddenly, she heard a knock on the door. As she
went to open it, she saw a girl standing in front of her. It
was her best friend. Before Grace could say anything, her
best friend held a coin in her hand. It was the same special
coin that she gave Grace before she left.
1. Who are the characters in the story?
______________________________________________________________
2. Who told Grace that they needed to buy things for school?
______________________________________________________________
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37. 3. Who surprised Grace?
______________________________________________________________
4. How would you describe Grace?
______________________________________________________________
5. If you were Grace, how would you take care of the special
coin?
______________________________________________________________
Upload
Draw your favorite character on a sheet of bond paper.
Then show your drawing to the class. Introduce your favorite
character to your classmates. Tell them what the character
looks like, how the character acts and behaves, and why you
like the character.
Knowing Myself 31

38. Lesson 2 I Spend Time with My Family
Connect
Tell something about your father or mother. Share your
answers with a partner.
Search
Circle the picture that tells what the underlined word
means.
1. Inside her huge bag are shoes,
clothes, wallet, glasses, and
brush.
2. Pia brought a mat and
some books to the park.
3. We spread a mat on the ground
and took out different kinds of
food for our picnic.
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39. Download
Where are you going,
Sara? My family and I are going
on a picnic at the park.
A Special Day
M.G. Bustos
Last Sunday was a special day for Neng’s family. Her
parents took her and her Kuya Mong on a picnic. They
called it their family day. How they loved that day!
“Is everyone ready to go?” asked Tatay Ted.
Nanay Lilia got her big basket. Inside were fruits, rice,
and her special adobo.
“We’re almost ready,” called out Nanay Lilia.
“‘Nay, should I bring this big mat?” asked Kuya Mong,
folding a big mat and putting it inside his huge bag.
“Yes, please,” said Nanay Lilia right away.
Knowing Myself 33

40. Neng got the jug with juice and filled it with ice cubes.
When everything was ready, Neng and her family headed
to the park.
“Who has the mat?” asked
Tatay Ted.
“I have it, Tatay,”
replied Kuya Mong.
Tatay Ted spread
the mat on the grass
as Nanay Lilia took
out the food from
the basket. While
Neng was helping
Nanay Lilia with the plates, Kuya Mong brought out his
ball.
“Let us play catch, Neng!”
Kuya Mong threw Neng the ball. Neng caught it! Nanay
Lilia and Tatay Ted watched their children play. It was
such a special day and everyone seemed to be having a
good time.
When it was getting late, Tatay Ted said that they
should start packing up their things. Neng helped Nanay
Lilia fix the basket while Kuya Mong folded the mat. Tatay
Ted threw the trash in the garbage bin.
“Why are you sad, Neng?” Tatay Ted asked her.
“Our picnic is over,” she said.
“You do not have to be sad,” Kuya Mong told Neng.
“Next Sunday, we will have another picnic like this one.”
Kuya Mong was right. Just a few more days and it will
be Sunday again. It will be another special day for Neng
and her family.
34 Reading Works! 1

41. Click
1. Who are the characters in the story?
2. Where did the family go?
3. What things did Neng and her family bring to the picnic?
4. Why did Neng call Sunday “a special day”?
5. Does your family have a “special day”? What do you do on
that day?
6. How will you make a picnic fun for your family?
Link
Analyzing Story Characters
Analyzing characters helps you look into and understand
how the characters are like. In the story “The Special Coin,”
you can say that Grace is a girl who treats her friends as
special. You can also say that Grace considers her best friend
important because of how she took care of the coin that her
best friend gave her.
The lines that the characters say in the story will also
help you learn more about them. By understanding how the
characters are like, you will be able to understand how the
story develops, making you enjoy reading it more.
Knowing Myself 35

42. Activity 1
Read the paragraph below and answer the questions that
follow.
She walks slowly. Her back is bent and she holds a
cane in one hand. With her bag of groceries, she tries to
cross the street but she cannot see the cars clearly because
her eyes are not that sharp anymore. Then a man comes
and helps her. Now, she is safe and on her way home.
1. How would you describe the main character in the
paragraph?
______________________________________________________________
2. How would you describe the main character according to
what is said about her?
______________________________________________________________
3. Why do you think is the main character described as
such?
______________________________________________________________
4. How did the main character cross the street safely?
______________________________________________________________
5. What can you say about the man who helped her?
______________________________________________________________
Activity 2
Look for a picture of your family during a special occasion.
In simple sentences, describe each “character” in the picture.
Share your picture and your description with the class.
36 Reading Works! 1

43. Upload
Form a group with three to four members. With your
group mates, play a game of charades about different kinds of
people. Here is how the game goes:
1. One member will think of a person in the community
and what that person does. The member will then act out
the things that this person does for the community. For
example, if you chose teacher, then you will have to act
out the things that teachers usually do such as telling
stories in class and writing on the board.
2. The other members of the group will have to guess who
the person is.
3. The member who gets the correct answer will then take
his or her turn to act out a person of his or her choice.
Knowing Myself 37

44. Lesson 3 My Family Helps Me
Connect
Have you ever gotten lost in a mall or in a place where
there are many people? Who went out to find you? Did your
family look for you? How did you feel when they were able to
find you? Share your thoughts with a group.
Search
Discover what each word means by analyzing the drawing
provided. Circle the letter of the answer that best explains
the meaning of the word.
1. pond
a. a small body of fresh water where animals can swim,
live, and play
b. a big body of water where ships and boats could sail
2. duckling
a. a baby duck
b. an adult chicken
38 Reading Works! 1

45. 3. worry
a. to be happy
b. to feel or experience concern or anxiety
4. barn
a. a place where different kinds of fishes live
b. a place where animals are kept
Knowing Myself 39

46. Download
What is the problem? Please help me. I lost
my favorite ball. I
was playing with it
and it rolled away.
Lost and Found
M.G. Bustos
It was a perfect day
for play. Mother Duck
thought that it would be
fun to take her ducklings
out for a swim. She called
her babies and said, “It is
a good day for a swim. I want
you all to follow me. We are going to the pond.”
Mother Duck was so excited because for the first time,
her ducklings will go for a swim. “Come on babies. Hurry
up,” Mother Duck said. She counted her ducklings and got
them in line.
40 Reading Works! 1

47. “One, two, three…” Mother Duck counted. But she
suddenly stopped and said, “One of my ducklings is
missing.” She counted again but a duckling was really
missing! Where could my baby be? she thought to herself.
She went around the garden, looked under the flowers and
about the tall grasses but she could not find her missing
duckling.
“Oh, no!” she said. “Has anybody seen the other
duckling?” she asked.
“No, Mother. We have not seen him,” answered one of
the ducklings.
Mother Duck began to worry. She could not go to the
pond until she finds her missing duckling. So she took her
ducklings back to the barn and went to look for her missing
duckling. As she looked around for her duckling, Mother
Duck met Mrs. Cow.
“Hello, Mrs. Cow. Have you seen my duckling?” Mother
Duck asked Mrs. Cow worriedly.
“I think I did. You might want to go to the tree by the
pond. I saw a small, yellow baby duck under that tree,”
added Mrs. Cow.
Hurriedly, Mother Duck went to the tree by the pond.
Quietly sleeping was her missing baby duckling. She was
so happy to see that her baby was safe.
Click
1. Who are the characters in the story?
2. Where did Mother Duck take her ducklings?
3. Why did Mother Duck decide to take them for a swim?
Knowing Myself 41

48. 4. Why did Mother Duck become worried?
5. What was the baby duck doing when Mother Duck found
him?
6. If you were Mother Duck, would you also feel worried? Why?
Link
Problem and Solution in a Story
In the story you have read, Mother Duck began to worry.
This happened because one of her ducklings was missing. This
part of the story tells about Mother Duck’s problem.
A problem is something that makes a character or
characters in the story act differently. Sometimes, the characters
will show worry or sadness when a problem happens.
In the same story, a solution was given, too. A solution
is a way of solving a problem, and in the story, the solution
was simple: Mother Duck looked around and asked others for
information about her missing duckling.
Activity 1
Read each short paragraph below. Underline the problem
and then circle the letter of a possible solution.
1. Today is your sister’s birthday. She has a party planned
for her friends but it was starting to rain. She is worried
that the decorations will get wet. What will you do?
a. I will help her remove the decorations.
b. I will let her remove the decorations by herself.
c. I will laugh at her because her decorations are getting
wet.
42 Reading Works! 1

49. 2. You are playing outside with your friends. One of your
friends trips and begins to cry. What will you do?
a. I will get mad at my friend for tripping.
b. I will help my friend up and ask someone for help.
c. I will laugh at my friend for tripping.
3. Your father tells you to turn off the faucet after watering
the plants. But the faucet breaks and the water keeps on
flowing. What will you do?
a. I will tell my dad what happened so he can fix the
faucet.
b. I will leave the water running.
c. I will keep it a secret.
4. Somebody rings the doorbell. Your mother is sleeping.
What will you do?
a. I will open the door and let the person inside our
house.
b. I will tell the person to go away.
c. I will wake up my mother and tell her that somebody
is at the door.
5. You are with your group doing your project. The phone
rings, and your friend is on the other line. She has a
problem and wants to share it with you. What will you
do?
a. I will tell her to call back because I am busy.
b. I will excuse myself from my group and talk to my
friend.
c. I will not answer the phone.
Knowing Myself 43

50. Activity 2
Provide a solution to each problem. Complete the given
sentence in each number.
1. A boy is late again in class. His teacher tells him to come
to school early the next day. What should he do?
He should __________________________________________.
2. It is raining. Arty needs to buy medicine. What should he
do?
He should __________________________________________.
3. Tomorrow is Abby’s singing contest. She feels very sick
today. What should she do?
She should _________________________________________.
Upload
Do the following activity.
1. Form a group with four to five members.
2. Think of a problem commonly faced by grade 1 pupils
like you. Think of at least three possible solutions to this
problem.
3. Act out the problem and its solutions in front of the class.
44 Reading Works! 1

51. Lesson 4 I Am Thankful for My Family
Connect
Who takes care of you when you are sick? What does your
mother, your father, or any member of your family do for you
when you are sick? How about you? What do you do to care
for a sick member of your family? Share your thoughts with
a partner.
Search
Write the correct word described in each number. Choose
from the list in the box.
sigh shut couch single supper
1. to close an opening such as a door ____________
2. another word for dinner ____________
3. one ____________
4. a short breath ____________
5. a long soft seat ____________
Knowing Myself 45

52. Download
Hi, Sara. Look, here is Yes, Darren. I am very
a photo of me and my proud of my family. Let us
family. I am very proud now read a story about a
of my family. How family working together.
about you?
Oh No! Mom Is Sick!
M.G. Bustos
One afternoon, when Sidney got home from school,
she saw her mother sitting by the garden. She looked
so tired and sleepy. Sidney wondered how she felt. She
came to her and held her hand.
“Mom, why don’t you go in and take a rest,” Sidney
said. But her mom simply looked at her and sighed.
“I wish I could, Sidney, but I still have too many chores
to do,” Sidney’s mom said with her eyes almost shut.
“They can wait, Mom,” Sidney said as she pulled her
mom’s hand and walked her to the house. Sidney felt
how warm her mother’s hand was. She thought her mom
46 Reading Works! 1

53. was sick. Her mom was running a fever yet she was still
thinking about her chores.
As they entered
the house, everything
was clean. The pillows
were neatly arranged
on the couch. The floor
was mopped clean,
too. Mom always kept
the house clean every
single day.
“What else is it
you need to do, Mom?”
Sidney asked her.
“I have not cooked supper yet. Everyone will be home
soon and there is still nothing for you to eat if I do not cook.
Then I need to pick up your sister from school and help
you both with your homeworks afterward,” Mom worriedly
said. Sidney wished she could do more to make her mother
feel better. She then thought of calling Dad.
“Dad, this is Sidney. Mom has a fever. She is worried
that she has not cooked supper yet and she will not be able
to pick up Sandy from school,” Sidney told Dad.
“Let your mom rest, Sidney. Do not worry. We can do
this. Just watch over your mom until I get home,” Dad told
Sidney.
After talking to her dad, Sidney then led her mom
to their bedroom. As she watched her sleep quietly, she
remembered what her mom said about helping her with
her homework. She knew she had to do it by herself. So,
Knowing Myself 47

54. Sidney decided to work on her homework while she waited
for her dad to come home. As soon as she finished, her dad
got home with her little sister. They brought home food for
dinner. Sidney washed the dishes and cleaned the dining
room after they ate. Her sister helped her while their dad
took care of their mom. Their mom slept through the night
and felt better the next day. Sidney felt so proud that they
all worked together to help their mom. She knew that their
mom was sure proud of them, too!
Click
1. Who are the characters in the story?
2. How did Sidney know that something was wrong with
her mother?
3. How did Sidney feel when she found out that her mother
was sick?
4. Why did Sidney call up her dad?
5. What did Sidney and her sister do to help their mom?
6. If you were Sidney, would you have done the same? Explain
your answer.
Link
Alphabetizing
Words can be arranged in certain orders. One way of
arranging words is by alphabetizing. This means that words
are arranged using the letters of the alphabet as a guide.
When you alphabetize words, you look at the first letter of
the given words and arrange them according to which comes
first in the alphabet.
48 Reading Works! 1

55. For example, to alphabetize the words ant, car, and bag,
you first look at the beginning letter of each word. The first
letters are a, c, and b. Since a comes first in the alphabet, then
the word ant will be the first word in the order. It will then be
followed by the word bag and then car since the letter b comes
after the letter a and before the letter c in the alphabet.
Sometimes, words that need to be alphabetized may begin
with the same letter as in the words dog, duck, and deer. To
alphabetize such words, look at the second letter and see
which comes first in the alphabet. In alphabetizing this group
of words, the word deer should come first since e comes before
u and o. This is followed by dog and then duck. In case the
second letter of the words is the same, look at the third letter
before you begin to alphabetize.
Activity 1
Alphabetize the group of words below. Write your answers
on the blanks.
1. doll bug fish _________ _________ _________
2. pants apron gown _________ _________ _________
3. bag pencil book _________ _________ _________
Activity 2
Look around your classroom. What are the things that
your teacher uses every day to teach you? List down 10 of
these things and arrange their names alphabetically.
Upload
Make a card for a loved one who is sick. Write in your card
words of encouragement and your wish for him or her to get
well soon. Design your card to give it life. Give your card to
that loved one. See how your card makes him or her feel.
Knowing Myself 49

56. Unit Test
Read the selection below. Then do the tasks that follow.
My Name Is Jay
M.G. Bustos
Jay took out a piece of paper. He wrote his name so many
times: Jya, Jya, Jya. Then he smiled. He showed what he
wrote to his mom.
“Look, Mom. I wrote my name,” he said.
“That’s good, Jay,” his mom answered as she looked at
what Jay wrote.
“I think you need to change something,” Mom said while
giving back the paper to Jay. “Your name is spelled J-A-
Y.”
Jay looked at it and said, “It is just the same, Mom. It
is still my name.”
His mom took a pencil and said, “Come here, Jay, and let
us write your name correctly,” his mom said as she started
writing his name.
Jay watched as his mom wrote on his paper and then
asked, “Why do I have to spell it right, Mom?” His mom
smiled and said, “Your name is important. That is why you
need to spell it right. That is how people get to know you,”
she explained.
Jay took the pencil from his mom and started writing
his name again. J-a-y, J-a-y, J-a-y. “Look, Mom! Did I do it
right this time?” asked Jay as he showed the paper again
to his mother.
“That is better,” answered Jay’s mom. “Now you know
how to spell your name right.”
50 Reading Works! 1

57. A. Circle the letter of your answer.
1. Who is the boy in the story?
a. Ben c. Dan
b. Jay d. Doy
2. What did he do?
a. He wrote his name. c. He slept.
b. He played all day. d. He ate snacks.
3. Whom did he give his paper to?
a. his sister c. his mom
b. his dad d. his friend
4. According to the boy’s mom, why should he spell his
name correctly?
a. because his name is important
b. so his teacher will not get mad at him
c. so he will be able to write nicely
d. so his classmates will not copy his name
5. What did the mother in the story do when his son
spelled his name incorrectly?
a. She got mad.
b. She threw the paper.
c. She smiled and taught him how to spell it right.
d. She did not do anything.
Knowing Myself 51

58. B. Read the word beside each number. Choose a word that
rhymes with it. Circle the letter of your answer.
1. fun a. sun b. tin c. beg d. go
2. sad a. bug b. cop c. mad d. bat
3. two a. loop b. you c. tune d. good
4. gave a. drive b. proud c. cave d. love
5. ever a. cover b. even c. old d. eleven
C. Read each sentence. Tell what kind of sentence each one
is. Circle the letter of your answer.
1. What time is it?
a. telling c. commanding
b. asking d. exclamatory
2. It is a sunny day today.
a. telling c. commanding
b. asking d. exclamatory
3. Ouch! That hurts.
a. telling c. commanding
b. asking d. exclamatory
4. Please pass the bread.
a. telling c. commanding
b. asking d. exclamatory
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59. 5. The key is in my pocket.
a. telling c. commanding
b. asking d. exclamatory
D. Alphabetize each group of words. Write your answers on
the blanks.
1. day wig and
___________ ___________ ___________
2. go so no
___________ ___________ ___________
3. make rake take
___________ ___________ ___________
4. nail elf king
___________ ___________ ___________
5. happy sad mad
___________ ___________ ___________
Knowing Myself 53

60. E. Answer each question. Circle the correct answer.
1. Which word has a long /a/ sound?
a. bake c. cap
b. bat d. mat
2. Which word has a short /e/ sound?
a. keep c. stem
b. read d. eat
3. Which word has a long /o/ sound?
a. above c. cot
b. top d. bone
4. Which word has a short /i/ sound?
a. dig c. bite
b. pipe d. ice
5. Which word has a long /u/ sound?
a. bus c. fume
b. sum d. gum
54 Reading Works! 1