The Secret Shortcut

Language: English | Español

The feature book is a story about two friends, Wendell and Floyd, who discover a secret shortcut – and loads of adventure- in an effort to arrive at school on time. In this math based episode, LeVar spends time in New York City’s Central Park where he takes viewers in an orienteering excursion using a map and a compass to find special flags placed around the park. We also travel to the Philadelphia Zoo’s newly reconstructed Primate Reserve, where viewers see how architects created their own map of the reserve before it was built.

Here are activities to do after watching this episode:

Create a Community Map

You will need:

Crayons
Writing Paper
Drawing Paper

Before you start drawing, help your child make a list of important buildings, landmarks and places you would see in a community. A hospital, library, supermarket or school are examples of some of the buildings you might see.
Have your child draw the places and things you decided to include on your map, in different places on the drawing paper.
Next draw the streets and pathways connecting one place or landmark to another.

Now give your child a list of errands to run to and from different places in your make believe town. Have them map out a path to get from one place to another.

Map Out an Adventure

It’s fun to act out stories, so invite children to go on a Bear Hunt. Stand in a circle and ask kids to chant words and repeat actions after you.

I woke up in the morning - stretch
I decided to search for bear - show claws and teeth
I dressed in warm clothes – act as if your pulling on pants and a coat
And headed out the door - march
I walked through the tall grass - push aside tall grass
I squished through the mud – slow motion labored walking
I swam across the river – make swimming motions

When you encounter the bear in its cave, you turn around and run home, retracing your steps in reverse order, but at a much faster pace.

Check out some of these books on your
next trip to the library:

Pipsqueaks! Maze School by Patrick Merrell
Mapping Penny’s World by Loreen Leedy
How Tall, How Short, How Faraway by David A. Adler

READING RAINBOW has a resource library that includes teacher guide materials as well as reading programs for use in the public libraries. You can download these resources from GPN at:
www.gpnresources.com

If you would like more information about READING RAINBOW or if you would like to learn more about other educational products please visit the GPN web site.

The Secret Shortcut

Here are activities to do after watching this episode:

Create a Community Map

Map Out an Adventure

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Check out some of these books on your
next trip to the library:

The Secret Shortcut

Here are activities to do after watching this episode:

Create a Community Map

Map Out an Adventure

Activity title goes in this space

Activity title goes in this space

Activity title goes in this space

Activity title goes in this space

Check out some of these books on your next trip to the library:

Check out some of these books on your
next trip to the library: