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ZEKASTRAKids
Letter Island

Lessons · Hece the owl

Learn with Hece

Every unit on Letter Island works the same way: first a short lesson Hece reads aloud, then the games, then three small questions. Answer them and the unit's treasure chest opens.

  1. 1Learn
  2. 2Play
  3. 3Show

Little stars Ages 3–5

  1. Unit 1 · 5 games

    First sounds

    Read the lesson
    1. Every word starts with a sound. Listen: b-b-bee. Bee starts with the sound b.
    2. Which pictures start with the sound s? Say each name slowly.
    3. Words have beats. Clap them with me: bal-loon. Two beats!
    4. Rhyming words end with the same sound, like bee and tree. Listen to the ends!
    The three questions
    1. Which picture starts with the sound l? (answer: (picture))
    2. Which word has two beats? (answer: (picture))
    3. Which one rhymes with bee? (answer: (picture))
  2. Unit 2 · 5 games

    Letter friends

    Read the lesson
    1. Letters stand for sounds. Put s, u and n together and you get sun!
    2. Join the parts: bal and loon make balloon.
    3. A letter fell out! s, something, n. Say it slowly: s-u-n. The missing letter is u.
    4. Now read it yourself. The sign says sun. Tap the picture it shows.
    The three questions
    1. Read the word: sun. Which picture is it? (answer: (picture))
    2. Which letter is missing? s _ n (answer: u)
    3. Clap: bal-loon. How many beats? (answer: (picture))

Explorers Ages 6–8

  1. Unit 1 · 6 games

    Word builders

    Read the lesson
    1. Long words are easier in beats. Clap each one: but-ter-fly, three beats!
    2. To spell a word, say it slowly and write each sound: f-i-sh. Watch out: the sound sh needs two letters!
    3. Every letter has a big shape and a small shape. Some small letters hang below the line, like g, p and y.
    4. Rhyme pairs end with the same sound: cake and lake. Listen to the endings.
    The three questions
    1. How many beats are in 'elephant'? (answer: 3)
    2. Which letter makes a real word? c _ t (answer: a)
    3. Which small letter hangs below the line? (answer: p)
  2. Unit 2 · 5 games

    Word hunters and readers

    Read the lesson
    1. In a word search, words hide in straight lines. Find the first letter, then follow its neighbours. Can you find BLUE?
    2. Read every word: colour, number and place all matter. Two red apples on a box.
    3. A sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop. Who? Hece. Does what? Reads a book.
    4. For long words, spell one beat at a time: rain, then bow. Rainbow!
    The three questions
    1. Read: three yellow stars. Which picture is it? (answer: (picture))
    2. Which one is written as a correct sentence? (answer: The cat sleeps.)
    3. What do you look for first in a word search? (answer: The first letter)

Captains Ages 9–10

  1. Unit 1 · 6 games

    Word wizards

    Read the lesson
    1. Every beat has a vowel sound. Count the vowels to count the beats: hel-i-cop-ter has four.
    2. With several letters missing, read the whole word in your head first. Rain... bow! The gaps are r and b.
    3. A true rhyme matches the whole ending: light and night rhyme. Light and lift only look alike.
    4. Keep letters sitting on the line. Tall letters reach up, like h and k. Tails hang below, like g and y.
    The three questions
    1. How many syllables are in 'television'? (answer: 4)
    2. Which pair is a true rhyme? (answer: light – night)
    3. Fill the gaps: b _ tt _ rfly (answer: u, e)
  2. Unit 2 · 5 games

    Champion readers

    Read the lesson
    1. Champion word searchers start with the longest word and hunt for a rare letter, like Z or Q. Words can run in eight directions, even backwards!
    2. Read the whole sentence before choosing: 'Hedgie is on the box.' One small word changes the picture!
    3. Longer sentences answer questions. Who? Tosbi. Does what? Swims. Where? In the pond.
    4. A great sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop, a question mark or an exclamation mark.
    The three questions
    1. Read: 'The star is above the box.' Which picture is it? (answer: (picture))
    2. Which sentence is in the right order? (answer: Tosbi swims in the pond.)
    3. Which mark ends a question? (answer: ?)

6 lessons, 24 illustrated pages and 18 questions. Lessons are read aloud with your device's own voice; nothing is sent or saved.