The Lost Sandals Levels- 29-30

In The Lost Sandals, David is convinced he left his new sandals in the locker room before long-jump practice, but when they mysteriously disappear, Rebecca appears wearing a pair identical to his. The story unfolds with a mix of rivalry and humour as David tries to reclaim his sandals while competing against Rebecca in the long jump. This engaging narrative features realistic, informal dialogue and colloquial language such as œFat chance and œMiss Know-it-all, enriching readers' understanding of everyday speech. The book skilfully uses similes-like Rebecca's legs stretched over the stream œlike rubber bands-and expressive facial illustrations to convey character emotions. The twist ending adds intrigue while verbs like œpounded, œsailed, and œsnatched inject dynamic action into the story. This text supports comprehension through multiple perspectives and colloquial nuances, helping students develop prediction skills and vocabulary recognition within relatable school and community themes.

Educational Benefits:

• Enhances understanding of informal and colloquial language in realistic contexts
• Develops ability to make and support predictions using textual evidence
• Encourages exploration of similes and expressive verbs to enrich vocabulary
• Supports interpreting character emotions through facial expressions and dialogue

Classroom Ideas:

• Role-play scenes to practice informal dialogue and colloquial expressions
• Discuss the use of similes and create original similes based on classroom experiences
• Analyse the narrative from different character perspectives to deepen comprehension
• Write alternate endings exploring different conflict resolutions

Information:

• Ages: 9-11 years
• Reading Level: 29-30 (Sapphire)
• Format: Paperback, 48 pages
• Dimensions: 20.5 cm x 13.5 cm