Hedgie's English Quest
Map › Ch 1 · Word Power
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Chapter 1 · Book pages 5–7

🔤 Word Power

Sound-twins, spelling detectives, animal word families and word partners.

By the end of this lesson, you can…
  • pick the right homophone (sound-twin) for a sentence, like threw or through
  • spot the correct spelling among four look-alikes
  • name animal sounds, babies, homes and groups
  • know special people words like patriot and leader
  • choose word partners that go together, like deep breath
Start the story →Jump to quiz
Words are like quills. The more you have, the stronger you are! Let's collect some. 🪶
📖 Story time

The Mixed-Up Message

One frosty morning in Bramblewood, Hedgie pinned a note on the old oak tree for Ollie the Owl.

HedgieI wrote it all by myself! It says: “Meat me at the in by the river. I will by you a pear of socks.”
🦉
Ollie the OwlHoo-hoo! Hedgie, why would I want to eat a pear of socks? And meat is something you eat!
HedgieOh no! But the words sound exactly right when I say them out loud…
🦉
Ollie the OwlThat's because they are homophones: sound-twins! Meet and meat sound the same but mean different things. You meant meet me at the inn, buy you a pair of socks.
🦊
Fizz the FoxHa! I bet you can't spell blizzard either, Hedgie. Is it blizarrd? bleezzard?
HedgieHmm… I'll be a spelling detective! B-L-I-Z-Z-A-R-D. Two Z's in the middle, like a buzzing snowstorm: zzz!
🦉
Ollie the OwlSplendid! Words are like quills, Hedgie. Every new word you learn makes you stronger. Today we'll collect sound-twins, tricky spellings and animal words.

And so the word-collecting adventure began…

💡 Big ideas

Let's learn it

Read each card, try the example sentences out loud (tap 🔊), then answer the Quick check.

1

👯Homophones: sound-twins

Homophones are words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings. Your ears can't tell them apart, so you must use the meaning of the sentence to choose.

Sound-twin 1Sound-twin 2 (or 3)
threw: past of throwthrough: from one side to the other
whole: all of ithole: a gap or pit
right: correctwrite: with a pen · rite: a ceremony
buy: pay forby: near · bye: goodbye
too: also / veryto: towards · two: 2
heir: next to get the throneair: what we breathe
pour: let liquid flowpoor: having little money
route: a way to goroot: part of a plant (often said the same way)
  • He threw the ball through the window. threw = the action · through = the path
  • The soup is too hot to drink. too = more than enough
  • We stayed at a cosy inn by the river. inn = a small hotel; in = inside
Hedgie's trickPicture tricks! too has too many O's. You eat meat (meat has 'eat' inside). You hear with your ear. A pear is to eat (p-EA-r).
Olympiad trap!The question usually gives you all the sound-twins as options. Don't choose by sound. Ask: “What does the sentence mean?” Then match the meaning.
🧐 Quick check
The prince was announced as the ______ to the throne.
2

🔍Spelling detective

Olympiad questions often show four spellings that look almost the same. Only one is right. Use these detective tools:

  • Chunk it: break a long word into small pieces: ag·ri·cul·ture, ex·pres·sion.
  • Prefix + root: il + literate = illiterate (not able to read or write).
  • Double letters: say the word and listen for the bouncy sound: snuggle, blizzard, raccoon.
  • Word endings: -tion makes a 'shun' sound: resolution, expression (after double s, use -sion).
  • Applaud: to show approval by clapping ap·plaud (the 'aw' sound is spelt AU, like in 'August')
  • Camouflage: to hide something by blending in ca·mou·flage. A chameleon is the king of camouflage!
  • Ornament: a decorative item orna + ment (like 'parliament', 'pavement')
  • Indignant: feeling angry because something is unfair in·dig·nant (begins with IN, ends with ANT)
Hedgie's trickCover the options with your hand and try to spell the word yourself first. Then look for the option that matches yours.
Olympiad trap!Wrong options often swap one vowel (Ornement, Ornament) or use a K for a C (Kemouflag). Check every letter, not just the start.
🧐 Quick check
Which is the correct spelling of the word that means farming?
3

🐾Animal word families

The Olympiad loves animal words! Learn them in four families: sounds, young ones, homes and groups (collective nouns).

AnimalSoundYoung oneHome
owlhootsowletnest / hollow
dogbarkspuppykennel
lionroarscubden
horseneighsfoalstable
goatbleatskidshed / pen
frogcroakstadpolepond
beebuzzeslarvahive
flybuzzesmaggot-
polar beargrowlscubden
  • a choir of singers · a band of musicians a choir sings; a band plays instruments
  • a fleet of ships · a herd of cattle fleet = ships, cars or planes moving together
  • a school (or shoal) of fish · a pride of lions · a swarm of bees school & shoal are for fish only
Olympiad trap!Don't mix up kid (baby goat) with cub (baby lion or bear), or school (fish) with fleet (ships).
Fun factA baby hedgehog is called a hoglet! A group of hedgehogs is called an array. And giraffes are very quiet, but books say they bleat (and they hum at night!).
🧐 Quick check
What is the young one of a fly called?
4

🧑‍🚀“Who am I?” people words

Some single words describe a whole person. They save you from using a long phrase.

  • A person who loves their country → patriot
  • A person who inspires and guides others → leader
  • A person who writes books → author
  • A person who reads the news on TV → anchor / newsreader
  • A person who acts in films → actor
  • The head of a school → principal
Hedgie's trickRead the clue, then imagine the person doing it. A patriot waves the flag proudly on Independence Day 🇮🇳.
🧐 Quick check
What do you call a person who loves their country?
5

🤝Word partners

Some words love to hold hands. They just sound right together. These are called collocations (word partners). We say a deep breath, not a deep deal.

  • Take a deep breath before you start. deep + breath
  • The baby is fast asleep. fast asleep = sleeping deeply
  • We had heavy rain last night. not 'strong rain'
  • You made the right decision. make a decision · do homework · take a photo
Hedgie's trickNot sure? Say each option out loud in a little sentence. The partner that sounds natural is usually correct. 🔊
🧐 Quick check
Which word fits best with deep?
🗺️ Mind map

The whole chapter on one page

Tap a branch to focus on it. Can you explain each bubble to someone at home?

🃏 Flashcards

Flip & remember

Say the answer in your head before you flip. Be honest — "not yet" cards go to your Review Burrow for later.

📘 Book mission

Now practise in your workbook

Use a pencil. Do each set, then check with the answer key and tick it off here.

📗 Open the answer key
🎁 Wrap-up

Remember these

  1. Homophones sound the same but mean different things. Choose by meaning, not sound.
  2. To check spelling: chunk the word, look for prefixes and listen for double letters.
  3. Animals have special words for their sound, baby, home and group (owl hoots, fly → maggot, bear → den, fleet of ships).
  4. One word can describe a person: patriot, leader, author.
  5. Some words are partners: deep breath, fast asleep, heavy rain.

🦔 Teach Hedgie!

Hedgie still mixes up too, to and two. Write him a short note explaining the difference, with one sentence for each.

Explaining something in your own words is the best way to make it stick.

How do you feel about this chapter?

Take the quiz 🧭
Synonyms and Antonyms →