Ready Steady Read Together
A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals: Non-Fiction Lesson 1
What do you think you know?
What?
Who?
Why?
Where?
How?
When?
Book Talk: Let's explore this illustration.
Explore
What do you know and think?
Every October for nine whole days the skies of Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the USA are scattered with hot air balloons in every colour imaginable, creating the largest balloon festival in the world.
How might this extract link to the illustration?
From: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Today's Question(s)
Teacher Model Question OnlyWhen is the balloon fiesta held?
A) How long does the balloon festival last?
B) When the festival first started in 1972, how many balloons were there?
C) Why are the people who help the pilots and the crew called Zebras?
D) What are some of the shapes that can be seen at the Special Shape Rodeo?
Explore
Let me read today's text whilst I show you the illustrations...
Explore
Adapted from: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021. Adapted for accessibility under CLA Licence. Do not share.
Adapted from: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021. Adapted for accessibility under CLA Licence. Do not share.
Common Exception Words
Explore
every
whole
people
who
Explore
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
imaginable
launched
highlights
skywards
gaze
menagerie
From: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
I will model the first.
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
imaginable
Explore
Find Read Talk
Reveal Vocabulary
Adapted from: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021. Adapted for accessibility under CLA Licence. Do not share.
imaginable
Your turn
highlights
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
launched
skywards
gaze
menagerie
Use your text
Explore
Vocabulary Check & Re-read
Explore
Reveal Vocabulary
Adapted from: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021. Adapted for accessibility under CLA Licence. Do not share.
Reveal Vocabulary
Adapted from: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021. Adapted for accessibility under CLA Licence. Do not share.
Fluency
Explore
Let me use my reader's voice...
One of the highlights of the events is the Special Shape Rodeo. During this event balloons of all shapes and sizes are launched into the air. Cows, dinosaurs, bumblebees, zebras, clowns, giraffes, fish and almost every other shape imaginable float skywards as thousands of people below gaze up at this menagerie of balloons.
What did you notice?
From: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
My Turn
Your Turn
Echo Read
One of the highlights of the events is the Special Shape Rodeo.
During this event balloons of all shapes and sizes are launched into the air.
Cows, dinosaurs, bumblebees, zebras, clowns, giraffes, fish
and almost every other shape imaginable float skywards
as thousands of people below gaze up at this menagerie of balloons.
From: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Sound like a reader!
Stand up!
Choral Read
One of the highlights of the events is the Special Shape Rodeo. During this event balloons of all shapes and sizes are launched into the air. Cows, dinosaurs, bumblebees, zebras, clowns, giraffes, fish and almost every other shape imaginable float skywards as thousands of people below gaze up at this menagerie of balloons.
From: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Focus
Explore
Strategy: Look Around & Find and Take
Be a word thief and steal what you've been asked to find...
What's the question asking? Now, what are you looking for?
Teacher Model Question Only When is the balloon fiesta held?
Let me show you
Reveal Text Marks
Every October for nine whole days the skies of Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the USA are scattered with hot air balloons in every colour imaginable, creating the largest balloon festival in the world.
Teacher Model Question OnlyWhen is the balloon fiesta held?
Reveal Explainer
I will look around for something that will tell me the time of year. Months of a year start with capital letters so that will help me to find the answer. I can see that the festival is held every year in October.
From: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Stop
What else could you use to answer today's question(s)?
Teach
Your Turn
A) How long does the balloon festival last?
B) When the festival first started in 1972, how many balloons were there?
C) Why are the people who help the pilots and the crew called Zebras?
D) What are some of the shapes that can be seen at the Special Shape Rodeo?
Text mark
Find the answers
Explore
Acceptable Answers
Click to reveal...
for nine (whole) days
A) How long does the balloon festival last?
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
B) When the festival first started in 1972, how many balloons were there?
Text Mark Evidence beginning in 1972 with just 13 balloons
13
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
C) Why are the people who help the pilots and the crew called Zebras?
Text Mark Evidence called Zebras because of the black-and-white striped shirts they wear
they wear black-and-white striped shirts
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
cows
dinosaurs
bumblebees
D) What are some of the shapes that can be seen at the Special Shape Rodeo?
zebras
clowns
giraffes
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
fish
every (other) shape imaginable
Practise & Apply
Quiz Time
Start
Picture Me
Which image is the best match for ‘menagerie’?
Which One's Right?
One of the highlights of the events is the Special Shape Rodeo.
The word highlights means that the rodeo is…
B dark
A exciting
C bright
D boring
True or False?
There is a museum at Balloon Fiesta Park.
False
True
Fill the Gaps
skywards
imaginable
gaze
Cows, dinosaurs, bumblebees, zebras, clowns, giraffes, fish and almost every other shape float as thousands of people below up at this menagerie of balloons.
Discuss then check
Click if correct
Feedback: Who did what well?
FindRead Talk
EchoRead
ChoralRead
ReadingStrategy
Answers & Text Marks
Other...
To be a book lover, you could...
retell what you learn.
Reveal
Share new knowledge with friends or family.
Copyright Notice
This document has been supplied under a CLA Licence with specific terms of use. It is protected by copyright and, save as may be permitted by law, it may not be further copied, stored, re-copied electronically or otherwise shared, even for internal purposes, without the prior further permission of the Rightsholder. Extracts sourced and adadpted for accessibility from: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021 Schools must purchase the original text for full content.
skywards
imaginable
gaze
RSRT Y2 L1 Celebrations and Festivals
Literacy Counts
Created on June 26, 2025
Start designing with a free template
Discover more than 1500 professional designs like these:
View
Urban Illustrated Presentation
View
3D Corporate Reporting
View
Discover Your AI Assistant
View
Vision Board
View
SWOT Challenge: Classify Key Factors
View
Explainer Video: Keys to Effective Communication
View
Explainer Video: AI for Companies
Explore all templates
Transcript
Ready Steady Read Together
A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals: Non-Fiction Lesson 1
What do you think you know?
What?
Who?
Why?
Where?
How?
When?
Book Talk: Let's explore this illustration.
Explore
What do you know and think?
Every October for nine whole days the skies of Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the USA are scattered with hot air balloons in every colour imaginable, creating the largest balloon festival in the world.
How might this extract link to the illustration?
From: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Today's Question(s)
Teacher Model Question OnlyWhen is the balloon fiesta held?
A) How long does the balloon festival last?
B) When the festival first started in 1972, how many balloons were there?
C) Why are the people who help the pilots and the crew called Zebras?
D) What are some of the shapes that can be seen at the Special Shape Rodeo?
Explore
Let me read today's text whilst I show you the illustrations...
Explore
Adapted from: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021. Adapted for accessibility under CLA Licence. Do not share.
Adapted from: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021. Adapted for accessibility under CLA Licence. Do not share.
Common Exception Words
Explore
every
whole
people
who
Explore
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
imaginable
launched
highlights
skywards
gaze
menagerie
From: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
I will model the first.
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
imaginable
Explore
Find Read Talk
Reveal Vocabulary
Adapted from: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021. Adapted for accessibility under CLA Licence. Do not share.
imaginable
Your turn
highlights
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
launched
skywards
gaze
menagerie
Use your text
Explore
Vocabulary Check & Re-read
Explore
Reveal Vocabulary
Adapted from: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021. Adapted for accessibility under CLA Licence. Do not share.
Reveal Vocabulary
Adapted from: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021. Adapted for accessibility under CLA Licence. Do not share.
Fluency
Explore
Let me use my reader's voice...
One of the highlights of the events is the Special Shape Rodeo. During this event balloons of all shapes and sizes are launched into the air. Cows, dinosaurs, bumblebees, zebras, clowns, giraffes, fish and almost every other shape imaginable float skywards as thousands of people below gaze up at this menagerie of balloons.
What did you notice?
From: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
My Turn
Your Turn
Echo Read
One of the highlights of the events is the Special Shape Rodeo.
During this event balloons of all shapes and sizes are launched into the air.
Cows, dinosaurs, bumblebees, zebras, clowns, giraffes, fish
and almost every other shape imaginable float skywards
as thousands of people below gaze up at this menagerie of balloons.
From: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Sound like a reader!
Stand up!
Choral Read
One of the highlights of the events is the Special Shape Rodeo. During this event balloons of all shapes and sizes are launched into the air. Cows, dinosaurs, bumblebees, zebras, clowns, giraffes, fish and almost every other shape imaginable float skywards as thousands of people below gaze up at this menagerie of balloons.
From: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Focus
Explore
Strategy: Look Around & Find and Take
Be a word thief and steal what you've been asked to find...
What's the question asking? Now, what are you looking for?
Teacher Model Question Only When is the balloon fiesta held?
Let me show you
Reveal Text Marks
Every October for nine whole days the skies of Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the USA are scattered with hot air balloons in every colour imaginable, creating the largest balloon festival in the world.
Teacher Model Question OnlyWhen is the balloon fiesta held?
Reveal Explainer
I will look around for something that will tell me the time of year. Months of a year start with capital letters so that will help me to find the answer. I can see that the festival is held every year in October.
From: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Stop
What else could you use to answer today's question(s)?
Teach
Your Turn
A) How long does the balloon festival last?
B) When the festival first started in 1972, how many balloons were there?
C) Why are the people who help the pilots and the crew called Zebras?
D) What are some of the shapes that can be seen at the Special Shape Rodeo?
Text mark
Find the answers
Explore
Acceptable Answers
Click to reveal...
for nine (whole) days
A) How long does the balloon festival last?
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
B) When the festival first started in 1972, how many balloons were there?
Text Mark Evidence beginning in 1972 with just 13 balloons
13
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
C) Why are the people who help the pilots and the crew called Zebras?
Text Mark Evidence called Zebras because of the black-and-white striped shirts they wear
they wear black-and-white striped shirts
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
cows
dinosaurs
bumblebees
D) What are some of the shapes that can be seen at the Special Shape Rodeo?
zebras
clowns
giraffes
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
fish
every (other) shape imaginable
Practise & Apply
Quiz Time
Start
Picture Me
Which image is the best match for ‘menagerie’?
Which One's Right?
One of the highlights of the events is the Special Shape Rodeo.
The word highlights means that the rodeo is…
B dark
A exciting
C bright
D boring
True or False?
There is a museum at Balloon Fiesta Park.
False
True
Fill the Gaps
skywards
imaginable
gaze
Cows, dinosaurs, bumblebees, zebras, clowns, giraffes, fish and almost every other shape float as thousands of people below up at this menagerie of balloons.
Discuss then check
Click if correct
Feedback: Who did what well?
FindRead Talk
EchoRead
ChoralRead
ReadingStrategy
Answers & Text Marks
Other...
To be a book lover, you could...
retell what you learn.
Reveal
Share new knowledge with friends or family.
Copyright Notice
This document has been supplied under a CLA Licence with specific terms of use. It is protected by copyright and, save as may be permitted by law, it may not be further copied, stored, re-copied electronically or otherwise shared, even for internal purposes, without the prior further permission of the Rightsholder. Extracts sourced and adadpted for accessibility from: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr © 2021 Schools must purchase the original text for full content.
skywards
imaginable
gaze