Level 1
• I’m a fluffy, crunchy snack enjoyed especially during movie time.
• I start as a hard little kernel, but with heat, I puff into a cloud.
• People love me sweet or salty, and I often come in a big red-and-white striped tub at the theater.
Popcorn Popping.
Have you ever made it on the stove or in one of those old-fashioned poppers?
• I strut in the barnyard with feathers so bright.
• I’m not just any bird; I’m the loud one in the morning who says it’s time to rise.
• You’ll find me with hens. I’ve got a comb on my head and a crown that’s gold.
Rooster.
Have you ever heard a rooster crow in the morning?
• You’ll hear me chime on Sunday morn, a sound of peace since I was born.
• I can signal a wedding, a funeral, or a prayer.
• With every toll, I mark the hour.
Church Bells.
Have you ever heard church bells ringing across a quiet town or countryside?
• I speak in dots and dashes, not letters or words.
• I was used in war and across the sea. My signals were short and used urgently.
• SOS is my most famous phrase.
Morse Code.
Did you ever try to send a secret code with a flashlight or a buzzer, or by tapping on a table?
• I’m held in your hand and filled with beads; I keep the beat in Latin leads.
• I often come in a pair and love to be loud as I shake to the rhythm for a crowd.
• I’m often made of wood or bright-colored plastic.
Maracas Shaking.
Have you ever seen or made your own maracas from plastic eggs, beans, or beads?
• I sit on the stove and heat up with care. When I start to whistle, hot water is there.
• I’m not a teacup, not a pot, but I help make drinks nice and hot.
• Before the microwave or electric spout, I was the way hot drinks came out.
Tea Kettle Whistling.
What kind of tea have you enjoyed: black, green, herbal, or something sweet and spiced?
• I can crush ice or make a smoothie.
• With my sharp spinning blades and loud humming sound, I turn fruits and veggies all the way around.
• I have a lid on top and buttons below. Press one, and your drink will be ready to go
Blender.
Do you remember using one in your kitchen? What kinds of things did you make—milkshakes, smoothies, soups, or maybe even pancake batter?
• I live in the pasture and eat lots of grass.
• Farmers often thank me at dawn and dusk. I help fill their buckets with something white.
• I have a swishing tail and big brown eyes, and you’ll often see me under wide open skies.
Cow Mooing.
Did you ever help with milking or watch cows grazing in the pasture?
• You’ll hear my music before I’m in view, causing kids to run outside for something cold and sweet.
• I have wheels and a freezer and a very catchy song.
• I’m a colorful truck that kids love to chase. I serve cones, bars, and treats you can taste.
Ice Cream Truck.
What was your go-to ice cream truck treat?
• I hang by a string and sing in the breeze.
• You’ll find me on a porch or a tree.
• I’m made of metal, shells, or wood. I make soft sounds that feel so good.
Wind Chimes.
Have you ever picked up a wind chime while traveling, maybe in a seaside shop or a mountain town?
• I help you wake up with a rich, bold taste. Some like me black, others with cream and haste.
• I come from beans, ground fresh or fine, served in a mug of some kind.
• Some sip me slow, some gulp me fast. I’ve been perking people up since way in the past.
Coffee Brewing.
Did you brew your coffee in a percolator, drip pot, or maybe even on the stove?
I am a loud sound you hear when a driver presses a button on the steering wheel.
I can be used to warn others of danger or to get someone’s attention.
I am often short and quick, but sometimes long and drawn out.
Car Honking.
Are you prone to honking your horn or waiting it out?
• I rumble and roar across the sky, but you’ll never see me, only hear me go by.
• I often follow a flash of light, booming loudly in the night.
• You can feel me shake the ground, but I never touch it; I’m just a sound.
Thunder.
Did you ever count the seconds between lightning and thunder?
• I have cars but no wheels for driving, yet I go far, always arriving.
• I carry people and cargo through tunnels, fields, and cities.
• I puff out steam, and I stop at stations.
Train.
Did you ever ride a train as a child or as an adult?
• With needle and thread, I move up and down, stitching seams with a humming sound.
• I help make clothes with each steady line—my pedal and thread work just fine.
• I fix rips and hems with every stitch.
Sewing Machine.
Was sewing something you learned at home or in school?
• I’m part of the house but not quite inside. I hold your car and tools.
• You might find a lawnmower, paint, or a broom.
• People open my big door wide to drive in, store things, or tinker inside.
Garage Door Opening.
Did you or someone in your family work on cars, build things, or tinker in the garage?
I am an insect known for the chirping sound I make by rubbing my wings together.
I am most often heard on warm summer nights.
I am sometimes kept as food for reptiles or even as pets.
Crickets.
Do you enjoy hearing them on a summer night?
• I have a long cord and a bag or a bin. I clean your carpets again and again.
• I’m not a broom, but I clean up fast. Plug me in and hear my blast.
• I follow you around with a rumbling sound, picking up dust from the floor and ground.
Vacuum Cleaner.
Think about the first vacuum you owned. Was it heavy, or did it have a cloth bag?
• I’m moved by the moon and wind’s gentle play. I rise and fall throughout the day.
• I roll in and out, touching the sand, leaving behind seashells with every hand.
• Surfers ride on me, boats bob on me, and kids run from me as I chase their feet.
Ocean Waves.
Did you ever collect seashells, build sandcastles, or watch the waves roll in and out?
• I have two wheels and pedals to push.
• I might have a basket or even a horn. I’ve been loved by riders since I was born.
• I’m quiet on the road, and I don’t pollute the air.
Bicycle.
Did you ever ride bikes with your family or children?
• I’m played with a ball but not on a field. It’s all about aim!
• The ball has three holes for fingers for a smooth rolling throw.
• I try to knock 10 in just one go.
Bowling.
Did you bowl in a league or just for fun?
• I’m a game with flashing lights and a shiny ball. You’ll find me in arcades, making lots of noise.
• I’ve got flippers, bumpers, and a scoreboard, too.
• Pull the plunger, launch the ball, watch it bounce, and try not to let it fall.
Pinball Machine.
Do you remember playing pinball machines in arcades or diners?
I am the process of building or assembling something.
I often involve workers using tools, machines, and materials like wood, steel, or concrete.
I can refer to projects such as houses, roads, or bridges.
Construction.
Have you or someone you know ever worked in construction or with tools like a jackhammer?
I am something you should do at least twice a day to keep your mouth healthy.
I involve a brush, toothpaste, and a little bit of water.
I help prevent cavities, bad breath, and gum disease.
Brushing Teeth.
What is your favorite toothpaste flavor, besides mint?
• I’m known as “man’s best friend” and love a good belly rub.
• I might herd sheep, guard your home, or sit on your lap, but I’m always ready for a nap.
• I wag my tail when I’m happy and love to go for walks in a crowd.
Dog Barking.
Did you have a dog growing up or as an adult?
• Writers used me before the PC hit “ding” at the end.
• I use ribbon, not Wi-Fi, and paper, not a screen. I once sat on every office desk.
• Each letter you press makes a hammer swing.
Typewriter.
Did you ever write a letter, a school paper, or even a resume on a typewriter?
• I’m tiny and new. I wear diapers and drink milk, too.
• You rock me to sleep while I drool. I’m just learning to crawl, and don’t go to school.
• People hold me close and sing lullabies. I look at the world with wide, curious eyes.
Baby Laughter.
What was one of your favorite memories growing up?
This sport is played on a court with two hoops at opposite ends.
Players dribble, pass, and shoot a round orange ball.
A standard game has five players per team on the court at a time.
Basketball.
Who is your favorite team?
• I hop and leap and love to croak. I live near ponds, and on lily pads I soak.
• Green and slimy, I jump high to catch my dinner as it buzzes by.
• With big round eyes and legs so strong, I’ve been in fairy tales all along.
Frog.
Did you ever try to catch a frog as a kid?
I begin with the sound of a fizz when you pull my tab.
I release tiny bubbles that tickle your nose.
I am often followed by a refreshing first sip.
What's your favorite kind of soda?