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The Little Red Hen

About this lesson

The story of the little red hen is a classic tale that teaches us the value of hard work and responsibility. In this lesson, you will hear how the hen works hard to make a cake while her friends do not help her. This story is perfect for beginner learners as it uses simple vocabulary and phrases, allowing you to practice listening skills and comprehension. As you listen, think about the actions of each character and their choices, and how these choices affect the outcome of the story. You will also learn some new words related to cooking and animals, making your English vocabulary richer and more varied.

What you will learn

  • Identify key vocabulary related to the story.
  • Understand the main events of the story.
  • Recognize the moral lesson about hard work.
  • Practice listening comprehension through questions.
Instructions

1. Vocabulary

Read the vocabulary list to familiarize yourself with key terms.

2. Watch

Watch the video once without worrying about filling in the gaps.

3. Fill in

Fill in the gaps while watching the video again.

4. Review

Read the full text and watch again to consolidate.

Gap Fill Exercise (Script)
This is a story about a little red . The little red hen lives on a . She works hard all day long: She pecks the . She looks for . She sits in a . And sometimes… she lays an . The little red hen has three : A cat. A dog. And a horse. These animals don’t work hard at all. The cat likes to sleep in the . The dog likes to sleep in the . And the horse likes to watch all day long. One day the little red hen sees a raspberry . “Raspberries!” she squeals. “Yum yum yum! We can make a raspberry !” The little red hen runs to tell her . “Guys! There are raspberries over there! We can make a raspberry cake!” The dog drools. "Yes!" The cat licks her . "Absolutely!" The horse flicks his . "What a great idea!" So… who wants to help me pick the raspberries?” asks the little red hen. “Not me,” says the dog, “I’m too busy.” “Not me,” says the cat, “I’m too tired.” “Not me,” says the horse, “I’m watching TV.” "Then I will do it myself,” says the little red hen. So she picks the berries, one by one, all by . "Ok, now we need flour, and sugar, and milk, and butter," says the little red hen. “Who wants to help me get them?” “Not me,” says the dog, “I’m too busy.” “Not me,” says the cat, “I’m too tired.” “Not me,” says the horse, “I’m watching TV.” “Then I will do it myself,” says the little red hen. She goes all the way to the and gets the flour and the sugar. She goes all the way to the and gets the butter and the milk. Then she puts everything together into a big , all by herself. “Who wants to help me mix the cake ?” asks the little red hen. “Not me,” says the dog, “I’m too busy.” “Not me,” says the cat, “I’m too tired.” “Not me,” says the horse, “I’m watching TV.” “Then I will do it myself!” says the little red hen. She mixes the batter until it is smooth and creamy. Then she gently stirs through the raspberries. She pours the batter into a cake tin. Then she puts it in the oven. All by herself. Soon there is a delicious coming from the kitchen. The dog can smell it. The cat can smell it. The horse can smell it too. They all rush to the kitchen. The little red hen takes the cake from the oven. She puts it on a plate and sprinkles it with . “So… Who wants to help me eat this cake?” asks the little red hen. “Me!” says the dog. “Me!” says the cat. “Me!” says the horse. “I don’t think so,” says the little red hen. “You would not help me make this cake… so you will not help me eat it.” She runs away with the cake and eats every last . All by herself.
Vocabulary

hen

A female chicken.

The little red hen lives on a farm.

farm

A place where animals and crops are raised.

She lives on a farm with other animals.

ground

The surface of the earth.

She pecks the ground for food.

worms

Small, soft animals that live in the ground.

The hen looks for worms to eat.

bush

A plant with many branches and leaves.

She sits in a bush for shade.

egg

A round object laid by birds, often eaten as food.

Sometimes, she lays an egg.

friends

People or animals you like and spend time with.

The little red hen has three friends.

sun

The star that gives light and warmth to the earth.

The cat likes to sleep in the sun.

pantry

A small room or space where food is stored.

She gets flour from the pantry.

bowl

A round dish used for food.

She mixes the ingredients in a big bowl.

Cultural notes

The Value of Hard Work

In many cultures, stories like that of the little red hen emphasize the importance of hard work and personal responsibility. This lesson is often used to teach children that effort leads to rewards.

Pronunciation focus

In this story, pay attention to the pronunciation of words like 'raspberry' and 'batter.' The initial 'r' in 'raspberry' can be tricky, so be sure to pronounce it clearly. When saying 'batter,' make sure to stress the first syllable, as this is common in English. Additionally, notice how the words 'not me' are pronounced quickly in conversation, often blending into a single sound. This will help you understand spoken English better.

True / False Questions

1. The little red hen has four friends.

Show explanation
Explanation:She has three friends: a cat, a dog, and a horse.

2. The hen works hard every day.

Show explanation
Explanation:The little red hen works hard all day long.

3. The dog helps the hen pick raspberries.

Show explanation
Explanation:The dog says he is too busy to help.

4. The cat likes to watch TV.

Show explanation
Explanation:The cat likes to sleep, not watch TV.

5. The little red hen eats the cake by herself.

Show explanation
Explanation:She runs away with the cake and eats it all by herself.
Open Questions

1. What does the little red hen want to make?

Show sample answer
Sample Answer:She wants to make a raspberry cake.

2. Why don’t the animals help the little red hen?

Show sample answer
Sample Answer:The animals don't help because they say they are too busy or too tired.

3. What happens when the cake is ready?

Show sample answer
Sample Answer:When the cake is ready, the hen takes it out of the oven and puts it on a plate.

Key takeaways

  • The little red hen teaches the importance of hard work.
  • Friends may not always help when needed.
  • Working alone can lead to personal success.
  • Understanding simple stories can improve your listening skills.

How to study this lesson

To make the most of this lesson, listen to the story first without looking at the text. This will help you focus on the sounds and pronunciation. After listening, read along with the text to connect the words you heard with their written form. Take note of new vocabulary, and try to use them in sentences of your own. When reviewing, ask yourself the comprehension questions to ensure you understood the main ideas. Finally, practice shadowing by repeating the sentences aloud to improve your speaking skills.

Full Transcript

Transcript adapted by ListenLoop for language learners. Read alongside the video to consolidate comprehension.

This is a story about a little red hen. The little red hen lives on a farm. She works hard all day long: She pecks the ground. She looks for worms. She sits in a bush. And sometimes… she lays an egg. The little red hen has three friends: A cat. A dog. And a horse. These animals don’t work hard at all. The cat likes to sleep in the sun. The dog likes to sleep in the shade. And the horse likes to watch TV all day long. One day the little red hen sees a raspberry bush. “Raspberries!” she squeals. “Yum yum yum! We can make a raspberry cake!” The little red hen runs to tell her friends. “Guys! There are raspberries over there! We can make a raspberry cake!” The dog drools. "Yes!" The cat licks her lips. "Absolutely!" The horse flicks his tail. "What a great idea!" So… who wants to help me pick the raspberries?” asks the little red hen. “Not me,” says the dog, “I’m too busy.” “Not me,” says the cat, “I’m too tired.” “Not me,” says the horse, “I’m watching TV.” "Then I will do it myself,” says the little red hen. So she picks the berries, one by one, all by herself. "Ok, now we need flour, and sugar, and milk, and butter," says the little red hen. “Who wants to help me get them?” “Not me,” says the dog, “I’m too busy.” “Not me,” says the cat, “I’m too tired.” “Not me,” says the horse, “I’m watching TV.” “Then I will do it myself,” says the little red hen. She goes all the way to the pantry and gets the flour and the sugar. She goes all the way to the fridge and gets the butter and the milk. Then she puts everything together into a big bowl, all by herself. “Who wants to help me mix the cake batter?” asks the little red hen. “Not me,” says the dog, “I’m too busy.” “Not me,” says the cat, “I’m too tired.” “Not me,” says the horse, “I’m watching TV.” “Then I will do it myself!” says the little red hen. She mixes the batter until it is smooth and creamy. Then she gently stirs through the raspberries. She pours the batter into a cake tin. Then she puts it in the oven. All by herself. Soon there is a delicious smell coming from the kitchen. The dog can smell it. The cat can smell it. The horse can smell it too. They all rush to the kitchen. The little red hen takes the cake from the oven. She puts it on a plate and sprinkles it with sugar. “So… Who wants to help me eat this cake?” asks the little red hen. “Me!” says the dog. “Me!” says the cat. “Me!” says the horse. “I don’t think so,” says the little red hen. “You would not help me make this cake… so you will not help me eat it.” She runs away with the cake and eats every last crumb. All by herself.

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