ClassX Video Lessons Grade Grade 2 How to Babysit a Unicorn | Kids Book Read Aloud | Story Time with Khan Academy Kids
Welcome to Story Time! My name is Denise, and I’m thrilled to share a delightful tale with you today. We’re diving into the enchanting world of unicorns with the story “How to Babysit a Unicorn” by Jessica Martinez. You can follow along with this magical adventure using our free Khan Academy Kids app.
In this story, our young narrator has a rather extraordinary task: babysitting her class pet. But this isn’t just any pet—it’s a unicorn! Imagine the excitement and the challenges that come with such a unique responsibility.
At our narrator’s school, every class has a special pet. Preschoolers have a dragon, kindergarteners have a griffin, and first graders have a chimera. In second grade, the class pet is a unicorn. To earn the privilege of babysitting this magical creature during spring break, students must read as many books as possible. Our narrator wins the contest by reading 23 books, all about unicorns, and is given a list of instructions on how to care for the unicorn.
Babysitting a unicorn is as magical as it sounds. The unicorn creates rainbows with her horn, and together, they explore the city. She even uses her horn to revive gardens and make friends with animals. However, things start to get a bit chaotic when the narrator forgets to fluff the unicorn’s cloud bed, leading to a wet mess. The unicorn also munches on crayons, and glitter from her magic spreads everywhere.
The next morning, the narrator wakes up to find the unicorn missing. In a panic, she searches the house, worried that the unicorn might be lost or hurt. She realizes that if she had kept the unicorn’s space tidy and followed the care instructions, the unicorn wouldn’t have wandered off. After apologizing to neighbors and helping clean up, she promises to care for the unicorn properly.
Back home, the narrator diligently follows her teacher’s instructions: fluffing the cloud, feeding the unicorn oats and stardust, and ensuring everything is in order. Babysitting a unicorn is hard work, but there’s still plenty of time for fun and play.
Our clever second grader learns a valuable lesson: pets are a joy, but they come with great responsibility. If you’re lucky enough to have a pet, remember to take good care of them. They rely on you for their well-being and happiness.
If you enjoyed this story and want to explore more magical tales, download our free Khan Academy Kids app, available on the Apple, Google Play, and Amazon app stores. Thank you for joining me today. Happy reading, and see you next time!
Create Your Own Magical Pet: Imagine you have a magical pet like a unicorn. What would it look like? What special powers would it have? Draw a picture of your magical pet and write a short story about an adventure you would have together. Share your drawing and story with your family or friends.
Unicorn Care Checklist: Think about the responsibilities involved in taking care of a pet. Create a checklist of things you would need to do to take care of a unicorn. Include tasks like feeding, cleaning, and playing. Use this checklist to help you understand what it means to be responsible for a pet.
Observe and Report: Spend some time observing a pet you know, whether it’s your own or a friend’s. What does the pet need to stay happy and healthy? Write down your observations and think about how these needs are similar to or different from the needs of a magical pet like a unicorn.
