Page 41 - Ziptales Program Manual - US

Information

Superstitions: Why do we worry about Friday the 13th? Why is breaking a mirror a problem?
What’s wrong with black cats? Why do actors say ‘break a leg’ and everyone says ‘Touch wood’?
(2012 words) (Zip Stage 9)

Body Language: Did you know that people can recognize 250,000 different facial expressions?
Or that there are clear signals that a person is lying? What’s the difference between ‘piggy eyes’
and dilated pupils? A trip into the most ancient language of all. (2632 words) (Zip Stage 10)

Serendipity: Most people are not exceptionally ‘lucky’. But occasionally someone will make
a world-changing breakthrough. This is the story of ‘happy accidents’ that have improved our
lives. (2560 words) (Zip Stage 10)

Biography

The Real Mother of Harry Potter: Joanne Rowling was a single mother living in
poverty when she started ‘Harry Potter’. Against all the odds, she finished the story that would
make her famous and rich. (1790 words) (Zip Stage 9)

The White Mouse: During the Second World War, Nancy Wake volunteered for service
in France which was controlled by the Nazis. Joining the ‘resistance’ movement, she
sabotaged arms trains and helped cripple the enemy. The story of a great hero. (2063 words)
(Zip Stage 9)

Walt Disney: The world of entertainment was completely changed by the ‘father of the
cartoon’, Walt Disney. Yet Walt’s story shows that he succeeded only through a
combination of talent and remarkable persistence. (2848 words) (Zip Stage 9)

Argument

Computer Games: Computer games have a bad press. Do they encourage violence?
Are they ‘bad for you’? Or it is all fearmongering? (2000 words) (Zip Stage 10)

Animal Rights: Many people believe that we treat animals badly. Some act on their beliefs
and refuse to eat meat. Others say it is silly to worry, since animals are ‘not human’.
(2050 words) (Zip Stage 10)

Body Image: Why are girls expected to be ‘beautiful’? What is the effect of all the constant
images in magazines and on TV of gorgeous looking models and actresses? Does it harm girls’
self esteem? (2211 words) (Zip Stage 10)

Expository

Urban Myths: An urban myth is a story that you’ve heard told, which is so weird that it couldn’t
possibly be true. Yet people believe it. Such legends include the ‘Hook’ (a lunatic sneaking up
on lovers), the ‘Babysitter’ story (a madman upstairs), ‘The Hitchhiker’ and even crocodiles in
the sewers. (1345 words) (Zip Stage 9)

The Pyramids: How did the ancient Egyptians build the pyramids, the only remaining ‘Ancient
Wonder of the World’, with such primitive tools? This explains how they were built, and why
they are significant. (1810 words) (Zip Stage 9)

What’s so funny?: Why do we laugh? What are the various types of humor? How do tastes in
jokes change between cultures and between men and women? A hilarious and insightful study
of comedy in all its forms. (2200 words) (Zip Stage 9)

At the end of every story are two interactive 39
comprehension tests, for immediate feedback.

Worksheets are available for every story.