1.2: Sweetgrass
- Page ID
- 47734
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)
\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
\( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)
\( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)
\( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)
\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}} % arrow\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}} % arrow\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)
\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)
Learning Goals
In this chapter, you will learn to:
- Print the alphabet in upper case letters
- Hear, read, and write words with a short /a/ and a short /i/
- Copy short sentences
- Read common sight words in a paragraph
- Answer questions about a story
- Complete sentences with original ideas
- Begin a sentence with an upper case letter
Talk About It
- What are some ways that plants help people?
Picture Dictionary | ||
Use the pictures to help you figure out the words. | ||
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
hurt | street | braid |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
house | grass | break |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
feelings | bend | walk |
![]() | ||
roots |
Practice reading the words without the pictures. | ||||
street | house | walk | bend | break |
hurt | grass | roots | braid | feelings |
Word Skills
Word Patterns
The letters a, e, i, o, and u are called vowels. The letter a says /a/ like in apple.

Match the word to the picture.
cap | sad | rat | sat |
fat | map | mad | nap |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
1. ____________ | 2. ____________ | 3. ____________ |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
4.____________ | 5.____________ | 6. ____________ |
![]() | ![]() | |
7. ____________ | 8.____________ |
Word Patterns
The letter i says /i/ like in itch.

Match the word to the picture.
lip | wig | rip |
hit | fin | dig |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
9. ____________ | 10. ____________ | 11. ____________ |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
12. ____________ | 13. ____________ | 14. ____________ |
Pick the word that matches the picture. | |||
15. | ![]() | rit | rat |
16. | ![]() | fan | fin |
17. | ![]() | nap | nip |
18. | ![]() | wag | wig |
19. | ![]() | sad | sid |
20. | ![]() | fit | fat |
Read these sentences. Practice writing them. |
The rat had a nap. |
![]() |
The map has a rip. |
![]() |
He has a fat lip. |
![]() |
She sat on the cap. |
![]() |
I am mad. |
![]() |
You will see these words in the story. They all have the /a/ sound like apple.
Max | at | grass |
asks | after | that |
away | bad | happy |
You will see these words in the story. They all have the /i/ sound like itch.
live | kids | in |
is | pick | it |
if | this | will |
Use Your Reading Skills
Listen to the story Sweetgrass. Then read Sweetgrass in BC Reads: Adult Literacy Fundamental English – Reader 1.
An audio element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can listen to it online here: https://opentextbc.ca/abealf1/?p=5
Check Your Understanding
Circle yes if the sentence is right. Circle no if the sentence is wrong.
1. Dan used to live on the street. | yes | no |
2. Max and Dan are both Cree. | yes | no |
3. Sweetgrass is tall. | yes | no |
4. Sweetgrass breaks when you step on it. | yes | no |
5. Max and Dan eat the sweetgrass. | yes | no |
6. Dan says sweetgrass takes away bad feelings. | yes | no |
Writing
Below are all the letters of the alphabet. They are in lower case. Write each letter in upper case. The first one is done for you.
a ___A___ | b _______ | c _______ | d _______ |
e _______ | f _______ | g _______ | h _______ |
i _______ | j _______ | k _______ | l _______ |
m _______ | n _______ | o _______ | p _______ |
q _______ | r _______ | s _______ | t _______ |
u _______ | v _______ | w _______ | x _______ |
y _______ | z _______ |
Grammar Rule
Always use an upper case letter at the beginning of a sentence.
She has a red wig. – YES
she has a red wig. – NO
Writing Task
What makes you feel better when you feel bad? Fill in the blanks. Your instructor will help you spell.
Example: I feel better when I go for a walk.
1. I feel better when I ________________________________________.
2. I feel better when I ________________________________________.
3. I feel better when I ________________________________________.
Answer Key | |
Word Skills | |
QUESTION | ANSWER |
1 | map |
2 | rat |
3 | nap |
4 | mad |
5 | cap |
6 | sat |
7 | fat |
8 | sad |
9 | dig |
10 | hit |
11 | wig |
12 | rip |
13 | fin |
14 | lip |
15 | rat |
16 | fin |
17 | nap |
18 | wig |
19 | sad |
20 | fat |
Check Your Understanding | |
QUESTION | ANSWER |
1 | no |
2 | yes |
3 | yes |
4 | no |
5 | no |
6 | yes |
Writing | |
LOWER CASE | UPPER CASE |
a | A |
b | B |
c | C |
d | D |
e | E |
f | F |
g | G |
h | H |
i | I |
j | J |
k | K |
l | L |
m | M |
n | N |
o | O |
p | P |
q | Q |
r | R |
s | S |
t | T |
u | U |
v | V |
w | W |
x | X |
y | Y |
z | Z |
Attributions
See the Attributions page near the end of this book.