A very special baby alligator with white skin was born at a park in Florida. This little girl alligator is very rare—there are only seven like her in the whole world. She looks different from other white alligators because her eyes are not pink. The man who runs the park said having this baby alligator is very, very special.

The baby alligator was born in a place called Gatorland where people go to see wildlife. There are not many alligators like her anywhere. She is white but not like alligators that are white because they have no color at all. People who like animals are very excited about this baby alligator.

The man in charge of Gatorland is very happy about the baby alligator. He thinks she is so special that it almost never happens. The park wants people to help choose a name for her. This little alligator shows us how many different kinds of animals there are and why we should take care of them.

Original news source: See ‘beyond rare’ white baby alligator born in US (BBC)

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Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Have students read the article and then summarize the main points in their own words. They can then share their summaries with a partner or the whole class.

– Word Association
Instructions: Give each student a word related to the article (e.g. alligator, white, rare, wildlife) and have them write down as many words as they can think of that are associated with that word. They can then share their lists with a partner or the whole class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Choose 5-10 vocabulary words from the article (e.g. alligator, rare, wildlife) and write them on the board. Divide the class into teams and have one student from each team come to the front. Show them a word and they have to draw it for their team to guess. The team that guesses the most words correctly wins.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a timer (e.g. one minute) and have them take turns summarizing the article to their partner within the time limit. After the timer goes off, they switch roles. The pair with the most accurate and concise summaries wins.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Have students write down their opinion on the following question: “Do you think it is important to protect and care for different kinds of animals? Why or why not?” Then, divide the class into small groups and have them discuss their opinions. After the discussion, they can share their thoughts with the whole class.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What makes the baby alligator at Gatorland special?
2. How many other alligators like her are there in the world?
3. How is the baby alligator different from other white alligators?
4. Where was the baby alligator born?
5. Why are people excited about the baby alligator?
6. How does the man in charge of Gatorland feel about the baby alligator?
7. What does the park want people to do for the baby alligator?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A very special baby alligator with white skin was born at a (1)______ in (2)______. This little girl alligator is very rare—there are only seven like her in the whole world. She (3)______ different from other white alligators because her eyes are not pink. The man who runs the park said (4)______ this baby alligator is very, very (5)______.

The baby alligator was born in a place called Gatorland where people go to see wildlife. There are not many (6)______ like her anywhere. She is white but not like alligators that are white because they (7)______ no color at all. (8)______ who like animals are very excited about this (9)______ alligator.

The man in charge of Gatorland is very happy about the baby alligator. He thinks she is so special that it almost never happens. The park wants people to help choose a (10)______ for her. This little (11)______ shows us how many different kinds of animals there are and why we should take (12)______ of them.
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Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a baby alligator?
2. How would you feel if you saw a baby alligator with white skin?
3. Do you like animals? Why or why not?
4. What makes this baby alligator special?
5. How many alligators like her are there in the whole world?
6. What is Gatorland?
7. Why do people go to Gatorland?
8. How do you think the man in charge of Gatorland feels about the baby alligator?
9. Why does the man think the baby alligator is special?
10. Do you think it’s important to take care of animals? Why or why not?
11. If you could choose a name for the baby alligator, what would you name her? Why?
12. What can we learn from this baby alligator about different kinds of animals?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. alligator
2. white
3. rare
4. pink
5. wildlife
6. excited
7. special
8. choose
9. different
10. animals
11. name
12. care

Meanings:
(A) To pick or select something
(B) A word that is given to someone or something to identify them
(C) Not the same, not like anything else
(D) Not happening very often, not common
(E) Something that is not like the others, unique
(F) Feeling very happy and enthusiastic
(G) A big reptile with a long tail and sharp teeth that lives in water
(H) A light color that is a mix of red and white
(I) To take care of something or someone, to look after them
(J) Animals that live in nature, not in a zoo
(K) The color of snow or milk
(L) Living creatures that can move and breathe
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Where was the special baby alligator born?
(a) Florida
(b) Paris
(c) London
(d) Gatorland

2. How many alligators like her are there in the whole world?
(a) One
(b) Twenty
(c) Seven
(d) Fifty

3. What makes the baby alligator different from other white alligators?
(a) She has no color at all
(b) She is bigger in size
(c) She can fly
(d) Her eyes are not pink

4. What is the man in charge of Gatorland happy about?
(a) The park’s visitors
(b) The weather
(c) The baby alligator
(d) The food at the park

5. Why does the park want people to help choose a name for the baby alligator?
(a) Because they can’t think of a name
(b) Because she is special
(c) Because they want to have a contest
(d) Because they want to sell the alligator

6. What does the baby alligator show us?
(a) How many different kinds of animals there are
(b) How to take care of alligators
(c) How to train alligators
(d) How to swim like an alligator

7. Where do people go to see wildlife?
(a) Gatorland
(b) The beach
(c) The mall
(d) The movie theater

8. Who is excited about the baby alligator?
(a) People who don’t like animals
(b) People who like animals
(c) People who like birds
(d) People who like fish

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The baby alligator was born in a place called Gatorland, where people go to see wildlife.
2. There are only seven alligators like her in the whole world.
3. A rare baby alligator with white skin was born at a park in Florida.
4. Like other white alligators, her eyes are not pink.
5. There are many alligators like her everywhere.
6. People who dislike animals are very excited about this baby alligator.
7. The man who runs the park thinks having this baby alligator is very special.
8. The park doesn’t want people to help choose a name for her.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What makes the baby alligator at Gatorland special?
2. How many other white alligators are there in the world?
3. What is different about the baby alligator’s eyes?
4. Where was the baby alligator born?
5. Why is the man in charge of Gatorland so happy about the baby alligator?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What makes the baby alligator at Gatorland special?
The baby alligator at Gatorland is special because she has white skin and her eyes are not pink.

2. How many other alligators like her are there in the world?
There are only seven other alligators like her in the whole world.

3. How is the baby alligator different from other white alligators?
The baby alligator is different from other white alligators because she has some color in her skin.

4. Where was the baby alligator born?
The baby alligator was born at Gatorland, a park in Florida.

5. Why are people excited about the baby alligator?
People are excited about the baby alligator because she is very rare and special.

6. How does the man in charge of Gatorland feel about the baby alligator?
The man in charge of Gatorland is very happy and thinks the baby alligator is very special.

7. What does the park want people to do for the baby alligator?
The park wants people to help choose a name for the baby alligator.
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Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) park
(2) Florida
(3) looks
(4) having
(5) special
(6) alligators
(7) have
(8) People
(9) baby
(10) name
(11) alligator
(12) care
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. alligator
Answer: (G) A big reptile with a long tail and sharp teeth that lives in water

2. white
Answer: (K) The color of snow or milk

3. rare
Answer: (D) Not happening very often, not common

4. pink
Answer: (H) A light color that is a mix of red and white

5. wildlife
Answer: (J) Animals that live in nature, not in a zoo

6. excited
Answer: (F) Feeling very happy and enthusiastic

7. special
Answer: (E) Something that is not like the others, unique

8. choose
Answer: (A) To pick or select something

9. different
Answer: (C) Not the same, not like anything else

10. animals
Answer: (L) Living creatures that can move and breathe

11. name
Answer: (B) A word that is given to someone or something to identify them

12. care
Answer: (I) To take care of something or someone, to look after them
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Where was the special baby alligator born?
Answer: (d) Gatorland

2. How many alligators like her are there in the whole world?
Answer: (c) Seven

3. What makes the baby alligator different from other white alligators?
Answer: (d) Her eyes are not pink

4. What is the man in charge of Gatorland happy about?
Answer: (c) The baby alligator

5. Why does the park want people to help choose a name for the baby alligator?
Answer: (b) Because she is special

6. What does the baby alligator show us?
Answer: (a) How many different kinds of animals there are

7. Where do people go to see wildlife?
Answer: (a) Gatorland

8. Who is excited about the baby alligator?
Answer: (b) People who like animals
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The baby alligator was born in a place called Gatorland, where people go to see wildlife. (Answer: True)
2. There are only seven alligators like her in the whole world. (Answer: True)
3. A rare baby alligator with white skin was born at a park in Florida. (Answer: True)
4. Like other white alligators, her eyes are not pink. (Answer: False)
5. There are many alligators like her everywhere. (Answer: False)
6. People who dislike animals are very excited about this baby alligator. (Answer: False)
7. The man who runs the park thinks having this baby alligator is very special. (Answer: True)
8. The park doesn’t want people to help choose a name for her. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧