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14-Year-Old Australian Student Saves School Bus from Crash

   

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A brave teenager in Australia was caught on CCTV stopping a runaway school bus from crashing into a petrol station. The incident took place in North Casino, New South Wales, and the footage shows the bus rolling across the road towards a set of petrol pumps. Fourteen-year-old Isabelle Miller quickly took control of the situation by grabbing hold of the steering wheel and directing the bus to safety. At the time, the bus driver and teacher were outside the vehicle, and there were 20 students on board.

This remarkable act of bravery has gained attention from local media and has been widely shared online. The video shows the quick thinking and courage of Isabelle, who prevented a potentially dangerous situation from escalating. Her actions not only protected the students on the bus but also prevented any damage to the petrol station.

Incidents like these serve as a reminder of the importance of staying calm and taking decisive action in emergency situations. Isabelle’s quick response and ability to remain composed under pressure are commendable. Her bravery has been praised by many, and she has become an inspiration to others.

This incident also highlights the need for proper safety measures and training for bus drivers and school staff. It is crucial for them to be prepared for unexpected situations and to have protocols in place to ensure the safety of students. The school and authorities should take this opportunity to review and improve their safety procedures.

Overall, Isabelle’s actions demonstrate the bravery and maturity of a young individual who was able to prevent a potentially dangerous situation. Her quick thinking and calmness under pressure are qualities that should be admired and celebrated. This incident serves as a reminder for everyone to be prepared and ready to act in emergency situations.

Original news source: Watch: Teen steers runaway bus away from petrol pumps (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the students into pairs or small groups. Give each group a few minutes to read the article together. Then, ask each group to summarize the main points of the article in a few sentences. Afterward, have each group share their summary with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Ask the students to form pairs or small groups. Assign each group a specific question related to the article (e.g., “Do you think Isabelle’s actions were brave?” or “Should bus drivers receive more safety training?”). Give the groups a few minutes to discuss their opinions and come up with reasons to support their answers. Then, have each group present their opinions and reasoning to the class, and facilitate a short class discussion.

– Keyword Hangman
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article on the board, leaving out the vowels. Divide the class into two teams. Choose one student from each team to come to the front of the class. Give these students a word to guess by filling in the missing vowels one at a time. The student who guesses the word correctly earns a point for their team. Continue with different students from each team until all the words have been guessed.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups. Assign one group to argue the pros of Isabelle’s actions, and the other group to argue the cons. Give the groups a few minutes to brainstorm their arguments. Then, have each group present their arguments to the class, taking turns to present one point at a time. Afterward, facilitate a class discussion to further explore the pros and cons of Isabelle’s actions.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Ask the students to work individually. Have them imagine that they are journalists writing an article about Isabelle’s actions one year from now. Ask them to write a short paragraph predicting how this event might have impacted Isabelle’s life and the wider community. After they have finished writing, ask a few students to share their predictions with the class. Encourage them to be creative and think about both positive and negative outcomes.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Where did the incident take place?
2. How did Isabelle stop the runaway school bus?
3. Who else was on the bus at the time?
4. Why has Isabelle’s act of bravery gained attention?
5. What did Isabelle’s actions prevent from happening?
6. What does this incident remind people of?
7. What should bus drivers and school staff be prepared for?
8. What qualities of Isabelle’s are admired and celebrated?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A brave teenager in Australia was caught on CCTV stopping a runaway (1)______ bus from crashing into a petrol station. The (2)______ took place in (3)______ Casino, New South Wales, and the footage shows the bus rolling across the road towards a set of petrol pumps. Fourteen-year-old Isabelle Miller quickly took control of the situation by grabbing hold of the (4)______ wheel and directing the bus to safety. At the time, the bus driver and teacher were outside the vehicle, and there were 20 (5)______ on board.

This remarkable act of bravery has gained attention from (6)______ media and has been widely shared online. The video shows the quick thinking and courage of Isabelle, who prevented a potentially (7)______ situation from escalating. Her actions not only protected the students on the bus but also prevented any damage to the petrol station.

Incidents like these serve as a (8)______ of the importance of staying calm and taking decisive action in emergency (9)______. Isabelle’s quick response and ability to remain composed under (10)______ are commendable. Her bravery has been praised by many, and she has become an inspiration to others.

This incident also highlights the need for proper safety measures and training for bus drivers and school staff. It is crucial for them to be (11)______ for (12)______ situations and to have protocols in place to ensure the safety of students. The school and authorities should take this opportunity to review and improve their safety procedures.

Overall, Isabelle’s actions (13)______ the (14)______ and (15)______ of a young (16)______ who was able to prevent a potentially dangerous situation. Her quick thinking and calmness under pressure are qualities that should be admired and celebrated. This incident serves as a reminder for everyone to be prepared and ready to act in emergency situations.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What qualities do you think are necessary to act bravely in an emergency situation?
2. Have you ever witnessed or been involved in a dangerous situation? How did you react?
3. How do you think the students on the bus felt during the incident? Why?
4. Do you think Isabelle’s actions were heroic? Why or why not?
5. How do you think the bus driver and teacher felt when they saw what Isabelle was doing?
6. What do you think would have happened if Isabelle hadn’t taken control of the situation?
7. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to stay calm and make quick decisions? How did you handle it?
8. What safety measures do you think should be in place for school buses?
9. How important is it for schools to have safety protocols in place? Why?
10. Do you think Isabelle’s actions will inspire others to act bravely in similar situations? Why or why not?
11. What do you think the school and authorities should do to improve safety procedures?
12. How would you feel if you were one of the students on the bus during the incident?
13. What would you have done if you were in Isabelle’s position?
14. Do you think it is important for schools to teach students about emergency preparedness? Why or why not?
15. How do you think Isabelle’s actions will impact her future?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. teenager
2. CCTV
3. petrol
4. pumps
5. footage
6. situation
7. bravery
8. damage

Meanings:
(a) A particular set of circumstances or conditions
(b) The quality or state of being brave; courageous behavior
(c) Machines that dispense fuel into vehicles
(d) A flammable liquid used as fuel for vehicles
(e) Closed-circuit television, a system of video surveillance
(f) A young person between the ages of 13 and 19
(g) Recorded images or video
(h) Harm or injury caused to something or someone
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Where did the incident take place?
(a) Sydney, Australia
(b) Melbourne, Australia
(c) Perth, Australia
(d) North Casino, New South Wales

2. How old is Isabelle Miller?
(a) 14
(b) 16
(c) 12
(d) 18

3. What did Isabelle do to stop the runaway school bus?
(a) Pushed the bus from behind
(b) Called for help on her phone
(c) Grabbed hold of the steering wheel
(d) Jumped in front of the bus to stop it

4. Who else was on the bus at the time of the incident?
(a) The bus driver and teacher
(b) 20 students
(c) Isabelle’s parents
(d) No one else

5. What did Isabelle’s actions prevent?
(a) The bus crashing into a petrol station
(b) Damage to the petrol station
(c) Harm to the students on the bus
(d) All of the above

6. What has happened as a result of Isabelle’s bravery?
(a) Online sharing of the video
(b) Praise from others
(c) All of the above
(d) Local media attention

7. What does this incident highlight the need for?
(a) Review and improvement of safety procedures
(b) Proper safety measures and training for bus drivers and school staff
(c) Protocols in place to ensure student safety
(d) All of the above

8. What qualities does Isabelle’s actions demonstrate?
(a) Bravery and maturity
(b) Preparedness and readiness to act in emergency situations
(c) Quick thinking and calmness under pressure
(d) All of the above

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The teenager, Isabelle Miller, grabbed hold of the steering wheel to direct the bus to safety.
2. The bus driver and teacher were outside the vehicle when the incident happened.
3. The video of the incident has not gained attention from local media and has not been widely shared online.
4. There were 15 students on board the bus at the time.
5. Isabelle’s actions protected the students on the bus and prevented any damage to the petrol station.
6. A teenager in Australia caused a runaway school bus to crash into a petrol station.
7. This incident doesn’t highlight the importance of proper safety measures and training for bus drivers and school staff.
8. The incident occurred in North Casino, New South Wales.
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 did Isabelle Miller do to prevent the runaway school bus from crashing into a petrol station?
2. How many students were on board the bus at the time of the incident?
3. How has Isabelle’s act of bravery gained attention?
4. What does this incident highlight the need for in terms of safety measures?
5. What qualities of Isabelle’s actions should be admired and celebrated?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Where did the incident take place?
The incident took place in North Casino, New South Wales, Australia.

2. How did Isabelle stop the runaway school bus?
Isabelle stopped the runaway school bus by grabbing hold of the steering wheel and directing it to safety.

3. Who else was on the bus at the time?
There were 20 students on the bus at the time.

4. Why has Isabelle’s act of bravery gained attention?
Isabelle’s act of bravery has gained attention because it was caught on CCTV and has been widely shared online.

5. What did Isabelle’s actions prevent from happening?
Isabelle’s actions prevented the runaway bus from crashing into a petrol station.

6. What does this incident remind people of?
This incident reminds people of the importance of staying calm and taking decisive action in emergency situations.

7. What should bus drivers and school staff be prepared for?
Bus drivers and school staff should be prepared for unexpected situations and have protocols in place to ensure the safety of students.

8. What qualities of Isabelle’s are admired and celebrated?
Isabelle’s quick thinking, bravery, and ability to remain composed under pressure are admired and celebrated.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) school
(2) incident
(3) North
(4) steering
(5) students
(6) local
(7) dangerous
(8) reminder
(9) situations
(10) pressure
(11) prepared
(12) unexpected
(13) demonstrate
(14) bravery
(15) maturity
(16) individual
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. teenager
Answer: (f) A young person between the ages of 13 and 19

2. CCTV
Answer: (e) Closed-circuit television, a system of video surveillance

3. petrol
Answer: (d) A flammable liquid used as fuel for vehicles

4. pumps
Answer: (c) Machines that dispense fuel into vehicles

5. footage
Answer: (g) Recorded images or video

6. situation
Answer: (a) A particular set of circumstances or conditions

7. bravery
Answer: (b) The quality or state of being brave; courageous behavior

8. damage
Answer: (h) Harm or injury caused to something or someone
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Where did the incident take place?
Answer: (d) North Casino, New South Wales

2. How old is Isabelle Miller?
Answer: (a) 14

3. What did Isabelle do to stop the runaway school bus?
Answer: (c) Grabbed hold of the steering wheel

4. Who else was on the bus at the time of the incident?
Answer: (b) 20 students

5. What did Isabelle’s actions prevent?
Answer: (a) The bus crashing into a petrol station

6. What has happened as a result of Isabelle’s bravery?
Answer: (d) Local media attention

7. What does this incident highlight the need for?
Answer: (b) Proper safety measures and training for bus drivers and school staff

8. What qualities does Isabelle’s actions demonstrate?
Answer: (c) Quick thinking and calmness under pressure
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The teenager, Isabelle Miller, grabbed hold of the steering wheel to direct the bus to safety. (Answer: True)
2. The bus driver and teacher were outside the vehicle when the incident happened. (Answer: True)
3. The video of the incident has not gained attention from local media and has not been widely shared online. (Answer: False)
4. There were 15 students on board the bus at the time. (Answer: False)
5. Isabelle’s actions protected the students on the bus and prevented any damage to the petrol station. (Answer: True)
6. A teenager in Australia caused a runaway school bus to crash into a petrol station. (Answer: False)
7. This incident doesn’t highlight the importance of proper safety measures and training for bus drivers and school staff. (Answer: False)
8. The incident occurred in North Casino, New South Wales. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

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