San Diego has new giant pandas from China. Their names are Xin Bao and Yun Chuan. It’s been 21 years since pandas came to the U.S. from China. August 8 is now California Panda Day. This is a special way for China to be friends with other countries.

The pandas help people learn about saving animals. They show how countries can work together to help endangered animals. People are excited to see the pandas in San Diego. The pandas teach kids and grown-ups about taking care of nature. They also show how countries can be friends by working together.

Original news source: San Diego debuts first giant pandas from China in decades (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Students will take turns acting out the words related to the article, such as “panda,” “China,” “friends,” “nature,” and “endangered.” The other students will guess the word being acted out.

– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: One student will draw a word from the article (e.g., “panda,” “California,” “animals”) on the board while the rest of the class tries to guess the word. Use simple drawings to aid understanding.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Students will discuss their opinions about pandas and whether they think it’s important to save endangered animals. They can raise their hands to vote on questions like “Do you like pandas? Yes or No?”

– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Students will think about what they learned from the article, pair up with a partner, and share their thoughts about why it is important for countries to work together to help animals.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: In small groups, students will create a catchy headline for the article about the pandas. They will then share their headlines with the class and explain why they chose that title.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What are the names of the new pandas in San Diego?
2. How long has it been since pandas came to the U.S. from China?
3. What special day do people celebrate for the pandas?
4. Why do the pandas help people?
5. What do the pandas teach kids and grown-ups?
6. How do the pandas show that countries can be friends?
7. Where are the new giant pandas?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

San Diego has new (1)______ pandas from China. Their names are Xin Bao and Yun (2)______. It’s been 21 years since pandas came to the U.S. from China. August 8 is now California Panda Day. This is a (3)______ way for China to be friends with other countries.

The (4)______ help people learn about saving animals. They (5)______ how countries can (6)______ together to help endangered animals. People are excited to see the pandas in San (7)______. The pandas teach kids and grown-ups about taking care of nature. They also show how (8)______ can be friends by working together.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite animal?
2. Do you like pandas? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if you saw a panda?
4. Do you think animals are important? Why?
5. What is a special animal in your country?
6. How do you feel when you see cute animals?
7. Do you like to learn about animals? Why?
8. What do you think is the best way to help animals?
9. Have you ever seen a zoo? What did you like there?
10. Do you think it is good for countries to be friends? Why?
11. How would you feel if you could visit a panda?
12. What is your favorite way to take care of nature?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. giant
2. pandas
3. special
4. friends
5. excited
6. learn
7. saving
8. endangered
9. nature
10. countries

Meanings:
(A) Very happy and can’t wait
(B) Very big
(C) Trees, plants, and animals around us
(D) People you like and play with
(E) Not like every day, something important
(F) Black and white bears
(G) Places like the U.S. and China
(H) Keeping something safe
(I) Animals that might disappear forever
(J) To know something new
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🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What are the names of the pandas in San Diego?
(a) Xin Bao and Yun Chuan
(b) Max and Bella
(c) Leo and Mia
(d) Sam and Lily

2. How long has it been since pandas came to the U.S. from China?
(a) 10 years
(b) 5 years
(c) 15 years
(d) 21 years

3. What special day is on August 8 in California?
(a) Panda Day
(b) California Panda Day
(c) Animal Day
(d) Nature Day

4. Why do the pandas help people?
(a) To learn about saving animals
(b) To play games
(c) To eat bamboo
(d) To sleep

5. What do the pandas show people?
(a) How to dance
(b) How to cook
(c) How countries can be friends
(d) How to draw

6. Who can learn from the pandas?
(a) Only kids
(b) Only grown-ups
(c) Kids and grown-ups
(d) Only teachers

7. What do the pandas teach about?
(a) Riding bikes
(b) Taking care of nature
(c) Playing sports
(d) Singing songs

8. Where are the new giant pandas?
(a) Los Angeles
(b) New York
(c) Chicago
(d) San Diego

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. August 8 is called California Panda Day.
2. The pandas help people learn about endangering animals.
3. The pandas teach kids and adults about nature.
4. San Diego has three new giant pandas from China.
5. People are indifferent to see the pandas in San Diego.
6. The pandas are named Xin Bao and Yun Chuan.
7. It has been 21 years since pandas came to the U.S. from China.
8. The pandas show how countries can be enemies.
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 are the names of the new pandas in San Diego?
2. How long has it been since pandas came to the U.S. from China?
3. What special day is on August 8 in California?
4. Why do the pandas help people?
5. What do the pandas teach us about countries?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What are the names of the new pandas in San Diego?
Their names are Xin Bao and Yun Chuan.

2. How long has it been since pandas came to the U.S. from China?
It has been 21 years.

3. What special day do people celebrate for the pandas?
People celebrate California Panda Day.

4. Why do the pandas help people?
The pandas help people learn about saving animals.

5. What do the pandas teach kids and grown-ups?
They teach about taking care of nature.

6. How do the pandas show that countries can be friends?
They show that by working together to help animals.

7. Where are the new giant pandas?
The new giant pandas are in San Diego.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) giant
(2) Chuan
(3) special
(4) pandas
(5) show
(6) work
(7) Diego
(8) countries
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. giant
Answer: (B) Very big

2. pandas
Answer: (F) Black and white bears

3. special
Answer: (E) Not like every day, something important

4. friends
Answer: (D) People you like and play with

5. excited
Answer: (A) Very happy and can’t wait

6. learn
Answer: (J) To know something new

7. saving
Answer: (H) Keeping something safe

8. endangered
Answer: (I) Animals that might disappear forever

9. nature
Answer: (C) Trees, plants, and animals around us

10. countries
Answer: (G) Places like the U.S. and China
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What are the names of the pandas in San Diego?
Answer: (a) Xin Bao and Yun Chuan

2. How long has it been since pandas came to the U.S. from China?
Answer: (d) 21 years

3. What special day is on August 8 in California?
Answer: (b) California Panda Day

4. Why do the pandas help people?
Answer: (a) To learn about saving animals

5. What do the pandas show people?
Answer: (c) How countries can be friends

6. Who can learn from the pandas?
Answer: (c) Kids and grown-ups

7. What do the pandas teach about?
Answer: (b) Taking care of nature

8. Where are the new giant pandas?
Answer: (d) San Diego
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. August 8 is called California Panda Day. (Answer: True)
2. The pandas help people learn about endangering animals. (Answer: False)
3. The pandas teach kids and adults about nature. (Answer: True)
4. San Diego has three new giant pandas from China. (Answer: False)
5. People are indifferent to see the pandas in San Diego. (Answer: False)
6. The pandas are named Xin Bao and Yun Chuan. (Answer: True)
7. It has been 21 years since pandas came to the U.S. from China. (Answer: True)
8. The pandas show how countries can be enemies. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧