In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a dog accidentally started a fire in a house. The dog chewed on a battery, and it made a spark. The spark turned into a fire, and the fire spread quickly. Luckily, the pets ran out through a dog door. The family got out safely too.

The fire department said the dog door helped a lot. Without it, the pets might have been in danger. It’s important to have safety things in a house. This story shows how pets can sometimes cause accidents. People need to be careful with things pets can reach.

Original news source: Moment dog sparks house fire after chewing power bank (BBC)

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out a word or phrase related to the article (like “dog,” “fire,” “safety,” or “battery”) without speaking, while the other groups guess what it is. This will help students practice vocabulary in a fun way.

– SKETCH IT
Instructions: Provide students with a few keywords from the article (such as “dog,” “fire,” “house,” and “safety”). They must draw a picture that represents each word on the board. After they finish, they can explain their drawings to their classmates to practice speaking.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Ask students if they think having pets in the house is safe or dangerous. Have them walk around the room to ask their classmates for their opinions. They can record the answers in simple sentences, which will help them practice forming opinions and speaking.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: On a large sheet of paper or whiteboard, write “Fire Safety” in the center. Students will then brainstorm related words and phrases from the article and create a mind map. This activity helps with vocabulary retention and visual organization of ideas.

– TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE
Instructions: Each student will create three statements about the article, with two being true and one being false. They will share their statements with a partner, who has to guess which one is the lie. This activity encourages comprehension and critical thinking.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Where did the dog start a fire?
2. What did the dog chew on to make a spark?
3. How did the fire start?
4. What helped the pets get out of the house?
5. Did the family get out of the house safely?
6. Why is it important to have safety things in a house?
7. What can pets sometimes cause in a house?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a dog accidentally (1)______ a fire in a (2)______. The dog chewed on a battery, and it made a spark. The spark turned into a fire, and the fire (3)______ quickly. Luckily, the pets ran out through a dog door. The (4)______ got out safely too.

The (5)______ (6)______ said the dog door helped a lot. Without it, the pets might have been in danger. It’s important to have safety things in a house. This story shows how (7)______ can sometimes cause accidents. People (8)______ to be careful with things pets can reach.
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💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a dog?
2. Do you like dogs? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if your pet started a fire?
4. What is a fire?
5. Do you think pets can be funny?
6. How would you feel if you saw a fire?
7. Do you think it is good to have a dog door? Why?
8. What is your favorite pet?
9. How do you keep your home safe?
10. Do you think pets can be helpful? Why or why not?
11. What would you do if you saw smoke?
12. How would you feel if you had to leave your home quickly?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. accidentally
2. battery
3. spark
4. spread
5. quickly
6. safely
7. department
8. danger
9. important
10. reach

Meanings:
(A) When something bad might happen
(B) Without getting hurt
(C) A group of people who work together, like firefighters
(D) To move out and cover more space
(E) A small thing that gives power to toys and gadgets
(F) A tiny light that can start a fire
(G) Something that matters a lot
(H) When something happens by mistake
(I) To be able to touch or grab something
(J) To do something fast
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What happened in Tulsa, Oklahoma?
(a) A cat caught a fish
(b) A bird flew away
(c) A dog started a fire
(d) A rabbit found a carrot

2. How did the fire start?
(a) The cat knocked over a candle
(b) The bird made a nest
(c) The rabbit dug a hole
(d) The dog chewed a battery

3. What did the pets use to escape?
(a) A window
(b) A big door
(c) A hole in the wall
(d) A dog door

4. Who else got out safely?
(a) The neighbors
(b) The family
(c) The mailman
(d) The teacher

5. What did the fire department say was helpful?
(a) The big window
(b) The dog door
(c) The front yard
(d) The garage

6. What is important to have in a house?
(a) Safety things
(b) Toys
(c) Food
(d) Clothes

7. What can pets sometimes cause?
(a) Fun
(b) Games
(c) Accidents
(d) Sleep

8. What do people need to be careful with?
(a) Things pets can reach
(b) Things kids can reach
(c) Things grown-ups can reach
(d) Things in the sky

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The family got out safely.
2. The fire department said the dog door was harmful.
3. People should not worry about things pets can reach.
4. A cat in Tulsa, Oklahoma, started a fire.
5. The pets got out through a dog door.
6. The battery made a spark.
7. The dog chewed on a battery.
8. The spark did not turn into a fire.
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 the dog chew on that made a spark?
2. What happened after the spark?
3. How did the pets get out of the house?
4. Why is the dog door important?
5. What should people be careful about with their pets?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Where did the dog start a fire?
In a house in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

2. What did the dog chew on to make a spark?
The dog chewed on a battery.

3. How did the fire start?
The spark from the battery made a fire.

4. What helped the pets get out of the house?
The dog door helped the pets get out.

5. Did the family get out of the house safely?
Yes, the family got out safely.

6. Why is it important to have safety things in a house?
It is important to keep everyone safe.

7. What can pets sometimes cause in a house?
Pets can sometimes cause accidents.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) started
(2) house
(3) spread
(4) family
(5) fire
(6) department
(7) pets
(8) need
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. accidentally
Answer: (H) When something happens by mistake

2. battery
Answer: (E) A small thing that gives power to toys and gadgets

3. spark
Answer: (F) A tiny light that can start a fire

4. spread
Answer: (D) To move out and cover more space

5. quickly
Answer: (J) To do something fast

6. safely
Answer: (B) Without getting hurt

7. department
Answer: (C) A group of people who work together, like firefighters

8. danger
Answer: (A) When something bad might happen

9. important
Answer: (G) Something that matters a lot

10. reach
Answer: (I) To be able to touch or grab something
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What happened in Tulsa, Oklahoma?
Answer: (c) A dog started a fire

2. How did the fire start?
Answer: (d) The dog chewed a battery

3. What did the pets use to escape?
Answer: (d) A dog door

4. Who else got out safely?
Answer: (b) The family

5. What did the fire department say was helpful?
Answer: (b) The dog door

6. What is important to have in a house?
Answer: (a) Safety things

7. What can pets sometimes cause?
Answer: (c) Accidents

8. What do people need to be careful with?
Answer: (a) Things pets can reach
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The family got out safely. (Answer: True)
2. The fire department said the dog door was harmful. (Answer: False)
3. People should not worry about things pets can reach. (Answer: False)
4. A cat in Tulsa, Oklahoma, started a fire. (Answer: False)
5. The pets got out through a dog door. (Answer: True)
6. The battery made a spark. (Answer: True)
7. The dog chewed on a battery. (Answer: True)
8. The spark did not turn into a fire. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧