Some firefighters in Russia found a hurt owl. The owl could not fly because its wing was hurt. Mean birds called crows were pecking it. The firefighters scared the crows away and took the owl inside. They gave it food and kept it warm, then they took it to a doctor for animals.

The firefighters used a big spoon to move the owl. They put it in a dark box so the light would not hurt its eyes. The owl is getting better with the doctor. When it is all well, it will go to a special place where people help wild birds. The firefighters are very nice because they help people and animals.

Original news source: Firefighters rescue injured owl from crows (BBC)

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Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades

Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Write down vocabulary words related to the article (e.g. firefighters, owl, wing, crows, doctor) on separate slips of paper. One student from each team will take turns acting out the word without speaking, while their teammates try to guess what it is. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– Vocabulary Pictionary

Instructions: Give each student a piece of paper and a pen. Write down vocabulary words related to the article on the board. Each student will take turns drawing a picture of one of the words, while the rest of the class tries to guess what it is. The student who guesses correctly gets to draw the next picture.

– Word Association

Instructions: Write down vocabulary words related to the article on the board. One student starts by saying a word, and the next student has to say a word that is associated with the previous word. For example, if the first word is “firefighters,” the next student might say “hose,” and so on. The game continues until a student cannot think of a related word.

– Speed Summarizing

Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a copy of the article. One student in each pair will have 30 seconds to summarize the article to their partner. After 30 seconds, they switch roles and the other student has to summarize it back. The pairs can then discuss and compare their summaries.

– Think-Pair-Share

Instructions: After reading the article, ask the students to think about a time when they had to help someone or something. Have them pair up and share their stories with each other. Then, ask a few students to share their partner’s story with the whole class.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What did the firefighters find?
2. Why couldn’t the owl fly?
3. What were the mean birds doing to the owl?
4. What did the firefighters do to scare the crows away?
5. How did the firefighters move the owl?
6. Why did they put the owl in a dark box?
7. Where will the owl go when it is all well?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Some firefighters in Russia (1)______ a hurt owl. The owl could not fly because its wing was hurt. Mean (2)______ called crows were pecking it. The firefighters scared the (3)______ away and took the owl inside. They gave it food and kept it warm, then they took it to a doctor for (4)______.

The firefighters used a big spoon to move the owl. They put it in a dark box so the (5)______ would not hurt its (6)______. The owl is getting better with the doctor. When it is all well, it will go to a (7)______ place where (8)______ help wild birds. The firefighters are very nice because they help people and animals.
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Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a firefighter?
2. How would you feel if you found a hurt owl?
3. Do you like birds? Why or why not?
4. What do you think the firefighters did to scare the crows away?
5. How do you think the firefighters moved the owl?
6. Why did they put the owl in a dark box?
7. Have you ever been to a doctor for animals? What happened?
8. Do you think the owl will get better soon? Why or why not?
9. What do you think the special place for wild birds is like?
10. Do you think the firefighters are nice? Why or why not?
11. Have you ever helped someone or something? What did you do?
12. What would you do if you found a hurt animal?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. hurt
2. firefighters
3. owl
4. fly
5. wing
6. crows
7. pecking
8. scared
9. inside
10. warm

Meanings:
(A) When something is in pain or not feeling well
(B) When birds hit something with their beaks
(C) When something is not cold, but cozy and comfortable
(D) People who help put out fires and save people and animals
(E) A bird that comes out at night and can turn its head all the way around
(F) Feeling afraid or frightened
(G) Mean birds that like to bother other animals
(H) The part of a bird’s body that helps it fly
(I) The opposite of outside
(J) To move through the air like a bird
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why couldn’t the owl fly?
(a) It was scared of the crows
(b) Its wing was hurt
(c) It didn’t want to fly
(d) It was too tired

2. What were the mean birds called?
(a) Crows
(b) Owls
(c) Eagles
(d) Sparrows

3. What did the firefighters do to scare the crows away?
(a) They gave the crows food
(b) They ignored the crows
(c) They made loud noises
(d) They played with the crows

4. What did the firefighters use to move the owl?
(a) Their hands
(b) A net
(c) A big spoon
(d) A stick

5. Why did the firefighters put the owl in a dark box?
(a) So it could sleep better
(b) So it could hide from the crows
(c) So it could see better
(d) So the light wouldn’t hurt its eyes

6. Where did the firefighters take the owl for help?
(a) To a vet for dogs and cats
(b) To a hospital for people
(c) To a school for birds
(d) To a doctor for animals

7. What will happen to the owl when it is all well?
(a) It will go to a special place where people help wild birds
(b) It will go back to the firefighters’ station
(c) It will stay with the doctor forever
(d) It will fly away and never come back

8. Why are the firefighters nice?
(a) Because they have big trucks
(b) Because they help people and animals
(c) Because they wear cool uniforms
(d) Because they can put out fires

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The owl couldn’t fly because its wing was hurt.
2. When the owl is still unwell, it will go to a regular place where people ignore wild birds.
3. They neglected the owl’s food and kept it cold.
4. Some firefighters found a hurt owl.
5. Nice birds called crows were pecking the owl.
6. The owl is getting worse with the doctor.
7. The firefighters scared the crows away and took the owl inside.
8. The firefighters used a big spoon to move the owl.
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. Who found the hurt owl?
2. Why couldn’t the owl fly?
3. What were the mean birds doing to the owl?
4. How did the firefighters help the owl?
5. Where will the owl go when it is all well?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What did the firefighters find?
The firefighters found a hurt owl.

2. Why couldn’t the owl fly?
The owl couldn’t fly because its wing was hurt.

3. What were the mean birds doing to the owl?
The mean birds called crows were pecking the owl.

4. What did the firefighters do to scare the crows away?
The firefighters scared the crows away.

5. How did the firefighters move the owl?
The firefighters used a big spoon to move the owl.

6. Why did they put the owl in a dark box?
They put the owl in a dark box so the light would not hurt its eyes.

7. Where will the owl go when it is all well?
When it is all well, the owl will go to a special place where people help wild birds.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) found
(2) birds
(3) crows
(4) animals
(5) light
(6) eyes
(7) special
(8) people
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. hurt
Answer: (A) When something is in pain or not feeling well

2. firefighters
Answer: (D) People who help put out fires and save people and animals

3. owl
Answer: (E) A bird that comes out at night and can turn its head all the way around

4. fly
Answer: (J) To move through the air like a bird

5. wing
Answer: (H) The part of a bird’s body that helps it fly

6. crows
Answer: (G) Mean birds that like to bother other animals

7. pecking
Answer: (B) When birds hit something with their beaks

8. scared
Answer: (F) Feeling afraid or frightened

9. inside
Answer: (I) The opposite of outside

10. warm
Answer: (C) When something is not cold, but cozy and comfortable
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why couldn’t the owl fly?
Answer: (b) Its wing was hurt

2. What were the mean birds called?
Answer: (a) Crows

3. What did the firefighters do to scare the crows away?
Answer: (c) They made loud noises

4. What did the firefighters use to move the owl?
Answer: (c) A big spoon

5. Why did the firefighters put the owl in a dark box?
Answer: (d) So the light wouldn’t hurt its eyes

6. Where did the firefighters take the owl for help?
Answer: (d) To a doctor for animals

7. What will happen to the owl when it is all well?
Answer: (a) It will go to a special place where people help wild birds

8. Why are the firefighters nice?
Answer: (b) Because they help people and animals
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The owl couldn’t fly because its wing was hurt. (Answer: True)
2. When the owl is still unwell, it will go to a regular place where people ignore wild birds. (Answer: False)
3. They neglected the owl’s food and kept it cold. (Answer: False)
4. Some firefighters found a hurt owl. (Answer: True)
5. Nice birds called crows were pecking the owl. (Answer: False)
6. The owl is getting worse with the doctor. (Answer: False)
7. The firefighters scared the crows away and took the owl inside. (Answer: True)
8. The firefighters used a big spoon to move the owl. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧