Doctors in New York did something amazing. They gave a man named Aaron James a new eye and part of a face. Aaron was hurt badly in an accident at work. The doctors worked for 21 hours to help him. People are excited because this could help many people see again. But we don’t know yet if Aaron will be able to see with his new eye.

Lots of doctors and nurses, more than 140, worked together to do this big operation. It happened at a place called NYU Langone Health. A doctor named Eduardo Rodriguez helped lead the team. They used a special kind of cell from the person who gave the eye to help Aaron’s eye get better.

Aaron is the 19th person in America to get a new face. The doctors are watching him carefully to see how he does. His wife, Meagan, was very happy and had many feelings when she saw him after the operation. Aaron says getting a new eye has changed his life. He is very thankful to the person who gave him the eye and their family.

Original news source: US veteran gets world’s first eye transplant (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Students will be divided into small groups. Each group will be given a few minutes to read the article and then work together to summarize the news story in their own words, focusing on the main points: the surgery, the patient Aaron James, and the potential impact on others. They will then present their summary to the class.

– Sketch It
Instructions: In pairs, students will read the article and choose three key scenes to illustrate, such as the accident, the surgery, and Aaron’s recovery. They will be provided with paper and drawing materials. After completing their sketches, they will explain their drawings to another pair, practicing descriptive language and storytelling.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Prepare a list of key vocabulary words from the article (e.g., operation, grateful, surgery, transplant, recovery). Students will play Pictionary in teams, where one student draws a word while their teammates try to guess the word. This will help reinforce the new vocabulary in a fun and interactive way.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a series of statements related to the article’s themes, such as “Advancements in medical technology can significantly improve quality of life” or “It’s important to donate organs to help others.” Students will walk around the room and poll their classmates on whether they agree or disagree with each statement. They should also ask for reasons to encourage speaking practice.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Pose a question to the class related to the article, for example, “Do you think Aaron’s life will change after the surgery? How?” or “What are the pros and cons of undergoing such a surgery?” Students will first think about their answer individually, then pair up with a classmate to discuss their thoughts, and finally, share their opinions with the larger group. This activity promotes critical thinking, speaking, and listening skills.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What did the doctors in New York give to Aaron James?
2. How long did the doctors work to help Aaron?
3. Why are people excited about what the doctors did for Aaron?
4. How many doctors and nurses worked on the big operation?
5. Where did the operation take place?
6. What special thing did the doctors use to help Aaron’s eye get better?
7. How does Aaron feel about getting a new eye?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Doctors in New York did something amazing. They gave a man (1)______ Aaron (2)______ a new eye and part of a face. Aaron was hurt badly in an accident at work. The doctors worked for 21 hours to help him. (3)______ are excited because this could help many people see again. But we don’t know yet if Aaron will be (4)______ to see with his new eye.

Lots of doctors and nurses, more than 140, worked together to do this big operation. It happened at a place (5)______ NYU (6)______ Health. A doctor named Eduardo Rodriguez helped lead the team. They used a special kind of cell from the (7)______ who gave the eye to help (8)______’s eye get better.

Aaron is the 19th person in (9)______ to get a new face. The doctors are watching him carefully to see how he does. His wife, Meagan, was very happy and had many (10)______ when she saw him after the operation. Aaron says getting a new eye has changed his life. He is very thankful to the person who (11)______ him the eye and their (12)______.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is an accident? Have you ever had one? How did it happen?
2. How would you feel if a doctor could fix something on your body that was hurt?
3. Do you like going to the doctor? Why or why not?
4. What do you think it means to work as a team? Can you tell about a time when you worked with others?
5. Do you know what a hospital is? Have you ever visited one?
6. Have you ever heard of someone getting a part of their body from another person? How do you think that works?
7. How would you feel if you saw someone with a new part of their face?
8. What does it mean to be thankful? Who are you thankful for and why?
9. Do you think it’s important to help others? Can you give an example of how you can help someone?
10. What is something amazing that you have heard doctors can do?
11. If you could change something about your body, what would it be and why?
12. Do you think being able to see is important? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. doctors
2. Aaron
3. operation
4. NYU Langone Health
5. Eduardo Rodriguez
6. cell
7. Meagan
8. thankful

Meanings:
(a) People who help sick or hurt people
(b) The place where the operation happened
(c) A doctor who helped lead the team
(d) A special kind of tiny thing in our bodies
(e) Feeling happy and grateful
(f) A big medical procedure
(g) Aaron’s wife
(h) A man who got a new eye and face
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who received a new eye and part of a face in New York?
(a) Eduardo Rodriguez
(b) Meagan
(c) The doctors
(d) Aaron James

2. How long did the doctors work to help Aaron?
(a) 10 hours
(b) 30 hours
(c) 15 hours
(d) 21 hours

3. How many people worked together to do the big operation?
(a) More than 50
(b) More than 140
(c) More than 200
(d) More than 100

4. Where did the operation take place?
(a) NYU Langone Health
(b) Mount Sinai Hospital
(c) Bellevue Hospital
(d) NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

5. What kind of cell did the doctors use to help Aaron’s eye get better?
(a) A special kind of cell from Aaron’s body
(b) A special kind of cell from the person who gave the eye
(c) A special kind of animal cell
(d) A special kind of plant cell

6. How many people in America have received a new face?
(a) 10
(b) 30
(c) 19
(d) 50

7. Who was very happy and had many feelings when she saw Aaron after the operation?
(a) Eduardo Rodriguez
(b) Aaron
(c) Meagan
(d) The doctors

8. What did Aaron say getting a new eye has done to his life?
(a) Changed it
(b) Made it worse
(c) Made it better
(d) Stayed the same

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Aaron is still not sure if he will be able to see with his old eye.
2. More than 140 doctors and nurses worked together to perform the big operation.
3. This operation was the first of its kind in America.
4. The doctors and nurses at NYU Langone Health worked for 2 hours to help Aaron.
5. Aaron’s new eye was made better using a special kind of cell from the person who donated the eye.
6. Aaron’s wife, Meagan, was very unhappy when she saw him after the operation.
7. Aaron is very thankful to the person who donated the eye and their family.
8. Aaron James received a new eye and part of a face after a work accident in New York.
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 doctors in New York give to Aaron James?
2. How long did the doctors work to help Aaron?
3. Where did the big operation take place?
4. How does Aaron feel about getting a new eye?
5. How many people in America have gotten a new face like Aaron?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What did the doctors in New York give to Aaron James?
The doctors gave Aaron James a new eye and part of a face.

2. How long did the doctors work to help Aaron?
The doctors worked for 21 hours to help Aaron.

3. Why are people excited about what the doctors did for Aaron?
People are excited because this could help many people see again.

4. How many doctors and nurses worked on the big operation?
More than 140 doctors and nurses worked on the operation.

5. Where did the operation take place?
The operation took place at NYU Langone Health.

6. What special thing did the doctors use to help Aaron’s eye get better?
The doctors used a special kind of cell from the person who gave the eye.

7. How does Aaron feel about getting a new eye?
Aaron feels that getting a new eye has changed his life and he is very thankful.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) named
(2) James
(3) People
(4) able
(5) called
(6) Langone
(7) person
(8) Aaron
(9) America
(10) feelings
(11) gave
(12) family
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. doctors
Answer: (a) People who help sick or hurt people

2. Aaron
Answer: (h) A man who got a new eye and face

3. operation
Answer: (f) A big medical procedure

4. NYU Langone Health
Answer: (b) The place where the operation happened

5. Eduardo Rodriguez
Answer: (c) A doctor who helped lead the team

6. cell
Answer: (d) A special kind of tiny thing in our bodies

7. Meagan
Answer: (g) Aaron’s wife

8. thankful
Answer: (e) Feeling happy and grateful
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who received a new eye and part of a face in New York?
Answer: (d) Aaron James

2. How long did the doctors work to help Aaron?
Answer: (d) 21 hours

3. How many people worked together to do the big operation?
Answer: (b) More than 140

4. Where did the operation take place?
Answer: (a) NYU Langone Health

5. What kind of cell did the doctors use to help Aaron’s eye get better?
Answer: (b) A special kind of cell from the person who gave the eye

6. How many people in America have received a new face?
Answer: (c) 19

7. Who was very happy and had many feelings when she saw Aaron after the operation?
Answer: (c) Meagan

8. What did Aaron say getting a new eye has done to his life?
Answer: (a) Changed it
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Aaron is still not sure if he will be able to see with his old eye. (Answer: False)
2. More than 140 doctors and nurses worked together to perform the big operation. (Answer: True)
3. This operation was the first of its kind in America. (Answer: False)
4. The doctors and nurses at NYU Langone Health worked for 2 hours to help Aaron. (Answer: False)
5. Aaron’s new eye was made better using a special kind of cell from the person who donated the eye. (Answer: True)
6. Aaron’s wife, Meagan, was very unhappy when she saw him after the operation. (Answer: False)
7. Aaron is very thankful to the person who donated the eye and their family. (Answer: True)
8. Aaron James received a new eye and part of a face after a work accident in New York. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧