A man in Surrey, England, has made a special system to keep foxes and badgers out of his garden. He used his home cameras and a device that makes high-pitched sounds that animals don’t like. He named his invention the Furbinator 3000. Some people don’t like using sounds to scare animals away, but the man wanted to keep his garden clean for his kids in a kind way.
At first, the camera system had trouble knowing what it was seeing. It thought badgers were things like umbrellas and sinks. But after some work and learning, it got good at knowing when it saw an animal. When it sees one, it makes the high-pitched sound to scare it away. The man thinks this system could be used in other places, like farms, to keep away animals that might cause trouble.
Some people, like the RSPCA, worry that the high-pitched sounds might scare or hurt the animals. But the man thinks his system is a kind way to keep his garden safe for his kids. He has even shared the computer code he used to make the system, showing he doesn’t want to make money from it. He thinks systems like his could be used in other places where people and animals might have problems.
Original news source: Man trains home cameras to help repel badgers and foxes (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a set of animal vocabulary flashcards (including foxes, badgers, and other animals). One student from each group will choose a flashcard and act out the animal without speaking, while the other students try to guess the animal. The group that guesses correctly gets a point. Rotate the role of the actor for each round.
– News Summary
Instructions: Have the students read the article individually or in pairs. Then, ask them to write a summary of the article in their own words. They should include the main idea, key details, and their opinion on the man’s invention. Afterward, have a class discussion to compare and discuss their summaries.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a list of questions related to the article, such as “Do you think the man’s invention is a good idea?” or “Should high-pitched sounds be used to scare away animals?” Each student takes turns asking their partner a question and recording their partner’s opinion. Afterward, have a class discussion to share and compare opinions.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write animal vocabulary words from the article on individual slips of paper and place them in a bowl. Divide the class into two teams. One student from each team will come to the front of the class and pick a slip of paper without showing it to their team. They must then draw a picture of the animal on the slip of paper while their team tries to guess the animal. The team that guesses correctly gets a point. Rotate the role of the drawer for each round.
– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a set of sentence strips with key sentences or phrases from the article. Each group must work together to arrange the sentence strips in the correct order to create a summary of the article. Set a timer for a few minutes, and the group that completes the task with the most accurate summary wins. Afterward, have a class discussion to compare the summaries and clarify any misunderstandings.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What did the man in Surrey invent to keep foxes and badgers out of his garden?
2. How did the man’s invention work?
3. Why did the man want to keep his garden clean?
4. What did the camera system have trouble knowing at first?
5. What did the man do to make the system better at knowing when it saw an animal?
6. Why are some people worried about the high-pitched sounds?
7. Why did the man share the computer code he used to make the system?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
A man in Surrey, England, has (1)______ a special system to keep foxes and badgers out of his garden. He used his home cameras and a device that makes high-pitched (2)______ that animals don’t like. He named his invention the Furbinator 3000. Some people don’t like using sounds to (3)______ animals away, but the man wanted to (4)______ his garden clean for his (5)______ in a kind way.
At first, the camera system had trouble knowing what it was seeing. It (6)______ badgers were things like umbrellas and sinks. But after some work and learning, it got good at knowing when it saw an animal. When it sees one, it (7)______ the high-pitched sound to scare it away. The man thinks this system could be used in (8)______ places, like (9)______, to keep away animals that might cause trouble.
Some people, like the RSPCA, worry that the high-pitched sounds might scare or hurt the animals. But the man thinks his (10)______ is a kind way to keep his garden safe for his kids. He has even shared the computer (11)______ he used to (12)______ the system, showing he doesn’t want to make money from it. He thinks systems like his could be used in other places where people and animals might have problems.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is the Furbinator 3000?
2. How do you think the man feels about animals in his garden?
3. Do you like the idea of using sounds to scare away animals? Why or why not?
4. How do you think the man’s camera system got better at knowing when it saw an animal?
5. How would you feel if you saw an animal in your garden?
6. Do you think the high-pitched sounds might scare or hurt the animals? Why or why not?
7. Why do you think the man shared the computer code for his system?
8. Do you think systems like the Furbinator 3000 could be useful in other places? Why or why not?
9. How do you think the man’s kids feel about having a clean garden?
10. How would you feel if you had a problem with animals in your garden?
11. What are some other ways to keep animals out of a garden?
12. Why do you think the RSPCA is worried about the high-pitched sounds?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. system
2. invention
3. cameras
4. high-pitched
5. animals
6. scare
7. trouble
8. safe
Meanings:
(a) Not in danger or at risk
(b) Machines that take pictures or videos
(c) Something new that someone has made
(d) A way of doing things that works well
(e) Problems or difficulties
(f) A sound that is very high and hurts your ears
(g) To make someone feel afraid
(h) Living things that are not humans
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What did the man use to keep foxes and badgers out of his garden?
(a) Traps and nets
(b) Home cameras and a device that makes high-pitched sounds
(c) Poisonous plants
(d) Big fences
2. What did the man name his invention?
(a) The Animal Scarecrow
(b) The Garden Protector
(c) The Wildlife Repeller
(d) The Furbinator 3000
3. What did the camera system have trouble knowing at first?
(a) How to scare animals away
(b) How to make high-pitched sounds
(c) What it was seeing
(d) How to protect the garden
4. What does the camera system do when it sees an animal?
(a) It takes a picture of it
(b) It calls the police
(c) It makes a high-pitched sound to scare it away
(d) It feeds the animal
5. Who worries that the high-pitched sounds might scare or hurt the animals?
(a) The RSPCA
(b) The man’s neighbors
(c) The local government
(d) The man’s kids
6. Why did the man share the computer code he used to make the system?
(a) He wants to sell it to other people
(b) He wants to keep it a secret
(c) He wants to improve it
(d) He doesn’t want to make money from it
7. Where does the man think systems like his could be used?
(a) Only in his garden
(b) Other places where people and animals might have problems
(c) Only on farms
(d) Only in England
8. What is the main goal of the man’s invention?
(a) To keep his garden safe for his kids
(b) To scare and hurt animals
(c) To make money
(d) To attract more animals to his garden
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. Some people are concerned that the high-pitched sounds might scare or harm the animals.
2. The man withheld the computer code he used to make the system, showing he wants to make money from it.
3. When the camera system detects an animal, it makes a high-pitched sound to scare it away.
4. A man in Surrey, England, neglected to create a special system to keep foxes and badgers out of his garden.
5. He named his invention the Furbinator 2000.
6. At first, the camera system had trouble identifying the animals correctly.
7. The man barely worked on the system and it became worse at recognizing when it saw an animal.
8. The man used home cameras and a device that makes high-pitched sounds to scare away the animals.
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 man in Surrey invent to keep foxes and badgers out of his garden?
2. What did the man name his invention?
3. Why did the camera system have trouble knowing what it was seeing at first?
4. What does the camera system do when it sees an animal?
5. Why do some people worry about the high-pitched sounds scaring or hurting the animals?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. What did the man in Surrey invent to keep foxes and badgers out of his garden?
The man invented a system called the Furbinator 3000.
2. How did the man’s invention work?
The invention used home cameras and made high-pitched sounds that animals don’t like to scare them away.
3. Why did the man want to keep his garden clean?
He wanted to keep his garden clean for his kids to play in.
4. What did the camera system have trouble knowing at first?
The camera system had trouble knowing what it was seeing, like mistaking badgers for things like umbrellas and sinks.
5. What did the man do to make the system better at knowing when it saw an animal?
He worked on it and taught the system to recognize animals so it could make the high-pitched sound when it saw one.
6. Why are some people worried about the high-pitched sounds?
Some people are worried that the high-pitched sounds might scare or hurt the animals.
7. Why did the man share the computer code he used to make the system?
He shared the computer code to show that he didn’t want to make money from it and to help others use similar systems in different places.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) made
(2) sounds
(3) scare
(4) keep
(5) kids
(6) thought
(7) makes
(8) other
(9) farms
(10) system
(11) code
(12) make
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. system
Answer: (d) A way of doing things that works well
2. invention
Answer: (c) Something new that someone has made
3. cameras
Answer: (b) Machines that take pictures or videos
4. high-pitched
Answer: (f) A sound that is very high and hurts your ears
5. animals
Answer: (h) Living things that are not humans
6. scare
Answer: (g) To make someone feel afraid
7. trouble
Answer: (e) Problems or difficulties
8. safe
Answer: (a) Not in danger or at risk
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. What did the man use to keep foxes and badgers out of his garden?
Answer: (b) Home cameras and a device that makes high-pitched sounds
2. What did the man name his invention?
Answer: (d) The Furbinator 3000
3. What did the camera system have trouble knowing at first?
Answer: (c) What it was seeing
4. What does the camera system do when it sees an animal?
Answer: (c) It makes a high-pitched sound to scare it away
5. Who worries that the high-pitched sounds might scare or hurt the animals?
Answer: (a) The RSPCA
6. Why did the man share the computer code he used to make the system?
Answer: (d) He doesn’t want to make money from it
7. Where does the man think systems like his could be used?
Answer: (b) Other places where people and animals might have problems
8. What is the main goal of the man’s invention?
Answer: (a) To keep his garden safe for his kids
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. Some people are concerned that the high-pitched sounds might scare or harm the animals. (Answer: True)
2. The man withheld the computer code he used to make the system, showing he wants to make money from it. (Answer: False)
3. When the camera system detects an animal, it makes a high-pitched sound to scare it away. (Answer: True)
4. A man in Surrey, England, neglected to create a special system to keep foxes and badgers out of his garden. (Answer: False)
5. He named his invention the Furbinator 2000. (Answer: False)
6. At first, the camera system had trouble identifying the animals correctly. (Answer: True)
7. The man barely worked on the system and it became worse at recognizing when it saw an animal. (Answer: False)
8. The man used home cameras and a device that makes high-pitched sounds to scare away the animals. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧
