After 23 years at the National Zoo in Washington DC, three giant pandas were sent back to China. People at the zoo were really sad to see them go. The pandas were given to the US in 1972 as a symbol of friendship when President Richard Nixon made friends with China again. Now, the zoos in DC, Memphis, and San Diego have sent their pandas back to China, and only the Atlanta Zoo still has pandas. But they’re also going back to China in early 2024.

The pandas leaving has made zoo workers and visitors really sad because the pandas were really popular. The pandas going back to China means the end of a time and the end of a successful program to take care of and make more pandas. The pandas being in the US has helped people learn about how to take care of this kind of animal that’s in danger, and has helped scientists study how pandas act and how their bodies work.

The pandas leaving shows how it’s important for countries to work together to take care of animals. The US and China sending pandas back and forth has not only made them better friends, but has also helped them work together to take care of animals and do research. The pandas going back to China is a good story about taking care of animals and keeping them safe around the world.

The pandas leaving is a reminder that we need to keep working to take care of animals that are in danger. The pandas going back to China is a sad time for the zoos and the public, because they have to say goodbye to these special animals. But it also shows that people are still working to take care of animals and hoping that pandas and other animals that are in danger can keep living in the wild.

Original news source: Sad farewells for US pandas heading back to China (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Students will be divided into small groups. Each group is tasked with reading the provided article and creating a brief summary (around 3-4 sentences) of the main points. They should focus on the reasons for the pandas’ return, the impact on the zoos, and the broader implications for international cooperation and animal conservation. Afterward, each group will present their summary to the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write a series of statements related to the article on the board (e.g., “The panda exchange program was a success,” “Pandas should remain in their natural habitat,” etc.). Students will stand and move to different parts of the room to show their agreement or disagreement with each statement. After positioning themselves, they can discuss their reasons with nearby classmates and then share with the wider class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Prepare a list of key vocabulary words from the article (e.g., conservation, endangered, cooperation, symbol of friendship). Divide the class into two teams. Players from each team take turns drawing a word on the board without speaking, while their team guesses the word within a set time limit. Points are awarded for correct guesses, and the team with the most points at the end wins.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have students work in pairs to discuss and write down their predictions about the future of animal conservation and international cooperation based on the situation described in the article. They should consider questions like: “What will happen after the last pandas leave the Atlanta Zoo?” and “How will this affect relations between China and the U.S.?” After a few minutes, pairs can share their predictions with the class.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups. One group will list the pros of having pandas in U.S. zoos, while the other group will list the cons. Students should consider aspects such as educational value, conservation efforts, and political significance. After a set amount of time, groups will share their lists, and the class can further discuss the implications of the pandas’ return to China.

Comprehension Questions:

1. How long were the giant pandas at the National Zoo in Washington DC before they were sent back to China?
2. What was the reason for the pandas being given to the US in 1972?
3. Besides Washington DC, which other two cities have sent their pandas back to China?
4. When are the pandas from the Atlanta Zoo scheduled to return to China?
5. Why has the departure of the pandas from the US zoos caused sadness among the workers and visitors?
6. What have the pandas in the US contributed to in terms of animal care and scientific research?
7. How has the exchange of pandas between the US and China affected the relationship between the two countries?
8. What does the article suggest about the future efforts in taking care of endangered animals like the pandas?
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Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

After 23 years at the National Zoo in Washington DC, three (1)______ pandas were sent back to (2)______. (3)______ at the zoo were really sad to see them go. The pandas were given to the US in 1972 as a symbol of friendship when President (4)______ Nixon made friends with China again. Now, the zoos in DC, Memphis, and San Diego have sent their pandas back to China, and only the Atlanta Zoo still has pandas. But they’re also going back to China in (5)______ 2024.

The pandas leaving has made zoo workers and (6)______ really sad because the pandas were really popular. The pandas going back to China (7)______ the end of a time and the end of a successful program to take care of and make more pandas. The pandas being in the US has helped (8)______ learn about how to take care of this kind of animal that’s in danger, and has helped scientists study how pandas act and how their bodies work.

The pandas leaving (9)______ how it’s important for (10)______ to work together to take care of animals. The US and China sending pandas back and forth has not only made them better friends, but has also (11)______ them work together to take care of animals and do research. The pandas going back to China is a good story about (12)______ care of animals and keeping them safe around the world.

The pandas leaving is a reminder that we need to keep working to take care of animals that are in danger. The pandas going back to China is a sad time for the zoos and the (13)______, because they have to say goodbye to these (14)______ animals. But it also shows that people are still working to take care of animals and (15)______ that pandas and other animals that are in danger can keep (16)______ in the wild.
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Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a giant panda and why do you think they are so popular?
2. How would you feel if your favorite animal was sent to another country?
3. Do you like visiting zoos? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important for countries to share animals like the pandas? Why?
5. Have you ever had to say goodbye to something you loved? How did that make you feel?
6. What do you think about animals being used as symbols of friendship between countries?
7. How can zoos help us learn about endangered animals?
8. Do you think the pandas will be happier in China or the US? Why?
9. What is one way we can work together to protect endangered animals?
10. Do you believe that scientific research on animals should be shared internationally? Why or why not?
11. What is your opinion on animals being kept in zoos versus living in the wild?
12. Have you ever learned something new about an animal by seeing it in a zoo?
13. Do you think the pandas’ return to China will affect the relationship between China and the US?
14. How do you think the Atlanta Zoo will change after their pandas leave?
15. What is something you can do to help animals that are in danger of going extinct?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. pandas
2. zoo
3. China
4. animals
5. US
6. leaving
7. take care
8. danger

Meanings:
(a) Something that could cause harm or injury
(b) A country in East Asia
(c) Living creatures that can move and grow
(d) Going away from a place
(e) Making sure something is safe and healthy
(f) A place where people can see and learn about animals
(g) Large, black and white bears from Asia
(h) A country in North America
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Multiple Choice Questions:

1. When were the pandas given to the US?
(a) 1985
(b) 1999
(c) 2007
(d) 1972

2. How many zoos in the US had pandas before they were sent back to China?
(a) 5
(b) 2
(c) 3
(d) 4

3. Why were the pandas sent to the US in 1972?
(a) To start a breeding program
(b) To study their behavior
(c) As a gift for the president
(d) As a symbol of friendship

4. What does the article say about the Atlanta Zoo?
(a) It never had pandas
(b) It still has pandas
(c) It’s getting pandas in 2024
(d) It’s sending pandas to China

5. What did the pandas’ time in the US help people learn about?
(a) How to take care of endangered animals
(b) How to train pandas
(c) How to build panda habitats
(d) How to communicate with pandas

6. What does the article say about the relationship between the US and China?
(a) They have never sent animals to each other
(b) They don’t get along
(c) They have worked together to take care of animals
(d) They have only sent pandas to each other

7. What is the main message of the article?
(a) It’s important to work together to take care of endangered animals
(b) Pandas are not important
(c) Zoos are not a good place for pandas
(d) It’s not worth studying pandas

8. What does the article say about the future of pandas in the wild?
(a) They are not in danger
(b) People are still working to keep them safe
(c) They will all be in zoos
(d) They are not important to study

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The pandas being in the US has not helped people learn about how to take care of them and has not helped scientists study how pandas act and how their bodies work.
2. The pandas departing has made zoo workers and visitors really happy because the pandas were not very popular.
3. The pandas were taken from the US in 1972 as a symbol of animosity when President Richard Nixon made enemies with China again.
4. The National Zoo in Washington DC had three giant pandas for 23 years before keeping them in China.
5. The pandas going back to China is a good story about taking care of animals and keeping them safe around the world.
6. The zoos in DC, Memphis, and San Diego have all sent their pandas back to China, leaving only the Atlanta Zoo with pandas.
7. The pandas leaving shows how important it is for countries to work together to take care of animals.
8. The pandas leaving is a reminder that we need to keep working to take care of animals that are in danger.
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. How long did the giant pandas stay at the National Zoo in Washington DC?
2. Why were the pandas originally given to the US, and by whom?
3. Which zoo in the United States will still have pandas until early 2024?
4. What are the two main benefits mentioned about having pandas in the US?
5. What does the return of the pandas to China symbolize in terms of international cooperation?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. How long were the giant pandas at the National Zoo in Washington DC before they were sent back to China?
The giant pandas were at the National Zoo for 23 years before they were sent back to China.

2. What was the reason for the pandas being given to the US in 1972?
The pandas were given to the US in 1972 as a symbol of friendship when President Richard Nixon re-established friendly relations with China.

3. Besides Washington DC, which other two cities have sent their pandas back to China?
The other two cities that have sent their pandas back to China are Memphis and San Diego.

4. When are the pandas from the Atlanta Zoo scheduled to return to China?
The pandas from the Atlanta Zoo are scheduled to return to China in early 2024.

5. Why has the departure of the pandas from the US zoos caused sadness among the workers and visitors?
The departure of the pandas has caused sadness because the pandas were very popular and loved by zoo workers and visitors, marking the end of an era and a successful conservation program.

6. What have the pandas in the US contributed to in terms of animal care and scientific research?
The pandas in the US have helped people learn about conservation and how to take care of endangered species, and they have provided scientists with the opportunity to study panda behavior and physiology.

7. How has the exchange of pandas between the US and China affected the relationship between the two countries?
The exchange of pandas between the US and China has not only improved their friendship but also encouraged cooperation in wildlife conservation and scientific research.

8. What does the article suggest about the future efforts in taking care of endangered animals like the pandas?
The article suggests that the future efforts in taking care of endangered animals like the pandas will continue and that it’s important for countries to collaborate to ensure these animals can survive in the wild.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) giant
(2) China
(3) People
(4) Richard
(5) early
(6) visitors
(7) means
(8) people
(9) shows
(10) countries
(11) helped
(12) taking
(13) public
(14) special
(15) hoping
(16) living
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. pandas
Answer: (g) Large, black and white bears from Asia

2. zoo
Answer: (f) A place where people can see and learn about animals

3. China
Answer: (b) A country in East Asia

4. animals
Answer: (c) Living creatures that can move and grow

5. US
Answer: (h) A country in North America

6. leaving
Answer: (d) Going away from a place

7. take care
Answer: (e) Making sure something is safe and healthy

8. danger
Answer: (a) Something that could cause harm or injury
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. When were the pandas given to the US?
Answer: (d) 1972

2. How many zoos in the US had pandas before they were sent back to China?
Answer: (c) 3

3. Why were the pandas sent to the US in 1972?
Answer: (d) As a symbol of friendship

4. What does the article say about the Atlanta Zoo?
Answer: (b) It still has pandas

5. What did the pandas’ time in the US help people learn about?
Answer: (a) How to take care of endangered animals

6. What does the article say about the relationship between the US and China?
Answer: (c) They have worked together to take care of animals

7. What is the main message of the article?
Answer: (a) It’s important to work together to take care of endangered animals

8. What does the article say about the future of pandas in the wild?
Answer: (b) People are still working to keep them safe
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The pandas being in the US has not helped people learn about how to take care of them and has not helped scientists study how pandas act and how their bodies work. (Answer: False)
2. The pandas departing has made zoo workers and visitors really happy because the pandas were not very popular. (Answer: False)
3. The pandas were taken from the US in 1972 as a symbol of animosity when President Richard Nixon made enemies with China again. (Answer: False)
4. The National Zoo in Washington DC had three giant pandas for 23 years before keeping them in China. (Answer: False)
5. The pandas going back to China is a good story about taking care of animals and keeping them safe around the world. (Answer: True)
6. The zoos in DC, Memphis, and San Diego have all sent their pandas back to China, leaving only the Atlanta Zoo with pandas. (Answer: True)
7. The pandas leaving shows how important it is for countries to work together to take care of animals. (Answer: True)
8. The pandas leaving is a reminder that we need to keep working to take care of animals that are in danger. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧