A really special thing happened in Indonesia – a rare Sumatran rhino was born at a special place called a sanctuary. This baby rhino is really small, weighing only 25kg (55lb). It’s a big deal because there are only about 40 of these rhinos left in the whole world. They’re the smallest kind of rhino and are in danger of disappearing forever. They used to live in other countries too, but now they can only be found on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo.

This baby rhino being born is important because it’s a small step towards saving the species. We need to work really hard to protect these animals from going extinct. The WWF, which is a group that helps animals all over the world, has been trying to raise awareness and get support for saving the Sumatran rhinos.

Sumatran rhinos have a lot of problems to deal with. They’re losing their homes because of things like deforestation, and people are also hunting them illegally. There used to be a lot more of them, but their numbers have gone down a lot. That’s why it’s so rare and special when a baby rhino is born. The sanctuary in Indonesia is a safe place for them to live and have babies, so we hope their numbers will go up.

It’s really important for us to understand that every single animal is valuable. When a baby rhino like this one is born, it helps the whole species survive. This special rhino calf gives us hope and reminds us how important it is to protect animals. If we take care of their homes and make sure they’re safe, we can make sure that these amazing creatures will be around for future generations to enjoy.

Original news source: Rare Sumatran rhino born in Indonesia (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into small groups.
2. Provide each group with a copy of the article.
3. Instruct the groups to read the article and summarize the main points in 3-4 sentences.
4. Give the groups a few minutes to discuss and write their summaries.
5. Ask each group to share their summary with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions:
1. Prepare a list of discussion questions related to the article, such as “Do you think enough is being done to protect endangered species?” or “What can individuals do to help preserve animal habitats?”
2. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
3. Provide each group with a set of discussion questions.
4. Instruct the groups to discuss their opinions on each question and come to a consensus.
5. After the discussion, ask each group to share their opinions with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions:
1. Write down a list of key vocabulary words from the article, such as “sanctuary,” “endangered,” or “deforestation.”
2. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
3. Provide each group with a set of vocabulary words.
4. Instruct the groups to take turns choosing a word and drawing a picture to represent it.
5. The other group members must guess the word based on the drawing.
6. After each round, discuss the meaning of the word and its relevance to the article.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into two groups.
2. Assign one group to discuss the pros of protecting endangered species, and the other group to discuss the cons.
3. Give each group a few minutes to brainstorm and prepare their arguments.
4. Allow each group to present their arguments to the class.
5. Encourage a respectful debate and discussion among the students.

– Future Predictions
Instructions:
1. Instruct the students to imagine they are conservationists working to protect endangered species in the future.
2. Ask each student to individually write down their predictions for the future of the Sumatran rhino and other endangered species.
3. After a few minutes, have the students share their predictions with a partner or in small groups.
4. Encourage the students to discuss their ideas and provide reasoning for their predictions.
5. Select a few students to share their predictions with the class and have a class discussion on the topic.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What happened in Indonesia that was really special?
2. How much does the baby rhino weigh?
3. Why is the birth of this baby rhino a big deal?
4. Where can the Sumatran rhinos be found now?
5. Why is it important to protect the Sumatran rhinos?
6. What are some of the problems that the Sumatran rhinos are facing?
7. Why is the birth of a baby rhino rare and special?
8. Why is it important for us to protect animals like the Sumatran rhinos?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A really special thing happened in Indonesia – a rare Sumatran (1)______ was born at a special place (2)______ a sanctuary. This baby rhino is really small, weighing only 25kg (55lb). It’s a big deal because there are only about 40 of these rhinos left in the whole (3)______. They’re the smallest kind of rhino and are in danger of (4)______ forever. They used to live in other countries too, but now they can only be found on the (5)______ islands of Sumatra and Borneo.

This baby rhino being born is important because it’s a small step towards saving the (6)______. We need to work really hard to protect these animals from going (7)______. The WWF, which is a group that helps animals all over the world, has been trying to raise awareness and get support for saving the Sumatran (8)______.

Sumatran rhinos have a lot of problems to deal with. They’re losing their homes because of things like (9)______, and people are also (10)______ them illegally. There used to be a lot more of them, but their (11)______ have gone down a lot. That’s why it’s so rare and special when a baby rhino is born. The (12)______ in Indonesia is a safe place for them to live and have babies, so we hope their numbers will go up.

It’s really important for us to understand that every (13)______ animal is valuable. When a baby rhino like this one is born, it (14)______ the (15)______ species survive. This special rhino calf gives us hope and (16)______ us how important it is to protect animals. If we take care of their homes and make sure they’re safe, we can make sure that these amazing creatures will be around for future generations to enjoy.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a sanctuary? Why do you think it is important for the baby rhino to be born in a sanctuary?
2. How would you feel if you saw a rare Sumatran rhino in person? Why?
3. Do you think it is important to protect endangered species? Why or why not?
4. How do you think deforestation affects the Sumatran rhinos? Why?
5. What can we do to raise awareness and support for saving endangered animals?
6. How do you think the WWF helps animals all over the world? Why is their work important?
7. Have you ever seen an animal in danger of going extinct? How did it make you feel? Why?
8. What do you think are the biggest challenges in protecting endangered animals?
9. Do you like rhinos? Why or why not?
10. How do you think the loss of their homes affects the Sumatran rhinos? Why?
11. What can individuals do to help protect endangered animals?
12. How do you think the sanctuary in Indonesia helps the Sumatran rhinos? Why is it important?
13. Do you think it is our responsibility to protect animals? Why or why not?
14. How would you feel if you were able to contribute to saving an endangered species? Why?
15. What do you think future generations would miss out on if endangered animals were to go extinct? Why?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. sanctuary
2. rhino
3. extinct
4. deforestation
5. illegal
6. valuable
7. species
8. generations

Meanings:
(a) The cutting down of trees in forests
(b) A safe place for animals to live
(c) Against the law
(d) No longer existing
(e) A large, endangered animal with a horn
(f) The people who come after us in time
(g) Something that is important and worth protecting
(h) A group of living things that are similar
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. How much does the baby Sumatran rhino weigh?
(a) 40kg (88lb)
(b) 50kg (110lb)
(c) 60kg (132lb)
(d) 25kg (55lb)

2. How many Sumatran rhinos are left in the world?
(a) About 100
(b) About 200
(c) About 500
(d) About 40

3. Where can Sumatran rhinos be found now?
(a) African savannah
(b) Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo
(c) South American rainforests
(d) Australian outback

4. What organization has been working to save the Sumatran rhinos?
(a) Greenpeace
(b) PETA
(c) WWF
(d) UNICEF

5. What are some problems that Sumatran rhinos face?
(a) Deforestation and illegal hunting
(b) Pollution and climate change
(c) Overpopulation and disease
(d) Lack of food and water

6. What is the purpose of the sanctuary in Indonesia?
(a) To provide a safe place for Sumatran rhinos to live and have babies
(b) To study the behavior of Sumatran rhinos
(c) To train Sumatran rhinos for circus performances
(d) To sell Sumatran rhinos to zoos

7. Why is the birth of a baby rhino important for the species?
(a) It raises awareness about the endangered status of Sumatran rhinos
(b) It helps increase the population of Sumatran rhinos
(c) It provides hope for the survival of the species
(d) All of the above

8. What message does the article convey about protecting animals?
(a) Animals should be left alone in their natural habitats
(b) Humans should prioritize their own needs over the needs of animals
(c) Every single animal is valuable and worth protecting
(d) Animals are not important for future generations to enjoy

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. This baby rhino is very small, weighing only 25kg (55lb).
2. There are thousands of Sumatran rhinos left in the world, making them not endangered.
3. The sanctuary in Indonesia provides a safe place for the rhinos to live and reproduce, giving hope for an increase in their numbers.
4. The WWF is a group that harms animals worldwide and has been working to suppress awareness and support for saving the Sumatran rhinos.
5. The Sumatran rhinos are the smallest type of rhino and can only be found on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo.
6. A rare Sumatran rhino was recently born in Indonesia at a sanctuary.
7. Sumatran rhinos are facing no challenges, including deforestation and illegal hunting.
8. The birth of this baby rhino is an unimportant step towards saving the species.
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. Why is the birth of the baby Sumatran rhino important?
2. How many Sumatran rhinos are left in the world?
3. What are some of the problems that Sumatran rhinos face?
4. What is the role of the WWF in saving the Sumatran rhinos?
5. Why is it important for us to protect animals like the Sumatran rhino?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What happened in Indonesia that was really special?
A rare Sumatran rhino was born at a sanctuary in Indonesia.

2. How much does the baby rhino weigh?
The baby rhino weighs only 25kg (55lb).

3. Why is the birth of this baby rhino a big deal?
The birth of this baby rhino is a big deal because there are only about 40 of these rhinos left in the whole world.

4. Where can the Sumatran rhinos be found now?
The Sumatran rhinos can now only be found on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo.

5. Why is it important to protect the Sumatran rhinos?
It is important to protect the Sumatran rhinos because they are in danger of disappearing forever and their numbers have gone down a lot.

6. What are some of the problems that the Sumatran rhinos are facing?
The Sumatran rhinos are facing problems such as losing their homes due to deforestation and being hunted illegally by people.

7. Why is the birth of a baby rhino rare and special?
The birth of a baby rhino is rare and special because there are only a few of these rhinos left in the world, so every new birth is important for the survival of the species.

8. Why is it important for us to protect animals like the Sumatran rhinos?
It is important for us to protect animals like the Sumatran rhinos because every single animal is valuable and by protecting them, we can ensure their survival for future generations to enjoy.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) rhino
(2) called
(3) world
(4) disappearing
(5) Indonesian
(6) species
(7) extinct
(8) rhinos
(9) deforestation
(10) hunting
(11) numbers
(12) sanctuary
(13) single
(14) helps
(15) whole
(16) reminds
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. sanctuary
Answer: (b) A safe place for animals to live

2. rhino
Answer: (e) A large, endangered animal with a horn

3. extinct
Answer: (d) No longer existing

4. deforestation
Answer: (a) The cutting down of trees in forests

5. illegal
Answer: (c) Against the law

6. valuable
Answer: (g) Something that is important and worth protecting

7. species
Answer: (h) A group of living things that are similar

8. generations
Answer: (f) The people who come after us in time
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. How much does the baby Sumatran rhino weigh?
Answer: (d) 25kg (55lb)

2. How many Sumatran rhinos are left in the world?
Answer: (d) About 40

3. Where can Sumatran rhinos be found now?
Answer: (b) Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo

4. What organization has been working to save the Sumatran rhinos?
Answer: (c) WWF

5. What are some problems that Sumatran rhinos face?
Answer: (a) Deforestation and illegal hunting

6. What is the purpose of the sanctuary in Indonesia?
Answer: (a) To provide a safe place for Sumatran rhinos to live and have babies

7. Why is the birth of a baby rhino important for the species?
Answer: (b) It helps increase the population of Sumatran rhinos

8. What message does the article convey about protecting animals?
Answer: (c) Every single animal is valuable and worth protecting
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. This baby rhino is very small, weighing only 25kg (55lb). (Answer: True)
2. There are thousands of Sumatran rhinos left in the world, making them not endangered. (Answer: False)
3. The sanctuary in Indonesia provides a safe place for the rhinos to live and reproduce, giving hope for an increase in their numbers. (Answer: True)
4. The WWF is a group that harms animals worldwide and has been working to suppress awareness and support for saving the Sumatran rhinos. (Answer: False)
5. The Sumatran rhinos are the smallest type of rhino and can only be found on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo. (Answer: True)
6. A rare Sumatran rhino was recently born in Indonesia at a sanctuary. (Answer: True)
7. Sumatran rhinos are facing no challenges, including deforestation and illegal hunting. (Answer: False)
8. The birth of this baby rhino is an unimportant step towards saving the species. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧