In Alaska, a famous brown bear known as Backpack has emerged the winner of this year's Fat Bear Week. The event is a celebration of these furry animals as they eat heartily to get ready for their long winter sleep. Backpack won in a tight race, collecting 103,344 votes, just edging out Bear 910, who had 98,253 votes. Backpack is not new to fame, as his mother, Holly, also won back in 2019, and he was once known for joyfully riding on her back while they explored salmon streams. The bears eat a lot in the weeks before hibernation in order to store fat, which is crucial for their survival during the six months they spend without food.
1. hibernationa period of inactivity, typically lasting all winter
2. emergedappeared or became known
3. celebrationa festive gathering or enjoyment of a special occasion
4. reputationthe beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone
5. reminiscentsuggestive of something earlier experienced
6. creaturesliving organisms, especially animals
7. prepareto make ready
8. securedachieved or obtained
9. exploreinvestigate or travel through an area
10. crucialvery important or necessary
11. gorgingeating a lot at once
12. amassaccumulate or gather together
13. amusingcausing laughter or entertainment
14. precedescomes before in time
15. surviveto continue to live or exist
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
1. Describe a time when you had to prepare for a big event. 2. What do you know about animal hibernation? 3. How do you stay warm during winter? 4. Have you ever participated in a competition? What was it like? 5. Discuss the importance of food in animal survival.
🤔 Comprehension Questions:
1. Who won this year's Fat Bear Week?
Backpack, a brown bear, won this year's Fat Bear Week.
2. How many votes did Backpack receive?
Backpack received 103,344 votes.
3. Who was Backpack's closest competitor?
Bear 910 was Backpack's closest competitor.
4. What event is described in the article?
The event described is Fat Bear Week in Alaska.
5. What is the significance of hibernation for bears?
Hibernation allows bears to survive for six months without food by relying on stored fat.
6. Why is Backpack known outside of his recent victory?
Backpack is known for riding on his mother Holly's back during his childhood.
7. What preparation do bears make for hibernation?
Bears prepare for hibernation by eating a lot to store fat.
🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
In Alaska, a famous bear known as has the winner of this Fat Bear Week. The event is a celebration of these furry animals as they eat to get ready for their long sleep. Backpack won in a race, collecting 103,344 , just edging out Bear 910, who had 98,253 votes. Backpack is not new to fame, as his mother, , also won back in 2019, and he was once for riding on her back while they salmon . The bears eat a lot in the weeks before hibernation in to store fat, which is crucial for their survival during the six they without food.
💬 Discussion Questions:
1. Why do you think Fat Bear Week is popular? 2. How important are competitions like this for raising awareness? 3. Do you think you could survive in the wild for a week? Why or why not? 4. What are your thoughts on animals storing fat for survival? 5. How do you feel about human impact on wildlife? 6. What would you consider as your own 'hibernation' period? 7. What other animal-related competitions can you think of? 8. How does learning about animals help us in our daily lives? 9. What do you think Backpack's victory represents? 10. How do modern campaigns help change perception of wildlife? 11. Have you ever seen a bear in real life? Describe the experience. 12. What are some ways we can help protect hibernating animals?
Individual Activities
📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:
Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.
Words
1. hibernation
2. emerged
3. celebration
4. reputation
5. reminiscent
6. creatures
7. prepare
8. secured
9. explore
10. crucial
11. gorging
12. amass
13. amusing
14. precedes
15. survive
Meanings
(A) accumulate or gather together
(B) causing laughter or entertainment
(C) comes before in time
(D) investigate or travel through an area
(E) eating a lot at once
(F) a festive gathering or enjoyment of a special occasion
(G) a period of inactivity, typically lasting all winter
(H) to make ready
(I) to continue to live or exist
(J) appeared or became known
(K) the beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone
(L) achieved or obtained
(M) living organisms, especially animals
(N) very important or necessary
(O) suggestive of something earlier experienced
🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What event did Backpack win?
(a) Fat Bear Week
(b) Salmon Stream Observation
(c) Bear Olympics
(d) Winter Games
2. What is the purpose of Fat Bear Week?
(a) To measure the bears' speed
(b) To track bear migration
(c) To celebrate bears as they prepare for hibernation
(d) To introduce bear cubs
3. Which bear came close to winning against Backpack?
(a) Bear 2019
(b) Holly
(c) Bear 925
(d) Bear 910
4. How many votes did Backpack receive?
(a) 98,253
(b) 201,910
(c) 100,000
(d) 103,344
5. What role did Holly have in the story?
(a) Another contestant
(b) Backpack's mother
(c) The host
(d) A judge
6. For how long do bears hibernate?
(a) Three months
(b) One year
(c) Six months
(d) Six weeks
7. What activity did Backpack do as a child?
(a) Rode on his mother’s back
(b) Swim solo across streams
(c) Climbed the highest trees
(d) Danced in the meadows
8. What helps bears survive during hibernation?
(a) Extra layers of fur
(b) Stored fat
(c) Support from humans
(d) Long naps
🕵️ True or False Questions:
1. Hibernation helps bears survive without food for months.
2. Bears eat a lot before hibernation to store fat.
3. The competition celebrates bears preparing for summer hibernation.
4. Backpack was known for riding on his mother's back in salmon streams.
5. Fat Bear Week is held in Canada.
6. Backpack lost by collecting 103,344 votes.
7. Backpack's mother, Holly, was a recent loser.
8. Bear 910 was the runner-up in the competition.
Writing Questions:
1. Write about how animals survive extreme weather conditions.
2. Describe a competition or event that you would like to participate in.
3. Explain the importance of conservation efforts for wildlife.
4. Describe a special tradition or celebration unique to your culture.
5. Write an essay on the impact of human activities on animal habitats.
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