A video from the Elephant Nature Park in Thailand showed four elephants being led to safety through floodwaters. The park’s founder, Saengduean Chailert, explained that one of the elephants was blind, which made it move slowly. Heavy rain from Typhoon Yagi caused severe flooding in northern Thailand, affecting many homes. The floods reached the elephant sanctuary on October 3rd as the Mae Taeng River rose quickly.

The sanctuary, where 126 elephants live, faced challenges when nine of them got stranded due to the flooding. But all the elephants were safely moved to a secure place. This event showed how important it is to act fast and take care of animals during natural disasters. The video of the elephants moving through the floodwaters reminds us of how tough and fragile wildlife can be when dealing with environmental problems.

The Elephant Nature Park’s actions to protect the elephants during the flood show how much the staff cares for the animals. Their dedication to looking after wildlife during tough times highlights the significance of conservation efforts in keeping endangered species safe. The heartwarming video of the elephants’ rescue demonstrates the strong bond between humans and animals, revealing the respect and understanding that can exist between them.

As the region deals with the aftermath of the flooding, the elephants’ rescue story gives hope and shows resilience. It emphasizes the need for better awareness and readiness for natural disasters to protect both people and animals. The bravery and resolve shown by the elephants and the park staff in tough times inspire communities to unite and help each other during challenges. The video symbolizes strength and togetherness in the face of difficulties, stressing the importance of kindness and teamwork during crises.

Original news source: Watch: Elephants escape floodwaters in Thailand (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the students into two teams. Write down key words from the article (e.g., elephants, floodwaters, sanctuary) on separate pieces of paper and place them in a bag. One student from each team picks a word from the bag and has to act it out without speaking, while their team tries to guess the word within a time limit. Rotate turns until all words have been guessed.

– News Summary
Instructions: Ask students to work in pairs and summarize the article in their own words. Encourage them to focus on the main points and key events. After they have discussed, have a few pairs share their summaries with the class. This activity helps students practice paraphrasing and reporting information.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of statements related to the article (e.g., “The actions taken by the Elephant Nature Park were heroic,” “Conservation efforts are crucial for protecting endangered species,” etc.). Have students move around the room and ask their classmates for their opinions on each statement. They can mark their classmates’ responses (agree/disagree) on a chart. Afterward, discuss the different opinions as a class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article on separate pieces of paper. Divide the students into small groups. One student from each group picks a word and has to draw it on the board while their group members try to guess the word. Set a time limit for each round. This activity helps reinforce vocabulary and comprehension.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: In pairs, ask students to come up with a catchy headline for the article. Encourage them to be creative and summarize the main idea of the story in a few words. After they have brainstormed, have each pair share their headline with the class. This activity promotes critical thinking and concise writing skills.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why was one of the elephants moving slowly during the rescue through floodwaters?
2. How did the heavy rain from Typhoon Yagi affect northern Thailand?
3. What challenges did the Elephant Nature Park face when nine elephants got stranded during the flooding?
4. Why is it important to act quickly to take care of animals during natural disasters?
5. How does the video of the elephants moving through floodwaters remind us of the toughness and fragility of wildlife?
6. What does the dedication of the Elephant Nature Park staff to protecting the elephants during the flood show?
7. How does the elephants’ rescue story give hope and show resilience in the region?
8. What does the video of the elephants’ rescue symbolize in terms of facing difficulties and the importance of kindness and teamwork during crises?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A video from the (1)______ Nature Park in Thailand showed four (2)______ being led to safety through floodwaters. The park’s founder, Saengduean Chailert, explained that one of the elephants was (3)______, which made it move slowly. Heavy rain from Typhoon Yagi caused (4)______ flooding in northern Thailand, affecting many homes. The floods reached the elephant sanctuary on October 3rd as the Mae Taeng River rose quickly.

The sanctuary, where 126 elephants live, faced (5)______ when nine of them got stranded due to the (6)______. But all the elephants were safely moved to a secure (7)______. This event showed how important it is to act fast and take care of (8)______ during natural disasters. The video of the elephants moving through the floodwaters reminds us of how tough and fragile wildlife can be when dealing with environmental problems.

The Elephant Nature Park’s actions to protect the elephants during the (9)______ show how much the staff cares for the animals. Their dedication to (10)______ after wildlife during tough times highlights the significance of conservation efforts in keeping endangered species safe. The heartwarming video of the elephants’ rescue (11)______ the strong bond between humans and animals, revealing the respect and understanding that can (12)______ between them.

As the region deals with the aftermath of the flooding, the elephants’ (13)______ story gives hope and shows (14)______. It emphasizes the need for better awareness and readiness for natural disasters to protect both people and animals. The bravery and resolve shown by the elephants and the park staff in (15)______ times inspire communities to unite and help each other during challenges. The (16)______ symbolizes strength and togetherness in the face of difficulties, stressing the importance of kindness and teamwork during crises.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. How do you think the blind elephant felt being led through the floodwaters?
2. Do you think it’s important to protect animals during natural disasters? Why or why not?
3. What would you do if you saw an animal in danger during a flood?
4. How do you feel about the bond between humans and animals shown in the video?
5. Do you think the staff at the Elephant Nature Park did a good job in rescuing the elephants? Why or why not?
6. How would you react if you were in a natural disaster like a flood?
7. Why do you think it’s important to raise awareness about protecting wildlife during tough times?
8. Do you believe it’s possible for humans and animals to understand each other? Why or why not?
9. How important do you think teamwork is in overcoming challenges like natural disasters?
10. What do you think the elephants felt when they were finally safe from the floodwaters?
11. How would you feel if you were one of the staff members rescuing the elephants?
12. Why do you think it’s crucial to have conservation efforts to protect endangered species?
13. Do you think the elephants showed bravery during the flood? Why or why not?
14. What can communities learn from the actions taken at the Elephant Nature Park during the flood?
15. How do you think the elephants and the staff at the park felt after the successful rescue operation?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. sanctuary
2. stranded
3. fragile
4. dedication
5. conservation
6. aftermath
7. resilience
8. endangered
9. awareness
10. resolve
11. unity
12. crisis
13. secure
14. significance
15. bond

Meanings:
(A) Being together or joined as a whole
(B) The period after a significant event, often a disaster
(C) A time of intense difficulty or danger
(D) A close connection or relationship between people or things
(E) The ability to recover from difficulties
(F) Free from danger or risk
(G) Protecting and preserving natural resources and wildlife
(H) At risk of becoming extinct
(I) Easily broken or damaged
(J) The importance or meaning of something
(K) Knowing or understanding something
(L) Left in a difficult or helpless situation
(M) Being committed to a task or purpose
(N) A firm determination to do something
(O) A safe place where animals are protected
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What caused the severe flooding in northern Thailand?
(a) Strong winds
(b) Heavy rain from Typhoon Yagi
(c) Earthquake
(d) Snowstorm

2. How many elephants live in the Elephant Nature Park?
(a) 50
(b) 200
(c) 75
(d) 126

3. What made one of the elephants move slowly during the rescue?
(a) Being scared
(b) Being injured
(c) Being blind
(d) Being hungry

4. What river rose quickly, leading to the flooding at the sanctuary?
(a) Mae Taeng River
(b) Amazon River
(c) Nile River
(d) Mississippi River

5. What does the article emphasize the importance of during natural disasters?
(a) Acting fast
(b) Taking photos
(c) Going on vacation
(d) Watching TV

6. What does the video of the elephants’ rescue symbolize?
(a) Fear and loneliness
(b) Sadness and despair
(c) Anger and frustration
(d) Strength and togetherness

7. What does the article highlight as significant in keeping endangered species safe?
(a) Building more roads
(b) Conservation efforts
(c) Cutting down forests
(d) Hunting animals

8. What does the rescue story of the elephants inspire communities to do?
(a) Fight and argue
(b) Ignore each other
(c) Unite and help each other
(d) Leave the area

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. One of the elephants was blind, making it move slowly during the rescue.
2. A video from Thailand’s Elephant Nature Park showed four elephants being led to safety through floodwaters.
3. Heavy snow from Typhoon Yagi caused severe flooding in northern Thailand, affecting many homes.
4. All the elephants were safely moved to a secure place during the flood.
5. The video of the elephants’ rescue highlights the strong bond between humans and animals.
6. The elephants’ rescue story gives despair and deemphasizes the need for better awareness and readiness for natural disasters.
7. The sanctuary, home to 126 elephants, faced challenges when all of them got stranded due to the flooding.
8. The floods reached the elephant sanctuary on October 10th as the Mae Taeng River rose slowly.
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 caused the flooding in northern Thailand that affected the Elephant Nature Park?
2. How did the park staff help the elephants during the flood?
3. Why is it important to act quickly and take care of animals during natural disasters?
4. What does the video of the elephants moving through the floodwaters remind us about wildlife?
5. How does the elephants’ rescue story give hope and show resilience in the community?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why was one of the elephants moving slowly during the rescue through floodwaters?
– One of the elephants was blind, which made it move slowly.

2. How did the heavy rain from Typhoon Yagi affect northern Thailand?
– The heavy rain from Typhoon Yagi caused severe flooding in northern Thailand, affecting many homes.

3. What challenges did the Elephant Nature Park face when nine elephants got stranded during the flooding?
– The park faced challenges when nine elephants got stranded due to the flooding.

4. Why is it important to act quickly to take care of animals during natural disasters?
– Acting quickly is important to take care of animals during natural disasters to ensure their safety and well-being.

5. How does the video of the elephants moving through floodwaters remind us of the toughness and fragility of wildlife?
– The video reminds us of how tough and fragile wildlife can be when dealing with environmental problems.

6. What does the dedication of the Elephant Nature Park staff to protecting the elephants during the flood show?
– The dedication of the staff shows how much they care for the animals and highlights the significance of conservation efforts.

7. How does the elephants’ rescue story give hope and show resilience in the region?
– The rescue story gives hope and shows resilience by emphasizing the need for better awareness and readiness for natural disasters to protect both people and animals.

8. What does the video of the elephants’ rescue symbolize in terms of facing difficulties and the importance of kindness and teamwork during crises?
– The video symbolizes strength and togetherness in the face of difficulties, stressing the importance of kindness and teamwork during crises.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Elephant
(2) elephants
(3) blind
(4) severe
(5) challenges
(6) flooding
(7) place
(8) animals
(9) flood
(10) looking
(11) demonstrates
(12) exist
(13) rescue
(14) resilience
(15) tough
(16) video
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. sanctuary
Answer: (O) A safe place where animals are protected

2. stranded
Answer: (L) Left in a difficult or helpless situation

3. fragile
Answer: (I) Easily broken or damaged

4. dedication
Answer: (M) Being committed to a task or purpose

5. conservation
Answer: (G) Protecting and preserving natural resources and wildlife

6. aftermath
Answer: (B) The period after a significant event, often a disaster

7. resilience
Answer: (E) The ability to recover from difficulties

8. endangered
Answer: (H) At risk of becoming extinct

9. awareness
Answer: (K) Knowing or understanding something

10. resolve
Answer: (N) A firm determination to do something

11. unity
Answer: (A) Being together or joined as a whole

12. crisis
Answer: (C) A time of intense difficulty or danger

13. secure
Answer: (F) Free from danger or risk

14. significance
Answer: (J) The importance or meaning of something

15. bond
Answer: (D) A close connection or relationship between people or things
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What caused the severe flooding in northern Thailand?
Answer: (b) Heavy rain from Typhoon Yagi

2. How many elephants live in the Elephant Nature Park?
Answer: (d) 126

3. What made one of the elephants move slowly during the rescue?
Answer: (c) Being blind

4. What river rose quickly, leading to the flooding at the sanctuary?
Answer: (a) Mae Taeng River

5. What does the article emphasize the importance of during natural disasters?
Answer: (a) Acting fast

6. What does the video of the elephants’ rescue symbolize?
Answer: (d) Strength and togetherness

7. What does the article highlight as significant in keeping endangered species safe?
Answer: (b) Conservation efforts

8. What does the rescue story of the elephants inspire communities to do?
Answer: (c) Unite and help each other
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. One of the elephants was blind, making it move slowly during the rescue. (Answer: True)
2. A video from Thailand’s Elephant Nature Park showed four elephants being led to safety through floodwaters. (Answer: True)
3. Heavy snow from Typhoon Yagi caused severe flooding in northern Thailand, affecting many homes. (Answer: False)
4. All the elephants were safely moved to a secure place during the flood. (Answer: True)
5. The video of the elephants’ rescue highlights the strong bond between humans and animals. (Answer: True)
6. The elephants’ rescue story gives despair and deemphasizes the need for better awareness and readiness for natural disasters. (Answer: False)
7. The sanctuary, home to 126 elephants, faced challenges when all of them got stranded due to the flooding. (Answer: False)
8. The floods reached the elephant sanctuary on October 10th as the Mae Taeng River rose slowly. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧