Animals & Environment
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8 Aug 2026
Japan's Famous Baby Monkey Punch Celebrates First Birthday
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) A baby monkey holding a toy
b) A tiger learning to swim
c) A penguin wearing boots
Ask:
(1) Have you ever been to a zoo?
(2) What is your favourite animal?
VOCABULARY
monkey
(noun)
birthday
(noun)
plushie
(noun)
friend
(noun)
zookeeper
(noun)
enclosure
(noun)
happy
(adjective)
An animal with a long tail that lives in trees or zoos.
Example: A little monkey played in the tree.
The day each year when you celebrate the date you were born.
Example: I got a big cake for my birthday.
A soft stuffed toy animal.
Example: She held her plushie while sleeping.
A person you like and enjoy spending time with.
Example: Punch plays with his new friend.
A person who works in a zoo and takes care of animals.
Example: The zookeeper fed the baby monkey.
An area with fence or walls where zoo animals live.
Example: The monkeys live in a large enclosure.
Feeling good or pleased about something.
Example: Punch felt happy with his toy.
Punch is a small macaque monkey in Japan. He lives in a zoo in Ichikawa City. One year ago, Punch was born, but his mother could not look after him. He was very small and alone.
The zookeepers cared for Punch every day. They gave him a soft orangutan plushie toy. Punch held the plushie tightly to make his hands strong. The toy helped Punch feel safe and happy.
When Punch grew bigger, he joined the other monkeys in the big enclosure. At first, the older monkeys shooed him away. Punch ran back to his plushie for comfort. Slowly, the other monkeys accepted him. Now, Punch plays with many monkey friends every day.
This Sunday, Punch turns one year old. He is not holding his toy anymore because he has real friends. People from all over the world love Punch. They sent him 2,500 birthday cards. Visitors come to the zoo to see him and celebrate his special day.
Listen
Punch, a young Japanese macaque, plays at Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden in Ichikawa, east of Tokyo, Thursday, July 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Do you like visiting animals at the zoo?
2. Why was the plushie toy important to Punch?
3. How do you celebrate your birthday with your friends?
4. Why is it good to have friends to play with?
5. Would you like to send a birthday card to Punch? Why or why not?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: accepted, enclosure, plushie, zookeepers
Punch is a small macaque monkey in Japan. He lives in a zoo in Ichikawa City. One year ago, Punch was born, but his mother could not look after him. He was very small and alone.
The _______(1) cared for Punch every day. They gave him a soft orangutan _______(2) toy. Punch held the plushie tightly to make his hands strong. The toy helped Punch feel safe and happy.
When Punch grew bigger, he joined the other monkeys in the big _______(3). At first, the older monkeys shooed him away. Punch ran back to his plushie for comfort. Slowly, the other monkeys _______(4) him. Now, Punch plays with many monkey friends every day.
This Sunday, Punch turns one year old. He is not holding his toy anymore because he has real friends. People from all over the world love Punch. They sent him 2,500 birthday cards. Visitors come to the zoo to see him and celebrate his special day.
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of this story?
a) A baby monkey named Punch grew up with help and made real friends at the zoo.
b) A zookeeper bought a soft toy at a shop for his dog.
c) A monkey escaped from a zoo and went to a birthday party in Japan.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
1. Punch was cared for by zookeepers because his mother could not look after him. T/F
2. Punch still holds his plushie toy every day because he has no friends. T/F
3. People sent 2,500 birthday cards to Punch at the zoo. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Put the following events in order (1 to 3):
a) Punch joined the big enclosure with fifty other monkeys.
b) Punch was born and cared for by zookeepers with a plushie toy.
c) Punch made real monkey friends and celebrated his first birthday.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. Zookeeper
2. Plushie
3. Enclosure
4. Friend
5. Birthday
a) A person you like and play with
b) A person who takes care of zoo animals
c) The yearly day to celebrate when you were born
d) A soft stuffed toy
e) A safe fenced area for animals
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1. The baby monkey felt safe when he held his _______ toy.
a) plushie
b) car
c) book
d) pencil
2. Punch now plays in the monkey _______ with his new friends.
a) bed
b) enclosure
c) kitchen
d) classroom
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
Unscramble the sentence:
1. A) little B) monkey C) is D) a E) Punch
2. A) friends B) plays C) real D) He E) with
ANSWER KEY
Warm Up
Answer: a) A baby monkey holding a toy
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
zookeepers
plushie
enclosure
accepted
Section 2: Main Idea
a) A baby monkey named Punch grew up with help and made real friends at the zoo.
Section 3: True or False
True
False
True
Section 4: Put Events in Order
b
a
c
Section 5: Vocab Match
b
d
e
a
c
Section 6: Discussion Builder
a) plushie
b) enclosure
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
E - C - D - A - B (Punch is a little monkey.)
D - B - E - C - A (He plays with real friends.)
Section 8: Discussion Questions
Student's own answers.
Thank you for your feedback!