Science & Technology
Select a Level
NEW
23 Sept 2026
Image credit: Familiar Machines and Magic
Meet Familiar: The AI Robot Companion Built to Care for You
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Section: Warm Up
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) A robot that looks like a furry animal and helps you feel happy
b) A flying robot that delivers hot pizzas to your school
c) A giant robot that cleans big swimming pools
Ask:
(1) Do you have a pet or a toy animal at home?
(2) How do you feel when a friend gives you a warm hug?
VOCABULARY
robot (/ˈrəʊbɒt/, noun)
Meaning: A machine that can move and do work by itself.
Example: The small robot walked across the bedroom floor.
furry (/ˈfɜːri/, adjective)
Meaning: Covered with soft hair like a cat or dog.
Example: My rabbit has warm and furry ears.
routine (/ruːˈtiːn/, noun)
Meaning: The things you do at the same time every day.
Example: Eating breakfast before school is part of my morning routine.
cuddle (/ˈkʌd.əl/, noun)
Meaning: Holding someone close in a loving and gentle way.
Example: The little girl gave her soft teddy bear a big cuddle.
nudge (/nʌdʒ/, verb)
Meaning: To push someone gently with a elbow or head.
Example: The friendly dog will nudge your hand to ask for food.
screen (/skriːn/, noun)
Meaning: The flat glass surface on a phone, tablet, or television.
Example: Turn off the screen and look outside at the trees.
garden (/ˈɡɑː.dən/, noun)
Meaning: An outdoor area next to a house with grass and plants.
Example: We played football in the sunny garden after lunch.
Engineers build a new robot helper today. It is called a Familiar. This robot is small and very furry. It looks like a friendly pet. But it is a smart machine. It lives in your house with you.
The robot learns your daily routine fast. It watches what you do every morning. It sees when you feel sad or tired. If you feel sad, it comes close. It gives you a soft cuddle.
This robot cares about your personal health. Sometimes children sit on the sofa for hours. They look at phones or big screens. The robot walks over to you quickly. It nudges your leg with its head. It tells you to stand up now.
The robot wants you to go outside. You can walk in the garden together. It does not have a screen. It helps you talk to real friends. Many children love this new robot helper.
Familiars could provide company and stimulation for people who may not be able to look after a pet - Image credit: Familiar Machines and Magic
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(1) Would you like to have a robot like a Familiar at your home?
(2) What is your favorite thing to do in the garden?
(3) How do you feel when you spend too much time looking at screens?
(4) Who gives you the best hugs when you feel sad?
(5) What is one smart thing you want a helper robot to do?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: cuddle, furry, nudge, routine
Engineers build a new robot helper today. It is called a Familiar. This robot is small and very _______(1). It looks like a friendly pet. But it is a smart machine. It lives in your house with you.
The robot learns your daily _______(2) fast. It watches what you do every morning. It sees when you feel sad or tired. If you feel sad, it comes close. It gives you a soft _______(3).
This robot cares about your personal health. Sometimes children sit on the sofa for hours. They look at phones or big screens. The robot walks over to you quickly. It _______(4) your leg with its head. It tells you to stand up now.
The robot wants you to go outside. You can walk in the garden together. It does not have a screen. It helps you talk to real friends. Many children love this new robot helper.
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of this story?
a) Engineers made a smart furry robot that cares for children and helps them take breaks from screens.
b) Robots are replacing teachers in primary schools around the world.
c) Children should buy big screen televisions to play video games with friends.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
(1) The Familiar robot is big and made of hard metal with no fur. T/F
(2) The robot gives a cuddle if you feel sad. T/F
(3) The Familiar robot has a bright television screen on its face. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Put these events in order from 1 to 3:
( ) The robot nudges your leg to ask you to stand up.
( ) Engineers build a furry robot helper called a Familiar.
( ) You walk outside in the garden with your robot helper.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. robot
2. routine
3. cuddle
4. nudge
5. screen
a) holding someone close in a gentle, loving way
b) a machine that can move and do work by itself
c) to push someone very gently with your head or elbow
d) the glass surface on a phone or television
e) the things you do at the same time every day
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
(1) My morning ________ includes brushing my teeth and eating breakfast.
a) cuddle
b) routine
c) screen
(2) When I am sad, my mother gives me a soft ________ to make me happy.
a) nudge
b) robot
c) cuddle
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
(1) Unscramble the sentence:
[A] is / [B] The / [C] small / [D] furry / [E] robot
(2) Unscramble the sentence:
[A] garden / [B] walk / [C] in / [D] We / [E] the
ANSWER KEY
Answer Key - A1 Level
Warm Up:
a) A robot that looks like a furry animal and helps you feel happy
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
(1) furry
(2) routine
(3) cuddle
(4) nudges
Section 2: Main Idea
a) Engineers made a smart furry robot that cares for children and helps them take breaks from screens.
Section 3: True or False
(1) False (The robot is small and furry)
(2) True
(3) False (It does not have a screen)
Section 4: Put Events in Order
(2) The robot nudges your leg to ask you to stand up.
(1) Engineers build a furry robot helper called a Familiar.
(3) You walk outside in the garden with your robot helper.
Section 5: Vocab Match
1 - b (robot: a machine that can move and do work by itself)
2 - e (routine: the things you do at the same time every day)
3 - a (cuddle: holding someone close in a gentle, loving way)
4 - c (nudge: to push someone very gently with your head or elbow)
5 - d (screen: the glass surface on a phone or television)
Section 6: Discussion Builder
(1) b) routine
(2) c) cuddle
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
(1) [B] [E] [A] [C] [D] -> The robot is small furry. (or The robot is small and furry)
(2) [D] [B] [C] [E] [A] -> We walk in the garden.
Section 8: Discussion Questions
Student individual answers.
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