Animals & Environment
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19 Sept 2026
Meet the Amazing Flying Squirrel That Glows Pink in the Dark
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) A squirrel that turns bright pink under special light
b) A squirrel that builds a tiny house in a tree
c) A squirrel that swims across a large river
Ask:
(1) Do you like animals that live in forests?
(2) What color do you think is cool for wild animals?
VOCABULARY
squirrel (/ˈskwɪr.əl/, noun)
Meaning: A small furry animal with a bushy tail that lives in trees.
Example: The brown squirrel skips quickly along the tree branch.
glow (/ɡləʊ/, verb)
Meaning: To give out a soft bright light in the dark.
Example: The stars glow brightly in the night sky.
forest (/ˈfɒr.ɪst/, noun)
Meaning: A large area of land covered with many trees.
Example: Many wild birds live in the green forest.
night (/naɪt/, noun)
Meaning: The time when it is dark outside and people sleep.
Example: Owls fly through the trees at night.
pink (/pɪŋk/, adjective)
Meaning: A soft pale red colour.
Example: She wears a nice pink coat to school.
fur (/fɜːr/, noun)
Meaning: The soft hair that covers the body of some animals.
Example: The cat has soft white fur on its back.
Scientists are looking at small flying squirrels in North America. These squirrels live in green forests and stay awake at night. They jump from high trees and glide in the cold air. They look grey or brown in the sun.
One scientist shines a special ultraviolet light on a squirrel fur sample. A bright pink color shows up on its belly. The fur glows brightly in the dark under this light. All North American flying squirrels have this fun fur trick.
Regular grey squirrels do not glow under the lamp. Flying squirrels glide at night when it is very dark. The pink light helps them talk to friends or hide from scary owls in the woods. Kids like learning about these cool glowing animals.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Do you see squirrels in your local park?
2. Would you like to explore a forest at night?
3. What is your favourite nocturnal forest animal?
4. Why do you think glowing pink is helpful?
5. Which special animal superpower do you want?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: forest, fur, glow, pink
Scientists are looking at small flying squirrels in North America. These squirrels live in green _______(1) areas and stay awake at night. They jump from high trees and glide in the cold air. They look grey or brown in the sun.
One scientist shines a special ultraviolet light on a squirrel _______(2) sample. A bright _______(3) color shows up on its belly. The skin and fur _______(4) brightly in the dark under this light. All North American flying squirrels have this fun fur trick.
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of this article?
a) Flying squirrels like to eat nuts during the warm daytime.
b) Flying squirrels in North America glow pink under special light.
c) Grey squirrels are learning how to jump across high trees.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
1. Flying squirrels stay awake during the sunny daytime. T/F
2. Flying squirrels glow bright pink under ultraviolet light. T/F
3. Regular grey squirrels also glow under special lamp light. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
a) A scientist shines a special ultraviolet light on squirrel fur.
b) Flying squirrels glide through cold night forest air.
c) A bright pink color shows up on the squirrel belly.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. forest
2. glow
3. fur
4. pink
5. night
a) To shine with a soft light in the dark
b) The time when it is dark outside
c) A soft pale red colour
d) A large area filled with many trees
e) The soft hair covering an animal body
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1. The flying squirrel stays awake at _______ because it likes the dark.
a) night
b) morning
2. Scientists test animal _______ under special bright lamps.
a) fur
b) shoes
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
1. [A) The] [B) glows] [C) belly] [D) bright] [E) pink.]
2. [A) Squirrels] [B) in] [C) live] [D) green] [E) forests.]
ANSWER KEY
Warm Up Answer: a
Section 1: 1. forest, 2. fur, 3. pink, 4. glow
Section 2: b
Section 3: 1. False (F), 2. True (T), 3. False (F)
Section 4: 1. b, 2. a, 3. c
Section 5: 1-d, 2-a, 3-e, 4-c, 5-b
Section 6: 1. a, 2. a
Section 7: 1. A-C-B-D-E (The belly glows bright pink.), 2. A-C-B-D-E (Squirrels live in green forests.)
Section 8: Open-ended student discussion answers.
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