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25 Oct 2026
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Meet the Southeastern Gentoo: First New Penguin Species in 100 Years
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 penguin that can fly
b) Four kinds of gentoo penguin
c) A penguin with a red stripe
Ask:
(1) What colours are penguins?
(2) Where do penguins live?
VOCABULARY
penguin (/ˈpeŋɡwɪn/, noun)
Meaning: A black and white bird that swims but cannot fly.
Example: The penguin is jumping into the water.
beak (/biːk/, noun)
Meaning: The hard, pointed mouth of a bird.
Example: My parrot has a yellow beak.
stripe (/straɪp/, noun)
Meaning: A long, thin line of colour.
Example: My jumper has a red stripe on it.
swim (/swɪm/, verb)
Meaning: To move through water using your arms and legs.
Example: I swim at the pool on Saturdays.
scientist (/ˈsaɪəntɪst/, noun)
Meaning: A person who studies the world to learn new things.
Example: The scientist is looking at a little bug.
island (/ˈaɪlənd/, noun)
Meaning: Land with water all around it.
Example: We go to an island on holiday.
nest (/nest/, noun)
Meaning: A home that birds make for their eggs and babies.
Example: There is a nest in the tree by my school.
danger (/ˈdeɪndʒə/, noun)
Meaning: When something bad or hurtful can happen.
Example: A busy road is a danger for cats.
Look! This is a gentoo penguin. Its feathers are black and white. It has an orange beak and a white stripe on its head. Gentoo penguins live by the cold sea, and they love to swim.
Now scientists have big news. They are saying there are four kinds of gentoo penguin, not one! The new kind is the southeastern gentoo. It is the first new penguin in 100 years.
But how do scientists know? All four kinds look the same, so you cannot tell them apart. The scientists study their DNA. DNA is like a secret code inside every animal. It shows that the penguins are different.
Where do the southeastern gentoos live? Their home is a group of small islands. The islands are far away in the Indian Ocean. The penguins eat fish, krill and squid. Every year, they go back to the same nest.
Today these penguins are in danger because the weather is getting warmer. Cats and rats are a problem too. So people want to help them and keep them safe.
All gentoo penguin species have the same appearance, but are genetically different. ©Alexey Seafarer/Shutterstock.com
Gentoo penguins in the sub-Antarctic may be more at risk than those in Antarctica. ©Faraz Kalmati/Shutterstock.com
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Section 8: Discussion Questions
1. What colours are gentoo penguins?
2. Do you like penguins? Why?
3. Do you want to visit a cold island? Why?
4. What do the penguins eat?
5. How can we help animals in danger?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Use the words in the Word Bank to fill in the gaps.
Word Bank: danger, stripe, islands, scientists
Look! This is a gentoo penguin. Its feathers are black and white. It has an orange beak and a white _______(1) on its head. Gentoo penguins live by the cold sea, and they love to swim.
Now _______(2) have big news. They are saying there are four kinds of gentoo penguin, not one! The new kind is the southeastern gentoo. It is the first new penguin in 100 years.
But how do scientists know? All four kinds look the same, so you cannot tell them apart. The scientists study their DNA. DNA is like a secret code inside every animal. It shows that the penguins are different.
Where do the southeastern gentoos live? Their home is a group of small _______(3). The islands are far away in the Indian Ocean. The penguins eat fish, krill and squid. Every year, they go back to the same nest.
Today these penguins are in _______(4) because the weather is getting warmer. Cats and rats are a problem too. So people want to help them and keep them safe.
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of the story?
a) Penguins love to eat fish.
b) Cats and rats live on the islands.
c) Scientists find a new kind of gentoo penguin.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
Read the sentences. Circle T (True) or F (False).
1. Gentoo penguins have an orange beak. T/F
2. The four kinds of gentoo look very different. T/F
3. The southeastern gentoos live in the Indian Ocean. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Put the events in the correct order. Write 1, 2 or 3.
a) Scientists say there is a new kind of penguin. ____
b) People want to help the penguins. ____
c) Scientists study penguin DNA. ____
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. beak
2. nest
3. island
4. swim
5. danger
a) land with water all around it
b) when something bad can happen
c) the hard mouth of a bird
d) to move in water
e) a home where birds lay eggs
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
Choose the best answer to complete each sentence.
1. I like gentoo penguins because they ______.
a) fly in the sky
b) love to swim
c) eat cats
2. We must keep the penguins safe because they are in ______.
a) danger
b) a car
c) school
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
Put the parts in the correct order to make a sentence.
1. A) on / B) a white stripe / C) Gentoo penguins / D) their heads. / E) have
2. A) islands. / B) live / C) small / D) The penguins / E) on
ANSWER KEY
Warm Up
b) Four kinds of gentoo penguin
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
(1) stripe
(2) scientists
(3) islands
(4) danger
Section 2: Main Idea
c) Scientists find a new kind of gentoo penguin.
Section 3: True or False
1. T (True)
2. F (False)
3. T (True)
Section 4: Put Events in Order
1. c) Scientists study penguin DNA.
2. a) Scientists say there is a new kind of penguin.
3. b) People want to help the penguins.
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. beak - c) the hard mouth of a bird
2. nest - e) a home where birds lay eggs
3. island - a) land with water all around it
4. swim - d) to move in water
5. danger - b) when something bad can happen
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1. b) love to swim
2. a) danger
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
1. C, E, B, A, D: Gentoo penguins have a white stripe on their heads.
2. D, B, E, C, A: The penguins live on small islands.
Section 8: Discussion Questions (model answers; answers will vary)
1. They are black and white, and they have an orange beak.
2. Yes, I like penguins because they are funny and they swim fast.
3. Yes, I want to see the penguins, but I need a big coat!
4. They eat fish, krill and squid.
5. We can keep their homes clean and safe.
Thank you for your feedback!