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16 Aug 2026
With billions in circulation, Pokémon trading cards are a driving force behind the enduringly popular creature-catching franchise. Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix/Reuters
Pokémon Celebrates 30 Years of Fun and Trading Cards
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) Pokémon began 30 years ago in Japan.
b) Pokémon cards are made of real gold.
c) Pikachu is a giant blue water turtle.
Ask:
Do you know any Pokémon characters?
Have you ever collected game cards or toys?
VOCABULARY
popular
(adjective)
famous
(adjective)
collect
(verb)
rare
(adjective)
valuable
(adjective)
celebration
(noun)
Liked by many people.
Example: Pikachu is a popular character all over the world.
Known by many people in different places.
Example: Japan is famous for making fun video games.
To gather and keep special objects together.
Example: Many children collect trading cards in a binder.
Not common and hard to find.
Example: A rare card can be worth a lot of money.
Worth a large a mount of money.
Example: The golden card is very valuable to collectors.
A fun event for a special day or birthday.
Example: The store had a big celebration for Pokémon.
Pokémon is 30 years old! The famous game started in Japan in 1996. A man named Satoshi Tajiri made the first video games. Today, children and adults all over the world love Pokémon.
Pikachu is the most popular character. It is a bright yellow creature with red cheeks. People play Pokémon video games on consoles. They also watch animated television shows and movies about these fun pocket monsters.
Many fans love to collect trading cards. Players use the cards to play games with friends. Some cards are very rare. People keep them in special plastic covers to keep them clean and safe. A few special cards are worth a lot of money. Collectors buy them for high prices. One rare Pikachu card sold for millions of dollars!
People are having big parties and events to celebrate this special birthday. Pokémon is still popular today because it brings friends together. People of all ages enjoy trading, playing, and learning about new characters.
The battle scars picked up by my Charizard have depreciated its value. Jack Bantock
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Do you have a favourite Pokémon character?
2. What games do you like to play with your friends?
3. Do you collect anything at home, like cards or toys?
4. Why do you think people like Pikachu so much?
5. Would you like to go to a 30th anniversary Pokémon party?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: collect, famous, popular, rare
Pokémon is 30 years old! The _______(1) game started in Japan in 1996. A man named Satoshi Tajiri made the first video games. Today, children and adults all over the world love Pokémon.
Pikachu is the most _______(2) character. It is a bright yellow creature with red cheeks. People play Pokémon video games on consoles. They also watch animated television shows and movies about these fun pocket monsters.
Many fans love to _______(3) trading cards. Players use the cards to play games with friends. Some cards are very _______(4). People keep them in special plastic covers to keep them clean and safe.
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of this article?
a) Pikachu is the only character in Pokémon games.
b) Pokémon is celebrating 30 years of popular games and cards.
c) All trading cards are made in Japan today.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True and False
1. Pokémon started in Japan in 1996. T/F
2. All Pokémon trading cards cost millions of dollars. T/F
3. Fans keep rare cards in plastic covers to protect them. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Put these events in order from 1 to 3:
_____ Satoshi Tajiri created the first Pokémon games in Japan.
_____ A rare Pikachu trading card sold for millions of dollars at an auction.
_____ Millions of fans around the world play the trading card game together.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. popular
2. famous
3. collect
4. rare
5. valuable
a) Known by many people in different places
b) Worth a large amount of money
c) Liked by many people
d) Not common and hard to find
e) To gather and keep special objects together
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1. My brother wants to _______ trading cards with his school friends.
a) collect
b) celebrate
2. That yellow toy is very _______ among young children.
a) famous
b) popular
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
Put these parts in order (A-E):
1. A) Pikachu / B) yellow monster / C) is a / D) popular / E) bright
2. A) trading cards / B) Many children / C) today / D) collect / E) rare
ANSWER KEY
Section: Warm Up Answer
Question: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
Answer: a) Pokémon began 30 years ago in Japan.
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps Answers
(1) famous
(2) popular
(3) collect
(4) rare
Section 2: Main Idea Answer
Question: What is the main idea of this article?
Answer: b) Pokémon is celebrating 30 years of popular games and cards.
Section 3: True and False Answers
1. Pokémon started in Japan in 1996.
Answer: True
2. All Pokémon trading cards cost millions of dollars.
Answer: False
3. Fans keep rare cards in plastic covers to protect them.
Answer: True
Section 4: Put Events in Order Answers
Correct sequential order:
1. Satoshi Tajiri created the first Pokémon games in Japan.
2. Millions of fans around the world play the trading card game together.
3. A rare Pikachu trading card sold for millions of dollars at an auction.
Section 5: Vocab Match Answers
1. popular - c) Liked by many people
2. famous - a) Known by many people in different places
3. collect - e) To gather and keep special objects together
4. rare - d) Not common and hard to find
5. valuable - b) Worth a large amount of money
Section 6: Discussion Builder Answers
1. My brother wants to _______ trading cards with his school friends.
Answer: a) collect
2. That yellow toy is very _______ among young children.
Answer: b) popular
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble Answers
Unscrambled parts A-E:
1. Answer: A-C-D-E-B (Pikachu is a popular bright yellow monster.)
Unscrambled parts A-E:
2. Answer: B-D-E-A-C (Many children collect rare trading cards today.)
Section 8: Discussion Questions Answers
Thank you for your feedback!