Animals & Environment
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1 Sept 2026
Rhossi’s journey is an extreme example of how far a young Kemp's ridley turtle can travel from its natural habitat in the Gulf of Mexico | X/@angleseyseazoo
Lost Turtle Rhossi Returns Home From 5000 Miles Away
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) A small turtle travels on a big airplane across the ocean.
b) A sea turtle returns to the ocean after two years of help.
c) A turtle lives in a zoo with pandas and monkeys.
Ask:
(1) Do you like sea animals?
(2) How can people help hurt animals?
VOCABULARY
turtle (/ˈtɜː.təl/, noun)
Meaning: A reptile with a hard shell that lives in water or on land.
Example: The tiny turtle swims in the blue water.
rescue (/ˈres.kjuː/, verb)
Meaning: To save someone or something from danger.
Example: Kind people rescue the lost dog in the rain.
ocean (/ˈəʊ.ʃən/, noun)
Meaning: A very large area of salty sea water.
Example: Whales and fish live in the big ocean.
travel (/ˈtræv.əl/, verb)
Meaning: To go from one place to another place.
Example: We travel to the beach every summer.
healthy (/ˈhel.θi/, adjective)
Meaning: Strong and not sick.
Example: Eating fresh fruit keeps your body healthy.
home (/həʊm/, noun)
Meaning: The place where an animal or person lives.
Example: The forest is a peaceful home for birds.
Rhossi is a Kemp's ridley sea turtle. This special sea turtle is very rare. Two years ago, Rhossi is cold and sick. People find her far from her warm ocean home. Kind helpers rescue her quickly. They take her to a big animal hospital.
Doctors look after Rhossi every day. She gets good food and medicine. Slowly, Rhossi becomes strong and happy. Her shell is hard again. Now, she is very healthy and ready for a big adventure.
Rhossi needs to travel 8,000 kilometres back home. She travels to the warm Gulf of Mexico. Helpers put her into the blue ocean water. Rhossi swims away fast. She is back in her real ocean home at last!
Listen
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(1) Why is Rhossi a special sea turtle?
(2) How do helpers help Rhossi when she is sick?
(3) Where is Rhossi's warm ocean home?
(4) Would you like to help sick animals at a hospital?
(5) Why is it important to protect sea turtles?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: healthy, ocean, rescue, travel
Rhossi is a Kemp's ridley sea turtle. This special sea turtle is very rare. Two years ago, Rhossi is cold and sick. People find her far from her warm ocean home. Kind helpers _______(1) her quickly. They take her to a big animal hospital.
Doctors look after Rhossi every day. She gets good food and medicine. Slowly, Rhossi becomes strong and happy. Her shell is hard again. Now, she is very _______(2) and ready for a big adventure.
Rhossi needs to _______(3) 8,000 kilometres back home. She travels to the warm Gulf of Mexico. Helpers put her into the blue _______(4) water. Rhossi swims away fast. She is back in her real ocean home at last!
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of this story?
a) A turtle learns how to fly in an airplane.
b) A rescued sea turtle gets healthy and returns to the ocean.
c) Doctors build a new hospital for sea turtles.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
1. Rhossi was cold and sick two years ago. T/F
2. Rhossi stayed at the hospital for ten years. T/F
3. Rhossi swims back into the Gulf of Mexico. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Put these events in order from 1 to 3:
( ) Helpers release Rhossi into the blue ocean.
( ) Rhossi gets cold and sick far from home.
( ) Doctors give Rhossi food and medicine to make her strong.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. turtle
2. rescue
3. ocean
4. healthy
5. travel
a) to save someone from danger
b) strong and not sick
c) a reptile with a hard shell
d) to go from one place to another
e) a very large area of salty sea water
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence:
1. Kind people _______ the sick sea animal from danger.
a) rescue
b) fly
c) sleep
2. Fish swim freely in the big blue ______.
a) box
b) ocean
c) house
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
Unscramble the words to make correct sentences:
1. [is] [A] [the ocean] [in] [turtle] [swimming]
2. [healthy] [The] [turtle] [is] [now]
ANSWER KEY
Warm Up Answer: b
Section 1: (1) rescue, (2) healthy, (3) travel, (4) ocean
Section 2: b
Section 3: 1. T, 2. F, 3. T
Section 4: 3, 1, 2
Section 5: 1-c, 2-a, 3-e, 4-b, 5-d
Section 6: 1-a, 2-b
Section 7: 1. A turtle is swimming in the ocean. 2. The turtle is now healthy.
Section 8: Open discussion based on student opinions.
Thank you for your feedback!