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11 Oct 2026
A stylist prepares Isela Santiago Morales for her 15th birthday party, organized by the community after her father’s social media appeal drew support following her first sparsely attended celebration, in Axtla de Terrazas, Mexico, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Mauricio Palos)
Stood-Up Teen Gets Dream Stadium Party After Viral Post
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 young girl has a lonely birthday party.
b) A cat becomes the mayor of a big town.
c) A dog builds a new house for its family.
Ask:
(1) What do you do on your birthday?
(2) Why is family important on special days?
VOCABULARY
party (/ˈpɑːti/, noun)
Meaning: A fun gathering of people with food, music, and games.
Example: We eat cake at the birthday party.
dress (/drɛs/, noun)
Meaning: A piece of clothing worn by girls or women.
Example: She wears a pretty pink dress today.
friend (/frɛnd/, noun)
Meaning: A person you like and play with.
Example: My best friend plays games with me.
food (/fuːd/, noun)
Meaning: Things that people eat to stay alive and healthy.
Example: The family cooks delicious food for guests.
smile (/smaɪl/, verb)
Meaning: To make a happy face with your mouth.
Example: Good news makes the young girl smile.
gift (/ɡɪft/, noun)
Meaning: Something nice that you give to someone on a special day.
Example: She receives a lovely gift from a stranger.
Isela is a happy young girl living in Mexico. Today is her very special birthday, and she turns fifteen years old today. She wears a pretty pink dress, and her family prepares a wonderful birthday party for her.
They cook delicious food and invite many friends and neighbours to celebrate the happy occasion together. However, something very sad happens when the evening arrives. Only a few people come to the party, leaving Isela feeling very lonely and upset.
Her kind father wants to make her smile again. He writes an honest message on social media to say there is plenty of extra food. Soon, the online message travels very fast across the internet. Many kind strangers read the story and decide to help her. Thousands of people travel to a large stadium with lovely gifts and toys. Music plays all night long, and Isela dances happily with everyone, feeling truly grateful and joyful.
Confetti falls over Isela Santiago Morales during her 15th birthday party at a stadium in Axtla de Terrazas, Mexico, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, organized by the community after her father’s social media appeal drew support following her first sparsely attended celebration. (AP Photo/Mauricio Palos)
Isela Santiago Morales, who works with her family collecting PET bottles, sorts recyclables at the municipal dump in Axtla de Terrazas, Mexico, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Mauricio Palos)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. How old is Isela in the story?
2. What colour is Isela's dress?
3. Who writes a message online for Isela?
4. Where do the people go to celebrate?
5. How does Isela feel at the end?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: dress / food / party / smile
Isela is a happy young girl living in Mexico. Today is her very special birthday, and she turns fifteen years old today. She wears a pretty pink _______(1), and her family prepares a wonderful birthday _______(2) for her.
They cook delicious _______(3) and invite many friends and neighbours to celebrate the happy occasion together. However, something very sad happens when the evening arrives. Only a few people come to the party, leaving Isela feeling very lonely and upset.
Her kind father wants to make her smile again. He writes an honest message on social media to say there is plenty of extra food. Soon, the online message travels very fast across the internet. Many kind strangers read the story and decide to help her. Thousands of people travel to a large stadium with lovely gifts and toys. Music plays all night long, and Isela dances happily with everyone, feeling truly grateful and joyful.
Section 2: Main Idea
Choose the best answer for the main idea of the story:
a) Isela eats cake alone in her quiet room.
b) A sad birthday becomes a giant happy party because of kind strangers.
c) Isela travels to a new school in Texas.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
1. Isela is fifteen years old. T/F
2. Thousands of people come to the stadium. T/F
3. Isela feels sad at the end of the party. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Number these sentences from 1 to 3 in the correct order:
[ ] Thousands of people come to the stadium.
[ ] Isela's father writes a message online.
[ ] Only a few guests arrive at first.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. party
2. dress
3. friend
4. food
5. smile
a) What you eat when you are hungry.
b) A happy face you make with your mouth.
c) A person you like and play with.
d) Pretty clothing worn by a girl.
e) A fun gathering with music and cake.
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence:
1. Isela wears a pink _______ (dress / shoe).
2. People bring lovely _______ (books / gifts) to the party.
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
Unscramble the words to make correct sentences:
1. A) happy / B) Isela / C) girl / D) is / E) a
2. A) music / B) night / C) plays / D) all / E) long
ANSWER KEY
Answer Key
Warm Up Answer: a) A young girl has a lonely birthday party.
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
1. dress
2. party
3. food
4. smile
Section 2: Main Idea
b) A sad birthday becomes a giant happy party because of kind strangers.
Section 3: True or False
1. True (T)
2. True (T)
3. False (F)
Section 4: Put Events in Order
3 - Thousands of people come to the stadium.
2 - Isela's father writes a message online.
1 - Only a few guests arrive at first.
Section 5: Vocab Match
1 -> e
2 -> d
3 -> c
4 -> a
5 -> b
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1. dress
2. gifts
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
1. Isela is a happy girl. (B, D, E, A, C)
2. Music plays all night long. (A, C, D, B, E)
Section 8: Discussion Questions (Sample Answers)
1. Isela is fifteen years old.
2. Isela's dress is pink.
3. Isela's father writes a message online.
4. The people go to a large stadium.
5. Isela feels very grateful and happy at the end.
Thank you for your feedback!