Science & Technology
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6 Oct 2026
Arya Satheesh invented a plant-based plastic that helps break down microplastics (Credit: The Earth Prize)
Teen Inventor Creates A New Way To Fight Microplastics
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 inventor creates a tool to clean water.
b) A teenager builds a giant boat made of wood.
c) Scientists discover a new island made of ice.
Ask:
(1) Have you ever seen plastic floating in a river or ocean?
(2) Why is it important to keep our water clean?
VOCABULARY
tiny (/ˈtaɪni/, adjective)
Meaning: Very small in size.
Example: The tiny fish swims in the clear water.
plastic (/ˈplæstɪk/, noun)
Meaning: A light material used to make bottles and toys.
Example: We must recycle our plastic bottles every day.
inventor (/ɪnˈventə/, noun)
Meaning: A person who makes new and helpful things.
Example: The clever inventor made a funny robot.
river (/ˈrɪvə/, noun)
Meaning: A long body of fresh water that flows.
Example: Ducks love swimming in the cold river.
clean (/kliːn/, verb)
Meaning: To remove dirt or unwanted things.
Example: Please clean your bedroom before dinner.
ocean (/ˈəʊʃn/, noun)
Meaning: A huge area of blue sea water.
Example: Big whales live in the deep blue ocean.
Microplastics are very small pieces of plastic. They are in our rivers and big oceans. Fish, turtles, and sea birds eat these small pieces by mistake. This plastic is very bad for animal health. It stays in the water for a long time.
A clever teen inventor wants to fix this big problem. She works hard in her school laboratory. She makes a special new tool to clean the dirty water. Her tool uses a magnetic liquid. It catches the tiny plastic pieces very quickly.
Her new invention cleans almost all the plastic from the water. Now, river water is becoming safer for everyone. Sea animals can swim happily in clean oceans. Children can drink safe water every day. This young girl is helping our blue planet. She shows that children can create great inventions today. Many people are talking about her smart idea. Schools and communities are learning about her work. She inspires other students to protect nature.
Eco Purge shown here breaking down in soil across three stages (Credit: The Earth Prize)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(1) Why are microplastics bad for ocean animals?
(2) How does the teen inventor help clean the water?
(3) Would you like to invent something for our planet? Why?
(4) What can we do at home to use less plastic?
(5) Why is clean drinking water important for children?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: clean, inventor, rivers, tiny
Microplastics are very small pieces of plastic. They are in our _______(1) and big oceans. Fish, turtles, and sea birds eat these small pieces by mistake. This plastic is very bad for animal health. It stays in the water for a long time.
A clever teen _______(2) wants to fix this big problem. She works hard in her school laboratory. She makes a special new tool to _______(3) the dirty water. Her tool uses a magnetic liquid. It catches the _______(4) plastic pieces very quickly.
Her new invention cleans almost all the plastic from the water. Now, river water is becoming safer for everyone. Sea animals can swim happily in clean oceans. Children can drink safe water every day. This young girl is helping our blue planet. She shows that children can create great inventions today. Many people are talking about her smart idea. Schools and communities are learning about her work. She inspires other students to protect nature.
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of this story?
a) A teenager invented a way to clean microplastics from water.
b) Microplastics are only found in ocean fish.
c) Children do not like science inventions.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
(1) Microplastics are large pieces of metal in the sea. T/F
(2) A teen inventor created a tool to help clean water. T/F
(3) Animals can swim more safely in clean oceans. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Put these events in order (1-3):
a) A young girl invents a magnetic tool to catch microplastics.
b) Microplastics dirty our rivers and harm sea animals.
c) Water becomes cleaner and safer for animals and children.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. tiny
2. plastic
3. inventor
4. river
5. ocean
a) A person who creates new and useful objects.
b) A very large body of salt water.
c) Extremely small in size.
d) A flowing body of fresh water.
e) A light material used to make bottles and bags.
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
(1) 'Microplastics harm sea animals, so we must _______ our oceans.'
a) clean
b) dirty
c) ignore
(2) 'A smart _______ can solve big problems for the planet.'
a) inventor
b) pencil
c) shoe
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
(1) Unscramble the sentence:
A) clean / B) helps / C) The teen / D) the water / E) inventor
(2) Unscramble the sentence:
A) Tiny / B) plastic pieces / C) in / D) float / E) the ocean.
ANSWER KEY
Section: Warm Up Answer
Correct answer: a
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
1. rivers
2. inventor
3. clean
4. tiny
Section 2: Main Idea
Correct answer: a
Section 3: True or False
1. False
2. True
3. True
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Correct sequence: b, a, c (Order: 2, 1, 3)
Section 5: Vocab Match
1 - c
2 - e
3 - a
4 - d
5 - b
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1 - a
2 - a
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
1. C - E - B - A - D (The teen inventor helps clean the water.)
2. A - B - D - C - E (Tiny plastic pieces float in the ocean.)
Section 8: Discussion Questions
1. Microplastics are bad because sea animals eat them by mistake, which harms their health.
2. She created a special tool with magnetic liquid that catches tiny plastic pieces.
3. Sample answer: Yes, I would like to invent a solar robot to pick up litter in parks.
4. We can use reusable water bottles and carry cloth shopping bags.
5. Clean water keeps children healthy and free from diseases.
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