Animals & Environment
Turtle Champion
25 May 2026
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Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Think Ahead: Which extra detail do you think is in the story?
a) Gia sees a large shark near the beach.
b) Gia designs special signs to protect turtles.
c) Gia stops cars from driving on the road.
Ask:
(1) Do you like turtles? Why or why not?
(2) Have you ever seen an animal sign near a road?
VOCABULARY
shell
(noun)
mix
(verb)
danger
(noun)
slogan
(noun)
brave
(adjective)
ʃɛl
The hard outer cover of an animal like a turtle
Example: The turtle pulled its head inside its hard shell.
mɪks
To combine different things together
Example: You can mix yellow and blue paint to make green.
ˈdeɪndʒər
The possibility of harm or something bad happening
Example: The small animals ran away when they sensed danger.
ˈsloʊɡən
A short and clever phrase that is easy to remember
Example: The school uses a popular slogan for its recycling program.
breɪv
Ready to face difficult or scary situations
Example: The brave firefighter saved the cat from the tree.
Gia Providente is a nine-year-old girl. She lives in Long Island, New York. She loves turtles. Gia wanted to help diamondback terrapin turtles. These turtles have a beautiful diamond pattern on their shell. They live in water where saltwater and freshwater mix.
Female turtles come to the land from May to July to lay eggs. But these turtles are in danger. Cars and boats can hit them. Gia wanted to protect them. She had a great idea. She designed special signs for parks near the water. The signs say, “Go slow, terrapins below.” This slogan is short and easy to see.
Town workers put her signs in two local parks. Gia won a prize for helping her community. She tells other children to be brave and never give up.
Listen
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Why are cars and boats dangerous for turtles?
2. Was Gia's slogan "Go slow, terrapins below" a good idea? Why?
3. Have you ever seen a wild animal in your neighborhood?
4. Do you want to win a prize for helping animals? Why or why not?
5. Would you like to design a sign for your town? What would it say?
6. Why is it important to protect wild turtles?
FILL IN THE GAPS
1. Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:
Gia Providente is a nine-year-old girl. She lives in Long Island, New York. She loves turtles. Gia wanted to help diamondback terrapin turtles. These turtles have a beautiful diamond pattern on their (1) _______. They live in water where saltwater and freshwater (2) _______. Female turtles come to the land from May to July to lay eggs. But these turtles are in (3) _______. Cars and boats can hit them. Gia wanted to protect them. She had a great idea. She designed special signs for parks near the water. The signs say, “Go slow, terrapins below.” This slogan is short and easy to see. Town workers put her signs in two local parks. Gia won a prize for helping her community. She tells other children to be (4) _______ and never give up.
2. MAIN IDEA
Choose one:
Gia designed signs to protect turtles from cars and boats in her community.
A turtle swam away from New York to live in a bigger ocean.
Gia and her friend Vincent found a diamond on a beach.
UNDERSTANDING
3. TRUE OR FALSE
Gia Providente is nine years old. T / F
Terrapin turtles only live in saltwater. T / F
Gia won a prize for her community work. T / F
4. PUT EVENTS IN ORDER
Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (3):
[ ] Town workers installed the signs in two local parks.
[ ] Gia saw turtle signs at another beach and wanted them at home.
[ ] Gia designed special turtle awareness signs for her area.
LANGUAGE
Vocabulary Match
5. Match each vocabulary word with a definition:
1. Shell (n)
2. Mix (v)
3. Danger (n)
4. Brave (adj)
a) The possibility of harm or something bad happening.
b) Ready to face difficult or scary situations.
c) The hard outer cover of an animal like a turtle.
d) To combine different things together.
USE IT
6. DISCUSSION BUILDER
Choose the best phrase for each gap:
1. Gia wanted to protect the turtles ________ it would help drivers see them.
because / so / but
2. The turtles face dangers from cars, ________ the new signs help them stay safe.
because / but / so
7. SENTENCE UNSCRAMBLE
1. A. I think B. turtles are C. because D. wonderful animals E. they are quiet.
2. A. We should B. help animals C. keep them safe. D. to E. in our town
ANSWER KEY
Think Ahead: b
Listening: (1) shell, (2) mix, (3) danger, (4) brave
Main Idea: Gia designed signs to protect turtles from cars and boats in her community.
True or False:
True. The first paragraph states that Gia Providente is a nine-year-old girl.
False. The text states they live in water where saltwater and freshwater mix.
True. The last paragraph states Gia won a prize for helping her community.
Put Events in Order:
Gia saw turtle signs at another beach and wanted them at home.
Gia designed special turtle awareness signs for her area.
Town workers installed the signs in two local parks.
Vocab Match:
1. c
2. d
3. a
4. b
Discussion Builder:
because
so
Sentence Unscramble:
I think turtles are wonderful animals because they are quiet.
We should help animals in our town to keep them safe.