The Reading / Listening - Level 3

An abandoned puppy has been given a new home and a new job. The 7-week-old pup was left at the stadium of the Savannah Bananas baseball team in Georgia, USA last week. It was found crying in the parking lot. It had no name tag, collar, microchip, or anything else to identify it. The team posted a message on its website about the dog, but the owner did not come forward. The president of the team, Jared Orton, decided he would adopt the puppy and named her Daisy. The lucky pup also has a new job. She is now the team's official 'bat dog'. The job of a bat dog is to take baseball bats to players, collect balls on the baseball field and please the crowd.

Mr Orton spoke about meeting Daisy for the first time. She looked very tired and a little lost. Orton said: "We took Daisy to the vet and aside from being hungry and dehydrated, she was in pretty good health." He told reporters that although she has the job of bat dog, she might be a little too small to hold a bat in her mouth. He said: "We aren't sure how big she'll get, so it's hard to say if she'll be able to pick up a bat or just coach first base." He added that she will become a regular feature at the ballpark and will be very popular with fans. She will also greet visitors every day at the team's office. Mr Orton said finding Daisy was her fate. He said: "It was just meant to be that we'd have a team dog as part of our staff."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 2

Sources
  • http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/georgia-baseball-team-adopts-puppy-abandoned-stadium-bat/story?id=39091699
  • https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2016/05/12/a-ridiculously-cute-puppy-found-outside-a-stadium-has-been-adopted-by-the-team/
  • http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/news/savannah-bananas-bat-dog-daisy-photos-video-gif/qumummnzrngv1df2yf3epjsp8


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. PUPPIES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about puppies. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

       abandoned / puppy / stadium / baseball / stadium / identify / president / crowd / tired
       meeting / list / vet / hungry / dehydrated / good health / coach / regular / ballpark

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. WORKING: Students A strongly believe animals should not be made to work; Students B strongly believe it's OK if they work.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. DOG JOBS: What jobs can dogs do? Discuss this with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

  • Rescue
  • Blind people
  • Security
  • Drugs
  • Terrorism
  • Hunting

 

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. STADIUM: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "stadium". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. PETS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best pets at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • rabbit
  • horse
  • parrot
  • spider
  • dog
  • fish
  • tortoise
  • cat

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The abandoned puppy was just 7 months old.     T / F
  2. The name of the baseball club is the Savannah Bananas.     T / F
  3. The puppy was micro-chipped.     T / F
  4. The puppy now has a job as a guard dog at the baseball park.     T / F
  5. The puppy was in good health when she visited the vet.     T / F
  6. The puppy can already hold two baseball bats in its mouth.     T / F
  7. The puppy will greet visitors at the baseball team's office.     T / F
  8. The team president said it was fate that the puppy is with the team.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. left
  2. found
  3. message
  4. named
  5. crowd
  6. sure
  7. feature
  8. popular
  9. fate
  10. staff
  1. workers
  2. memo
  3. certain
  4. attraction
  5. called
  6. discovered
  7. destiny
  8. spectators
  9. abandoned
  10. well liked

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. An abandoned puppy has been
  2. in the parking
  3. posted a message
  4. the owner did not
  5. please the
  6. hungry and
  7. she was in pretty
  8. she will become a regular
  9. She will also greet visitors
  10. part of
  1. dehydrated
  2. come forward
  3. crowd
  4. good health
  5. our staff
  6. given a new home
  7. every day
  8. lot
  9. on its website
  10. feature

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
official
stadium
given
posted
collect
lucky
lot
adopt

An abandoned puppy has been (1) ____________ a new home and a new job. The 7-week-old pup was left at the                     (2) ____________ of the Savannah Bananas baseball team in Georgia, USA last week. It was found crying in the parking         (3) ____________. It had no name tag, collar, microchip, or anything else to identify it. The team (4) ____________ a message on its website about the dog, but the owner did not come forward. The president of the team, Jared Orton, decided he would (5) ____________ the puppy and named her Daisy. The            (6) ____________ pup also has a new job. She is now the team's (7) ____________ 'bat dog'. The job of a bat dog is to take baseball bats to players, (8) ____________ balls on the baseball field and please the crowd.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
hard
vet
little
regular
time
part
hungry
visitors

Mr Orton spoke about meeting Daisy for the first (9) ____________. She looked very tired and a little lost. Orton said: "We took Daisy to the (10) ____________ and aside from being (11) ____________ and dehydrated, she was in pretty good health." He told reporters that although she has the job of bat dog, she might be a (12) ____________ too small to hold a bat in her mouth. He said: "We aren't sure how big she'll get, so it's (13) ____________ to say if she'll be able to pick up a bat or just coach first base." He added that she will become a (14) ____________ feature at the ballpark and will be very popular with fans. She will also greet (15) ____________ every day at the team's office. Mr Orton said finding Daisy was her fate. He said: "It was just meant to be that we'd have a team dog as (16) ____________ of our staff."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  An abandoned puppy has been given a new home and ______
     a.  a news job
     b.  the new job
     c.  a new jobs
     d.  a new job

2)  It had no name tag, collar, microchip, or anything ______ it
     a.  else to identity
     b.  else too identify
     c.  else too identity
     d.  else to identify

3)  The team posted a message on its website about the dog, but the owner did ______
     a.  not come forward
     b.  not come forwards
     c.  not coming forward
     d.  knot come forward

4)  The president of the team, Jared Orton, decided he would ______
     a.  adapt the puppy
     b.  adopt the puppy
     c.  adept the puppy
     d.  add opt the puppy

5)  take baseball bats to players, collect balls on the baseball field and ______
     a.  pleases the crowd
     b.  please a crowd
     c.  please the crowd
     d.  please the crowds

6)  He told reporters that although she has ______ dog
     a.  the job of pat
     b.  the job of bat
     c.  the job of that
     d.  the job of mat

7)  it's hard to say if she'll be able to pick up a bat or just ______
     a.  coach's first base
     b.  coach fast base
     c.  coach first base
     d.  coach thirst base

8)  He added that she will become a regular feature at the ballpark and will be very ______
     a.  popular within fans
     b.  popularity with fans
     c.  popular with fan
     d.  popular with fans

9)  She will also greet visitors every day at the ______
     a.  team's offices
     b.  team's office
     c.  teams offices
     d.  team offices

10)  It was just meant to be that we'd have a team dog as ______
     a.  part for our staff
     b.  part of our stuff
     c.  part of our staff
     d.  part off our staff

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

An abandoned puppy (1) ___________________ a new home and a new job. The 7-week-old pup was left (2) ___________________ of the Savannah Bananas baseball team in Georgia, USA last week. It was found crying in the parking lot. It had no name tag, collar, microchip, or anything (3) ___________________ it. The team posted (4) ___________________ its website about the dog, but the owner did not come forward. The president of the team, Jared Orton, decided he would adopt the puppy (5) ___________________ Daisy. The lucky pup also has a new job. She is now the team's official 'bat dog'. The job of a bat dog is to take baseball bats to players, collect balls on the baseball field and (6) ___________________.

Mr Orton spoke about meeting Daisy (7) ___________________. She looked very tired and a little lost. Orton said: "We took Daisy to the vet (8) ___________________ being hungry and dehydrated, she was in pretty good health." He told reporters (9) ___________________ has the job of bat dog, she might be a little too small to hold a bat in her mouth. He said: "We aren't sure how big she'll get, so it's hard to say if she'll be (10) ___________________ a bat or just coach first base." He added that she will become a regular feature at the ballpark and will be (11) ___________________ fans. She will also greet visitors every day at the team's office. Mr Orton said finding Daisy was her fate. He said: "It was just meant to be that we'd have a team dog (12) ___________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. How old was the puppy when it was found?
  2. In which U.S. state was the puppy found?
  3. Who is Jared Orton?
  4. What is the puppy's name?
  5. What might the puppy have to take to players?
  6. Where did Mr Orton take the puppy?
  7. Why might the puppy not be able to do one of her jobs?
  8. Where will the puppy become a regular feature?
  9. Where will the puppy greet visitors every day?
  10. What did Mr Orton say was fate?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How old was the puppy when it was found
a) 8 weeks old
b) 5 weeks old
c) 6 weeks old
d) 7 weeks old

2) In which U.S. state was the puppy found?
a) Oregon
b) Georgia
c) Texas
d) Maine

3) Who is Jared Orton?
a) the puppy's first owner
b) a vet
c) the baseball team's president
d) a reporter

4) What is the puppy's name?
a) Daisy
b) Dozy
c) Dizzy
d) Dancer

5) What might the puppy have to take to players?
a) instructions
b) baseball caps
c) baseball bats
d) their lunch

6) Where did Mr Orton take the puppy?
a) New York
b) the vet
c) the beach
d) a baseball game

7) Why might the puppy not be able to do one of her jobs?
a) she cannot speak English
b) animal rights
c) U.S. laws
d) she might be too small

8) Where will the puppy become a regular feature?
a) at the ballpark
b) in a newspaper
c) a vet
d) a home for abandoned dogs

9) Where will the puppy greet visitors every day?
a) at its home
b) in a shopping mall
c) the baseball team's office
d) first base

10) What did Mr Orton say was fate?
a) winning a game
b) finding the puppy
c) being dehydrated
d) liking baseball

Role play

Role A — Dog

You think a dog is the best pet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their pets. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): a fish, a horse or a spider.

Role B — Fish

You think a fish is the best pet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their pets. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): a dog, a horse or a spider.

Role C — Horse

You think a horse is the best pet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their pets. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): a fish, a dog or a spider.

Role D — Spider

You think a spider is the best pet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their pets. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why):  a fish, a horse or a dog.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'bat'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'dog'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • lost
    • aside
    • pretty
    • mouth
    • regular
    • staff
    • given
    • crying
    • message
    • named
    • lucky
    • please

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Abandoned puppy gets job at baseball club

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What springs to mind when you hear the word 'puppy'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Do you like happy stories like this?
    5. Why do people abandon pets?
    6. Why should all dogs be micro-chipped?
    7. What do you think of puppies?
    8. Are puppies cuter than kittens?
    9. How lucky is the puppy?
    10. How good do you think Daisy will be at pleasing the crowd?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What should happen to people who abandon pets?
    3. How important is the job of a vet?
    4. What do you think of baseball?
    5. What kind of life do you think Daisy will have?
    6. Should more people adopt abandoned pets?
    7. Why do sports teams have mascots?
    8. Do you believe in fate?
    9. Should dogs be used to deliver bats and greet people?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the baseball team owner?

     

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    An abandoned puppy has been (1) ____ a new home and a new job. The 7-week-old pup was left (2) ____ the stadium of the Savannah Bananas baseball team in Georgia, USA last week. It was (3) ____ crying in the parking lot. It had no name tag, collar, microchip, (4) ____ anything else to identify it. The team posted a message on its website about the dog, (5) ____ the owner did not come forward. The president of the team, Jared Orton, decided he would adopt the puppy and named her Daisy. The lucky pup also has a new job. She is now the team's official 'bat dog'. The job (6) ____ a bat dog is to take baseball bats to players, collect balls on the baseball field and please the crowd.

    Mr Orton spoke about meeting Daisy for the first time. She looked very (7) ____ and a little lost. Orton said: "We took Daisy to the vet and aside from being hungry and dehydrated, she was in (8) ____ good health." He told reporters that although she has the job of bat dog, she might be a (9) ____ too small to hold a bat in her mouth. He said: "We aren't sure how big she'll get, so it's (10) ____ to say if she'll be able to pick up a bat or just coach first base." He added that she will become a (11) ____ feature at the ballpark and will be very popular with fans. She will also greet visitors every day at the team's office. Mr Orton said finding Daisy was her fate. He said: "It was just (12) ____ to be that we'd have a team dog as part of our staff."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     gave     (b)     giving     (c)     given     (d)     gives    
    2. (a)     at     (b)     as     (c)     to     (d)     of    
    3. (a)     found     (b)     find     (c)     fund     (d)     fend    
    4. (a)     or     (b)     but     (c)     so     (d)     on    
    5. (a)     so     (b)     but     (c)     that     (d)     as    
    6. (a)     to     (b)     at     (c)     by     (d)     of    
    7. (a)     tried     (b)     tread     (c)     tired     (d)     tardy    
    8. (a)     beautiful     (b)     lovely     (c)     cute     (d)     pretty    
    9. (a)     little     (b)     tiny     (c)     small     (d)     miniature    
    10. (a)     difficulty     (b)     hard     (c)     soft     (d)     stone    
    11. (a)     often     (b)     regular     (c)     frequently     (d)     always    
    12. (a)     meanie     (b)     mean     (c)     meant     (d)     meaning

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the timsuda of the Savannah Bananas
    2. anything else to eytidifn it
    3. The team posted a esgmeas on its website
    4. She is now the team's cfioiafl 'bat dog'
    5. lltcceo balls on the baseball field
    6. please the wdocr

    Paragraph 2

    1. being hungry and ytdrhdeeda
    2. she was in rpytte good health
    3. cahoc first base
    4. she will become a regular raeefut
    5. She will also greet iosvsitr every day
    6. part of our tffsa

    Put the text back together

    (    ).....on its website about the dog, but the owner did not come forward. The president of the

    (    ).....up a bat or just coach first base." He added that she will become a regular feature at the ballpark and will be very

    (    ).....team, Jared Orton, decided he would adopt the puppy and named her Daisy. The lucky pup also has a new

    (    ).....hold a bat in her mouth. He said: "We aren't sure how big she'll get, so it's hard to say if she'll be able to pick

    (    ).....popular with fans. She will also greet visitors every day at the team's office. Mr Orton said finding

    (    ).....lot. It had no name tag, collar, microchip, or anything else to identify it. The team posted a message

    (    ).....of the Savannah Bananas baseball team in Georgia, USA last week. It was found crying in the parking

    (    ).....lost. Orton said: "We took Daisy to the vet and aside from being hungry and dehydrated, she was in pretty good

    (    ).....Daisy was her fate. He said: "It was just meant to be that we'd have a team dog as part of our staff."

    1  ).....An abandoned puppy has been given a new home and a new job. The 7-week-old pup was left at the stadium

    (    ).....Mr Orton spoke about meeting Daisy for the first time. She looked very tired and a little

    (    ).....bats to players, collect balls on the baseball field and please the crowd.

    (    ).....job. She is now the team's official 'bat dog'. The job of a bat dog is to take baseball

    (    ).....health." He told reporters that although she has the job of bat dog, she might be a little too small to

    Put the words in the right order

    1. abandoned   a   puppy   new   has   home   been   An   given   .
    2. was   pup   old   -   week   -   7   The   stadium   the   at   left   .
    3. would   puppy   her   he   the   named   decided   adopt   and   Orton   .
    4. dog'   'bat   official   team's   the   now   is   She   .
    5. field   the   balls   baseball   please   Collect   the   and   crowd   on   .
    6. for   time   spoke   Daisy   first   Orton   meeting   the   Mr   about   .
    7. able   if   hard   a   to   she'll   to   bat   pick   be   say   It's   up   .
    8. will   at   become   the   a   ballpark   regular   She   feature   .
    9. at   the   team's   office   She   will  also  greet   visitors   every   day   .
    10. dog   of   We'd   team   part   staff   a   as   our   have   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    An abandoned puppy has been giving / given a new home and a new job. The 7-week-old pup was left / leaving at the stadium of the Savannah Bananas baseball team in Georgia, USA last week. It was found cried / crying in the parking lot. It had no name tag, collar, microchip, and / or anything else to identify / identity it. The team posted a message on its website around / about the dog, but the owner did not come backward / forward. The president of the team, Jared Orton, decided he would opt / adopt the puppy and named her Daisy. The lucky pup also has a new job. She is now the team's official 'bat dog'. The job of / at a bat dog is to take baseball bats to players, collect balls on the baseball field and please the crowd / crowded.

    Mr Orton spoke / speak about meeting Daisy for the first / fast time. She looked very tired and a little / lot lost. Orton said: "We took Daisy to the vet and beside / aside from being hungry and dehydrated, she was in petty / pretty good health." He told reporters that although she has the job of bat dog, she might be a little too small to held / hold a bat in her mouth. He said: "We aren't sure how big she'll get, so it's hard to / at say if she'll be able to pick up a bat or just coach first base." He added that she will become a regular future / feature at the ballpark and will be very popular with fans. She will also greet / great visitors every day at the team's office. Mr Orton said finding Daisy was her fate. He said: "It was just meant to be that we'd have a team dog as part for / of our staff."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    _n _b_nd_n_d p_ppy h_s b__n g_v_n _ n_w h_m_ _nd _ n_w j_b. Th_ 7-w__k-_ld p_p w_s l_ft _t th_ st_d__m _f th_ S_v_nn_h B_n_n_s b_s_b_ll t__m _n G__rg__, _S_ l_st w__k. _t w_s f__nd cry_ng _n th_ p_rk_ng l_t. _t h_d n_ n_m_ t_g, c_ll_r, m_cr_ch_p, _r _nyth_ng _ls_ t_ _d_nt_fy _t. Th_ t__m p_st_d _ m_ss_g_ _n _ts w_bs_t_ _b__t th_ d_g, b_t th_ _wn_r d_d n_t c_m_ f_rw_rd. Th_ pr_s_d_nt _f th_ t__m, J_r_d _rt_n, d_c_d_d h_ w__ld _d_pt th_ p_ppy _nd n_m_d h_r D__sy. Th_ l_cky p_p _ls_ h_s _ n_w j_b. Sh_ _s n_w th_ t__m's _ff_c__l 'b_t d_g'. Th_ j_b _f _ b_t d_g _s t_ t_k_ b_s_b_ll b_ts t_ pl_y_rs, c_ll_ct b_lls _n th_ b_s_b_ll f__ld _nd pl__s_ th_ cr_wd.

    Mr _rt_n sp_k_ _b__t m__t_ng D__sy f_r th_ f_rst t_m_. Sh_ l__k_d v_ry t_r_d _nd _ l_ttl_ l_st. _rt_n s__d: "W_ t__k D__sy t_ th_ v_t _nd _s_d_ fr_m b__ng h_ngry _nd d_hydr_t_d, sh_ w_s _n pr_tty g__d h__lth." H_ t_ld r_p_rt_rs th_t _lth__gh sh_ h_s th_ j_b _f b_t d_g, sh_ m_ght b_ _ l_ttl_ t__ sm_ll t_ h_ld _ b_t _n h_r m__th. H_ s__d: "W_ _r_n't s_r_ h_w b_g sh_'ll g_t, s_ _t's h_rd t_ s_y _f sh_'ll b_ _bl_ t_ p_ck _p _ b_t _r j_st c__ch f_rst b_s_." H_ _dd_d th_t sh_ w_ll b_c_m_ _ r_g_l_r f__t_r_ _t th_ b_llp_rk _nd w_ll b_ v_ry p_p_l_r w_th f_ns. Sh_ w_ll _ls_ gr__t v_s_t_rs _v_ry d_y _t th_ t__m's _ff_c_. Mr _rt_n s__d f_nd_ng D__sy w_s h_r f_t_. H_ s__d: "_t w_s j_st m__nt t_ b_ th_t w_'d h_v_ _ t__m d_g _s p_rt _f __r st_ff."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    an abandoned puppy has been given a new home and a new job the 7-week-old pup was left at the stadium of the savannah Bananas baseball team in Georgia usa last week it was found crying in the parking lot it had no name tag collar microchip or anything else to identify it the team posted a message on its website about the dog but the owner did not come forward the president of the team jared orton decided he would adopt the puppy and named her daisy the lucky pup also has a new job she is now the team's official 'bat dog' the job of a bat dog is to take baseball bats to players collect balls on the baseball field and please the crowd

    mr orton spoke about meeting daisy for the first time she looked very tired and a little lost orton said "we took daisy to the vet and aside from being hungry and dehydrated she was in pretty good health" he told reporters that although she has the job of bat dog she might be a little too small to hold a bat in her mouth he said "we aren't sure how big she'll get so it's hard to say if she'll be able to pick up a bat or just coach first base" he added that she will become a regular feature at the ballpark and will be very popular with fans she will also greet visitors every day at the team's office mr orton said finding daisy was her fate he said "it was just meant to be that we'd have a team dog as part of our staff"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Anabandonedpuppyhasbeengivenanewhomeandanewjob.The7-w
    eek-oldpupwasleftatthestadiumoftheSavannahBananasbaseballte
    aminGeorgia,USAlastweek.Itwasfoundcryingintheparkinglot.Ith
    adnonametag,collar,microchip,oranythingelsetoidentifyit.Theteam
    postedamessageonitswebsiteaboutthedog,buttheownerdidnotcom
    eforward.Thepresidentoftheteam,JaredOrton,decidedhewouldadop
    tthepuppyandnamedherDaisy.Theluckypupalsohasanewjob.Sheisn
    owtheteam'sofficial'batdog'.Thejobofabatdogistotakebaseballbatst
    oplayers,collectballsonthebaseballfieldandpleasethecrowd.MrOrton
    spokeaboutmeetingDaisyforthefirsttime.Shelookedverytiredandalit
    tlelost.Ortonsaid:"WetookDaisytothevetandasidefrombeinghungry
    anddehydrated,shewasinprettygoodhealth."Hetoldreportersthatalt
    houghshehasthejobofbatdog,shemightbealittletoosmalltoholdabati
    nhermouth.Hesaid:"Wearen'tsurehowbigshe'llget,soit'shardtosayif
    she'llbeabletopickupabatorjustcoachfirstbase."Headdedthatshewill
    becomearegularfeatureattheballparkandwillbeverypopularwithfans
    .Shewillalsogreetvisitorseverydayattheteam'soffice.MrOrtonsaidfin
    dingDaisywasherfate.Hesaid:"Itwasjustmeanttobethatwe'dhaveat
    eamdogaspartofourstaff."

    Free writing

    Write about puppies for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Animals should never be made to work. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about puppies. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. ABANDONED PETS: Make a poster about abandoned pets. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. WORKING ANIMALS: Write a magazine article about whether animals should work or not. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on abandoned pets. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on what to do with owners who abandon pets. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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