The penguin who went shopping

ESL Lessons: True Stories

A printable worksheet for story-based English conversation classes.

Difficulty: Elementary A2

PDF: The penguin who went shopping

Warm-up

Have you ever seen a penguin? (Yes, I have. / No, I haven't.)

Vocabulary Match

took care •• person who catches fish
passed away •• looked after
special •• different
fisherman •• person living nearby
hurt •• died
neighbor •• injured

Vocabulary Answers

took carelooked after
passed awaydied
specialdifferent
fishermanperson who catches fish
hurtinjured
neighborperson living nearby

True Story

Listen and fill in the blanks with words from above.

Lala was a king penguin who lived with the Nishimoto family in Japan. A ________ found Lala ________ in a fishing net and brought him to the family. They ________ of him, and Lala became part of their family.

The family built a ________ cold room for Lala under their house. Lala liked to walk to the fish store with a small backpack shaped like a penguin. The store owner gave him a fish treat and put another fish in his backpack. On the way home, a ________ sprayed him with water to keep him cool.

Lala was happy with his family until he sadly ________ in 1998. "Lala was special," the family said.

Lala was a king penguin who lived with the Nishimoto family in Japan. A fisherman found Lala hurt in a fishing net and brought him to the family. They took care of him, and Lala became part of their family.

The family built a special cold room for Lala under their house. Lala liked to walk to the fish store with a small backpack shaped like a penguin. The store owner gave him a fish treat and put another fish in his backpack. On the way home, a neighbor sprayed him with water to keep him cool.

Lala was happy with his family until he sadly passed away in 1998. "Lala was special," the family said.

Quiz

  1. Who found Lala hurt in a fishing net?
  2. What did the family build for Lala?
  3. What did Lala carry to the fish store?
  4. What year did Lala pass away?

Quiz Answers (examples)

  1. A fisherman
  2. A special cold room
  3. A small backpack
  4. 1998

True or False

  1. Lala was a king penguin. T F
  2. Lala liked to eat ice cream. T F
  3. A neighbor sprayed Lala with water to keep him cool. T F

True or False Answers

  1. True
  2. False
  3. True

Conversation

A:Hey, Lala! Ready for your walk to the store?
B:Waddle, waddle! I love fish treats!
A:Don't forget your penguin backpack.
B:Thanks! I hope the store owner has my favorite fish.
A:I'm sure he does. Let's go!
B:Yay! Fish and shower time!

Discussion

  1. Have you ever been fishing? Did you catch a fish?
  2. What is your favorite animal? Why?
  3. Would you like to have a penguin as a pet? Why or why not?
  4. What do you carry in your backpack?

Further Reading

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/miscellaneous/1499824/watch-a-penguin-walk-to-the-fish-store-to-get-its-treat

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