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Secret Messages From Animals

Students will guess animals from sounds and movements, read and listen to short animal-code texts, and practice present simple questions and answers. They will also complete a secret message, write their own animal message, and finish with a review game and speaking activities.

A2 Elementary60 minutesEnglishTeacher

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1. Image

Look closely! Different animals can send secret messages in different ways. Can you guess what each animal is saying?

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2. Speaking

Speaking focus

Students look at the picture and guess how each animal sends a message. Teacher asks: What sound does it make? What does it mean? How does it move? Students answer in short present simple sentences.

Class speaking activity — read, then practise aloud with your teacher or partner

Look at the animal picture. Work with a partner and guess the animal message.

Ask and answer:

  • What sound does it make?
  • What does it mean?
  • How does it move?
  • Is it a warning, a call, or a sign?

Use short answers:

  • It makes a ____.
  • It means ____.
  • It moves by ____.
  • Yes, it does. / No, it doesn’t.

Take turns. Listen carefully. Use the animal clue to guess the secret message.

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3. Vocabulary

  • animal clue
    a small sign that helps us guess an animal
  • secret message
    a message that only some people can understand
  • sound
    a noise an animal makes
  • sign
    a movement or symbol with meaning
  • code
    a special way to send a message
  • guess
    to say what you think is true
  • move
    to change position or do an action
  • call
    a sound an animal uses to communicate
  • ask
    to say a question
  • does
    the question word for he, she, or it in the present simple
  • is
    the present simple form of *be*
  • can
    to be able to do something
  • message
    words or signs that tell us something
  • warn
    to tell others about danger
  • hide
    to stay out of sight
  • follow
    to go after someone or something
  • wave
    to move your hand from side to side
  • stomp
    to press your feet down hard
  • chirp
    a short, high bird sound
  • howl
    a long sound like a wolf

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4. Grammar

Grammar focus

Present simple for describing actions and asking questions

Present Simple for Animal Actions and Questions

We use the present simple to talk about animal actions that are true now, usually, or always.

1) Positive sentences

Use this pattern:

Subject + verb

  • The owl hoots at night.
  • Rabbits stamp their feet.
  • Birds chirp in the morning.
  • Ants move in a line.

Remember

  • With he / she / it, we usually add -s or -es.
    • The owl calls.
    • The rabbit moves.
  • With I / you / we / they, we use the base verb.
    • I guess.
    • They listen.

2) Questions

We often use Do or Does to ask about animal actions.

Do + I / you / we / they + base verb?

  • Do birds sing at night?
  • Do ants carry food?

Does + he / she / it + base verb?

  • Does the owl hoot at night?
  • Does the rabbit stamp its feet?

3) Short answers

  • Yes, it does.
  • No, it doesn’t.
  • Yes, they do.
  • No, they don’t.

4) Example sentences

  • The cat makes a sign with its tail.
  • The bees send a secret message.
  • The children listen to the clues.
  • Does the bird use a code?
  • Yes, it does.
  • Do the ants move together?
  • Yes, they do.

5) Common mistakes

  • ❌ The owl hoot at night. → ✅ The owl hoots at night.
  • ❌ Does birds chirp? → ✅ Do birds chirp?
  • ❌ The rabbit stamp its feet. → ✅ The rabbit stamps its feet.
  • ❌ They does a secret message. → ✅ They do a secret message.

6) Quick tip

Ask: Who is the subject?

  • He / she / it → use does in questions and add -s in positive sentences.
  • I / you / we / they → use do in questions and the base verb in positive sentences.

Now you can ask and answer about animal clues in the present simple!

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5. Listening

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Listen carefully to the story. Think about the animal clues, the sounds, and the secret message.

  1. Which animals send messages in the story?
  2. What sound does the owl make?
  3. What does the rabbit do?
  4. What do the birds do?
  5. What do the ants do?
  6. What is the children’s job at the end?
Teacher audio script
At the edge of the forest, the children hear a secret message. They listen and look for clues. First, an owl hoots at night. The owl says, “Be quiet.” Next, a rabbit stamps its feet. The rabbit says, “Danger!” Then some birds chirp in a special way. The birds say, “Come here.” After that, ants move in a line. The ants say, “Follow us.” The children ask, “What does the sound mean?” They guess the animals and the message. At last, they find a small sign on a tree. It is a simple code. The code helps them read the secret message. The forest is full of animal clues, and the children are happy because they can understand them.

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6. Multiple choice

Listen to the story, then choose the best answer.

1.

Which animal sends the first secret message at night?

  • The owl

  • The rabbit

  • The ants

  • The birds

2.

What does the rabbit's message mean?

  • Come here

  • Be quiet

  • Danger!

  • Follow us

3.

How do the birds send their message?

  • With a special chirp

  • With a written note

  • With a jump

  • With a light

4.

What do the ants do to tell the children something?

  • They move in a line

  • They sing loudly

  • They sleep in a tree

  • They make a sign with their wings

Answer key (teachers only)

Students do not see this. Add or update questions and answers below the activity.

  • Q1A. The owl
  • Q2C. Danger!
  • Q3A. With a special chirp
  • Q4A. They move in a line

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7. Text

Picture text: Animal codes in the forest

At night, the animals share secret messages. The owl sends a sound: Hoo! Hoo! This means, “Be quiet.” The rabbit gives a sign. It stamps its feet and says, “Danger!” The birds use a code. They chirp three times and mean, “Come here.” The ants move in a line. Their message is, “Follow us.”

In the morning, the children look at the animal clues. They guess the message. They ask, “What does the owl say?” and “Can we follow the ants?” The forest is full of signs, sounds, and clues.

Think and talk

  1. Which animal message do you like best?
  2. What sound or sign can you use to send a secret message?
  3. Can you guess a message from a picture?

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8. Image

Can you read the animal message poster? Look at the clues, follow the arrows, and decode the secret signs.

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9. True / false

Read each sentence. Decide: True or False.

  • An owl can send a message at night.

  • A rabbit can stamp its feet to say danger.

  • Birds always use written words.

  • Ants can follow a line to find food.

  • A cat uses water to send a message.

Answer key (teachers only)

Students do not see this. Add or update questions and answers below the activity.

  • 1. An owl can send a message at night.True
  • 2. A rabbit can stamp its feet to say danger.True
  • 3. Birds always use written words.False
  • 4. Ants can follow a line to find food.True
  • 5. A cat uses water to send a message.False

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10. Grammar

Grammar focus

Present simple questions with Do/Does for animal habits

Present Simple Questions with Do / Does

We use Do and Does to ask questions in the present simple about habits, actions, and facts.

Form

  • Do + I / you / we / they + base verb
  • Does + he / she / it + base verb

Short answers

  • Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.
  • Yes, you do. / No, you don’t.
  • Yes, we do. / No, we don’t.
  • Yes, they do. / No, they don’t.
  • Yes, he does. / No, he doesn’t.
  • Yes, she does. / No, she doesn’t.
  • Yes, it does. / No, it doesn’t.

How we use it in this lesson

We ask questions about animal habits and animal clues.

Examples

  • Do owls make sounds at night?
  • Does the rabbit stamp its feet?
  • Do birds use a sign to call others?
  • Does the ant move in a line?
  • Do animals send secret messages?
  • Does the cat guess the code?
  • Do we listen for clues?
  • Does the owl ask a question?

Answer patterns

  • Yes, it does.
  • No, it doesn’t.
  • Yes, they do.
  • No, they don’t.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: Does the rabbit stamps its feet?
    Right: Does the rabbit stamp its feet?

  • Wrong: Do the owl hoot at night?
    Right: Does the owl hoot at night?

  • Wrong: Does birds make a sound?
    Right: Do birds make a sound?

  • Wrong: Yes, it do.
    Right: Yes, it does.

  • Wrong: No, they doesn’t.
    Right: No, they don’t.

Quick rule to remember

  • Use Do with I, you, we, they.
  • Use Does with he, she, it.
  • After do/does, use the base verb: make, move, stamp, call, ask, guess.

Try it!

Ask and answer:

  • Do owls send a message?
  • Does the rabbit make a sign?
  • Do ants move in a line?

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11. Grammar practice

Choose the correct answer for each sentence.

1.

___ the owl send a secret message at night?

  • Do

  • Does

  • Is

  • Are

2.

The rabbit ___ its feet to warn the others.

  • stamp

  • stamps

  • stamping

  • stamped

3.

___ ants follow a line to find food?

  • Do

  • Does

  • Is

  • Can

4.

The birds ___ a special call to say, 'Come here.'

  • use

  • uses

  • using

  • used

5.

___ the cat make a sign with its tail?

  • Do

  • Does

  • Did

  • Was

Answer key (teachers only)

Students do not see this. Add or update questions and answers below the activity.

  • Q1B. Does
  • Q2B. stamps
  • Q3A. Do
  • Q4A. use
  • Q5B. Does

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12. Speaking

Speaking focus

In pairs, students ask and answer using present simple: Does it make a sound? What does it mean? Students mime an animal message and classmates guess the animal and the message.

Class speaking activity — read, then practise aloud with your teacher or partner

Work in pairs. One student mimes an animal message. The other student asks: “Does it make a sound?” “What does it mean?” Then guess the animal and the secret message. Change roles and try again.

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13. Short answer

Answer each question in a short phrase or a simple sentence.

1.

How do animals send a secret message?

2.

What does the owl do at night?

3.

Why do animals use clues?

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14. Fill in the blanks

Read the secret message. Fill in the blanks with the correct words.

At night, the owl    a secret message with a soft sound. The rabbit    a sign to warn the other animals. The birds make a special    in the trees. The ants    a line to find food. When there is    , the animals move quickly. Can you    the message?

Answer key (teachers only)

Students do not see this. Add or update questions and answers below the activity.

  • Blank 1sends
  • Blank 2uses
  • Blank 3code
  • Blank 4follow
  • Blank 5danger
  • Blank 6guess

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15. Writing task

Students write a short secret message from one animal to another. They should choose an animal, say how it communicates, and include 3-4 simple present simple sentences. Encourage child-friendly creativity and simple vocabulary.

Aim for at least 35 words.

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16. AI conversation

Roles set by your teacherRole-play

Who is responsible for what

Stay in your role during the live voice chat. The AI partner follows the other role.

You (student)

Animal detective

AI partner

Zookeeper

What to do

  • Use your microphone and speak in short, clear sentences.
  • Talk for about 5 minutes and stay in the animal-message role-play.
  • Ask and answer simple questions in the present simple.
  • Guess the animal from the clue, sound, sign, or message.

Students connect here for a live 5-minute AI voice conversation.

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17. Board game

Student's turn

Student
Teacher

Play a final review game with animal clue spaces.

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18. Speaking

Speaking focus

Students share one new word, one animal message, and one thing they liked today. Use short present simple sentences and encourage quick class sharing and praise.

Class speaking activity — read, then practise aloud with your teacher or partner

Quick circle share

Tell the class:

  1. One new word you learned today.
  2. One animal message you remember.
  3. One thing you liked in the lesson.

Use short sentences:

  • “My new word is ___.”
  • “My animal message is ___.”
  • “I liked ___.”

Listen to your friends and give a smile or a clap after each answer. The teacher will praise good ideas and clear speaking.

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