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How to Watch Birds in Your Yard

3rd grade nonfiction passage about backyard bird watching: 191 words, six questions, an answer key and vocabulary.

3rd grade nonfiction backyard bird watching 191 words

How to Watch Birds in Your Yard

You do not need to go far to see wild birds. A yard, a park, or even a window can be a good place to start. Here is how to become a bird watcher.

First, find a good spot. Pick a place where you can sit quietly, such as a bench or a window seat. Birds fly away from loud noises and fast moves, so sit still.

Second, bring a few things. A small notebook and a pencil are all you need. If you have binoculars, they help you see birds that are far away.

Third, give the birds a reason to visit. You can put out a bowl of fresh water. Birds like to drink and splash in it. A feeder with seeds can also bring them in. Ask a grown-up to help you set these up.

Fourth, watch and write. Look at the bird's size, its colors, and its beak. Write down what it does, such as hopping, eating, or singing. You can draw a quick picture, too.

Soon you will know your yard birds by sight. Keep your notes and see how they change with the seasons.

Questions

  1. Where can a person start bird watching? in the text

  2. What do you need besides a good spot? in the text

  3. What can you put out for birds to drink and splash in? in the text

  4. What should you look at when you see a bird? in the text

  5. Why should a bird watcher sit still? think about it

  6. Why might you keep your notes for a long time? think about it

Words to know

binoculars
a tool with two lenses that makes faraway things look close
feeder
a container that holds food for birds
beak
the hard, pointed mouth of a bird
notebook
a small book for writing notes
seasons
the four parts of the year, such as winter and summer
Share

One passage, three levels

The same topic and facts written three ways, so a mixed class can read and talk about one text. Each group’s sheet shows only a shape; the key says which is which.

● Easier · 160 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.2

You can see wild birds close to home. A yard, a park, or a window is a good place to start. Here is how to watch birds.

First, find a good spot. Pick a place where you can sit quietly. A bench or a window seat works well. Birds fly away from loud noises and fast moves. So sit still.

Second, bring a few things. You need a small notebook and a pencil. Binoculars help you see birds far away.

Third, help the birds come. Put out a bowl of fresh water. Birds like to drink and splash. A feeder with seeds helps, too. Ask a grown-up to help you set up.

Fourth, watch and write. Look at the bird's size, colors, and beak. Write what it does. It may hop, eat, or sing. You can draw a quick picture.

Soon you will know the birds in your yard. Keep your notes. See how they change with the seasons.

▲ This passage · 191 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 1.7

You do not need to go far to see wild birds. A yard, a park, or even a window can be a good place to start. Here is how to become a bird watcher.

First, find a good spot. Pick a place where you can sit quietly, such as a bench or a window seat. Birds fly away from loud noises and fast moves, so sit still.

Second, bring a few things. A small notebook and a pencil are all you need. If you have binoculars, they help you see birds that are far away.

Third, give the birds a reason to visit. You can put out a bowl of fresh water. Birds like to drink and splash in it. A feeder with seeds can also bring them in. Ask a grown-up to help you set these up.

Fourth, watch and write. Look at the bird's size, its colors, and its beak. Write down what it does, such as hopping, eating, or singing. You can draw a quick picture, too.

Soon you will know your yard birds by sight. Keep your notes and see how they change with the seasons.

■ Harder · 215 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 4.7

You do not have to travel far to observe wild birds. A yard, a park, or even a window can be an excellent place to begin. Here is how you can become a bird watcher.

First, choose a good location. Select a place where you can sit quietly, such as a bench or a window seat. Because birds tend to fly away from loud noises and sudden movements, you should stay as still as you can.

Second, gather a few supplies. A small notebook and a pencil are all that you really need, although a pair of binoculars will help you see birds that are far away.

Third, give the birds a reason to visit. You can set out a bowl of fresh water, since birds enjoy drinking and splashing in it. A feeder filled with seeds can also attract them, but you should ask a grown-up to help you set these up.

Fourth, watch carefully and write down what you notice. Pay attention to the bird's size, its colors, and its beak, and record what it does, such as hopping, eating, or singing. You might also sketch a quick picture.

Before long, you will recognize the birds in your yard by sight. Save your notes and see how they change with the seasons.

Download as one PDF

How to use it

  1. Press Read it big (or B) to put the text on the projector, or Full screen (F) to fill the whole screen.
  2. Ask the questions one at a time and use Show answer when the class has decided. A shows or hides every answer.
  3. Print student copy for the class, or Print with answers for yourself.

Ideas for class

  • Before reading, put binoculars, feeder, beak, notebook and seasons on the board with their meanings from the Words to know section and have students predict what the text will be about.
  • Read it aloud once while students follow along, then have them reread it alone or with a partner. At a calm 100 words a minute it takes about 2 minutes to read aloud.
  • Use the Read it big button (or B) to put the text on the projector, and Show answer on one question at a time so the class commits to an answer first.
  • Question 5 asks the reader to infer. Ask students to point to the words in the passage that led them to their answer.
  • Ask students to write one question the passage did not answer, then look for the answer in a book or on a classroom screen.
  • Print the student copy for independent work and keep the answer-key copy for yourself.

Related

Questions

What reading level is "How to Watch Birds in Your Yard"?

It was written for 3rd grade. It has 191 words and works out to a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of about 1.7. That is a formula's estimate from sentence length and syllables, and it is not a Lexile or a guided reading level, so check it against your students.

What do the questions ask?

There are six. 4 ask for something the text says directly and 2 ask the reader to work something out from clues. Each has an answer in the key, and the answers are written as a teacher would accept them, not as the only possible wording.

How long does it take to read?

About 2 minutes read aloud at 100 words a minute. For a one-minute fluency check, paste it into the fluency timer and use the word count.

Can I print it?

Yes. Print student copy gives the passage, the questions with lines to write on, and the word meanings. Print with answers gives the same page with the answers filled in. Both are made in your browser.

Is this passage from a published book?

No. It was written for Peabody Teach, so there is no book to buy and no login to read it.

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