6th grade fiction passage about a bird's imperfect nest: 232 words, six questions, an answer key and vocabulary.
6th gradefictiona bird's imperfect nest232 words
The Weaverbird's Crooked Nest
Every spring, the weaverbirds of the riverbank built hanging nests from long strips of grass. And each nest was round and tidy, like a small green lantern swinging from a branch. Young Tolo watched the older birds work and tried to copy them, but his first nest came out lopsided, with one side bulging and the entrance leaning to the left like a tired chimney. A neighbor named Bree sniffed that it would never hold and told him to tear it down and begin again.
Tolo did not want to waste a whole week. So he tightened the knots, added extra grass along the weak side, and finished the roof. The nest still looked crooked. And the other birds teased him for it.
Then came a night of howling wind. Bree's perfect nest swung wildly while one loose strand after another snapped, and by midnight her home had dropped into the reeds. Cold and wet, she crept toward Tolo's nest, hoping he might make room. His crooked home had barely moved, because all those extra knots had made it strong and its leaning shape slid the wind around it. Tolo opened the entrance and told her there was plenty of space, if she did not mind the tilt. Bree squeezed inside and was quiet for a long time before she admitted that she had been wrong about what makes a good home.
Questions
What did the weaverbirds use to build their nests? in the text
What was wrong with Tolo's first nest? in the text
What did Tolo do to make the weak side stronger? in the text
What happened to Bree's nest during the windy night? in the text
Why did Tolo's crooked nest survive the storm? think about it
What did Bree learn at the end? think about it
Words to know
lantern
a lamp inside a case that can be hung up
lopsided
uneven, with one side bigger or lower
bulged
stuck out in a round shape
tilt
a slant to one side
reeds
tall grasses that grow in wet ground
Name ____________________________ Date ______________
The Weaverbird's Crooked Nest
6th grade reading passage
Every spring, the weaverbirds of the riverbank built hanging nests from long strips of grass. And each nest was round and tidy, like a small green lantern swinging from a branch. Young Tolo watched the older birds work and tried to copy them, but his first nest came out lopsided, with one side bulging and the entrance leaning to the left like a tired chimney. A neighbor named Bree sniffed that it would never hold and told him to tear it down and begin again.
Tolo did not want to waste a whole week. So he tightened the knots, added extra grass along the weak side, and finished the roof. The nest still looked crooked. And the other birds teased him for it.
Then came a night of howling wind. Bree's perfect nest swung wildly while one loose strand after another snapped, and by midnight her home had dropped into the reeds. Cold and wet, she crept toward Tolo's nest, hoping he might make room. His crooked home had barely moved, because all those extra knots had made it strong and its leaning shape slid the wind around it. Tolo opened the entrance and told her there was plenty of space, if she did not mind the tilt. Bree squeezed inside and was quiet for a long time before she admitted that she had been wrong about what makes a good home.
Questions
What did the weaverbirds use to build their nests?
What was wrong with Tolo's first nest?
What did Tolo do to make the weak side stronger?
What happened to Bree's nest during the windy night?
Why did Tolo's crooked nest survive the storm?
What did Bree learn at the end?
Words to know
lantern: a lamp inside a case that can be hung up
lopsided: uneven, with one side bigger or lower
bulged: stuck out in a round shape
tilt: a slant to one side
reeds: tall grasses that grow in wet ground
Free at teach.peabody.kids/passages/6/the-weaverbirds-crooked-nest
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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 · 196 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 1.6
Every spring, the weaverbirds of the riverbank built hanging nests from strips of grass. Each nest was round and neat, like a small green lantern. Young Tolo watched the older birds and tried to copy them. His first nest came out lopsided. One side bulged, and the door leaned to the left.
"That will never hold," said a neighbor named Bree. "Tear it down and start again."
Tolo did not want to lose a week. He pulled the knots tight. He added extra grass to the weak side and finished the roof. The nest still looked crooked, and the other birds teased him.
Then came a night of howling wind. Bree's perfect nest swung wildly. Strand by strand, it snapped. By midnight, her home had dropped into the reeds. Cold and wet, she crept to Tolo's nest.
His crooked home had barely moved. The extra knots had made it strong, and its leaning shape slid the wind around it.
He opened the door. "Come in," he said. "There is room, if you do not mind the tilt."
Bree was quiet for a long time. Then she said, "I was wrong about what makes a good home."
▲ This passage · 232 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 5.7
Every spring, the weaverbirds of the riverbank built hanging nests from long strips of grass. And each nest was round and tidy, like a small green lantern swinging from a branch. Young Tolo watched the older birds work and tried to copy them, but his first nest came out lopsided, with one side bulging and the entrance leaning to the left like a tired chimney. A neighbor named Bree sniffed that it would never hold and told him to tear it down and begin again.
Tolo did not want to waste a whole week. So he tightened the knots, added extra grass along the weak side, and finished the roof. The nest still looked crooked. And the other birds teased him for it.
Then came a night of howling wind. Bree's perfect nest swung wildly while one loose strand after another snapped, and by midnight her home had dropped into the reeds. Cold and wet, she crept toward Tolo's nest, hoping he might make room. His crooked home had barely moved, because all those extra knots had made it strong and its leaning shape slid the wind around it. Tolo opened the entrance and told her there was plenty of space, if she did not mind the tilt. Bree squeezed inside and was quiet for a long time before she admitted that she had been wrong about what makes a good home.
■ Harder · 246 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 7.3
Every spring, the weaverbirds that inhabited the riverbank constructed hanging nests from long, flexible strips of grass. And each immaculate nest resembled a small green lantern swaying gently from a branch. Young Tolo studied the older birds as they worked and attempted to imitate their remarkable craftsmanship. But his first nest emerged hopelessly lopsided, with one side bulging outward and the entrance leaning to the left like a weary chimney. A neighbor named Bree sniffed that such a structure would never hold and advised him to tear it down and begin again.
Tolo had no desire to squander an entire week. So he tightened every knot, wove additional grass along the weaker side. And completed the roof. The nest still looked crooked. And the other birds continued to tease him about it.
Then came a night of howling wind. Bree's flawless nest swung violently while one loose strand after another snapped. And by midnight her home had plummeted into the reeds below. Cold and drenched, she crept toward Tolo's nest, hoping that he might make room for her. His crooked home had scarcely moved, because the extra knots had made it remarkably sturdy and its leaning shape deflected the wind around it. Tolo opened the entrance and explained that there was plenty of space, provided she did not mind the tilt. Bree squeezed inside and remained silent for a long time before she finally acknowledged that she had been wrong about what makes a good home.
Every spring, the weaverbirds of the riverbank built hanging nests from strips of grass. Each nest was round and neat, like a small green lantern. Young Tolo watched the older birds and tried to copy them. His first nest came out lopsided. One side bulged, and the door leaned to the left.
"That will never hold," said a neighbor named Bree. "Tear it down and start again."
Tolo did not want to lose a week. He pulled the knots tight. He added extra grass to the weak side and finished the roof. The nest still looked crooked, and the other birds teased him.
Then came a night of howling wind. Bree's perfect nest swung wildly. Strand by strand, it snapped. By midnight, her home had dropped into the reeds. Cold and wet, she crept to Tolo's nest.
His crooked home had barely moved. The extra knots had made it strong, and its leaning shape slid the wind around it.
He opened the door. "Come in," he said. "There is room, if you do not mind the tilt."
Bree was quiet for a long time. Then she said, "I was wrong about what makes a good home."
Questions
What did the weaverbirds use to build their nests?
What was wrong with Tolo's first nest?
What did Tolo do to make the weak side stronger?
What happened to Bree's nest in the wind?
Why did Tolo's crooked nest survive the storm?
What did Bree learn at the end?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________▲
The Weaverbird's Crooked Nest
Every spring, the weaverbirds of the riverbank built hanging nests from long strips of grass. And each nest was round and tidy, like a small green lantern swinging from a branch. Young Tolo watched the older birds work and tried to copy them, but his first nest came out lopsided, with one side bulging and the entrance leaning to the left like a tired chimney. A neighbor named Bree sniffed that it would never hold and told him to tear it down and begin again.
Tolo did not want to waste a whole week. So he tightened the knots, added extra grass along the weak side, and finished the roof. The nest still looked crooked. And the other birds teased him for it.
Then came a night of howling wind. Bree's perfect nest swung wildly while one loose strand after another snapped, and by midnight her home had dropped into the reeds. Cold and wet, she crept toward Tolo's nest, hoping he might make room. His crooked home had barely moved, because all those extra knots had made it strong and its leaning shape slid the wind around it. Tolo opened the entrance and told her there was plenty of space, if she did not mind the tilt. Bree squeezed inside and was quiet for a long time before she admitted that she had been wrong about what makes a good home.
Questions
What did the weaverbirds use to build their nests?
What was wrong with Tolo's first nest?
What did Tolo do to make the weak side stronger?
What happened to Bree's nest during the windy night?
Why did Tolo's crooked nest survive the storm?
What did Bree learn at the end?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________■
The Weaverbird's Crooked Nest
Every spring, the weaverbirds that inhabited the riverbank constructed hanging nests from long, flexible strips of grass. And each immaculate nest resembled a small green lantern swaying gently from a branch. Young Tolo studied the older birds as they worked and attempted to imitate their remarkable craftsmanship. But his first nest emerged hopelessly lopsided, with one side bulging outward and the entrance leaning to the left like a weary chimney. A neighbor named Bree sniffed that such a structure would never hold and advised him to tear it down and begin again.
Tolo had no desire to squander an entire week. So he tightened every knot, wove additional grass along the weaker side. And completed the roof. The nest still looked crooked. And the other birds continued to tease him about it.
Then came a night of howling wind. Bree's flawless nest swung violently while one loose strand after another snapped. And by midnight her home had plummeted into the reeds below. Cold and drenched, she crept toward Tolo's nest, hoping that he might make room for her. His crooked home had scarcely moved, because the extra knots had made it remarkably sturdy and its leaning shape deflected the wind around it. Tolo opened the entrance and explained that there was plenty of space, provided she did not mind the tilt. Bree squeezed inside and remained silent for a long time before she finally acknowledged that she had been wrong about what makes a good home.
Questions
What did the weaverbirds use to construct their hanging nests?
What was wrong with Tolo's first nest?
What did Tolo do to strengthen the weaker side?
What happened to Bree's nest during the windy night?
Why did Tolo's crooked nest withstand the storm?
What did Bree come to understand at the end?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Answer key: The Weaverbird's Crooked Nest
● Easier (Flesch-Kincaid grade 1.6)
Strips of grass.
It was lopsided, with one side bulging and the door leaning left.
He pulled the knots tight and added extra grass.
Its strands snapped one by one and it dropped into the reeds.
The extra knots made it strong, and its shape slid the wind around it.
A nest that looks perfect is not always the one that works best.
▲ This passage (Flesch-Kincaid grade 5.7)
Long strips of grass.
It was lopsided, with one side bulging and the entrance leaning to the left.
He tightened the knots and added extra grass.
Strands snapped one by one until it dropped into the reeds.
The extra knots made it strong, and its shape let the wind slide around it.
A nest that looks perfect is not always the one that works best.
■ Harder (Flesch-Kincaid grade 7.3)
Long, flexible strips of grass.
It was lopsided, with one side bulging and the entrance leaning to the left.
He tightened every knot and wove in additional grass.
Its strands snapped one after another until it plummeted into the reeds.
The extra knots made it sturdy, and its leaning shape deflected the wind around it.
A nest that looks flawless is not always the one that works best.
Free at teach.peabody.kids
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Press Read it big (or B) to put the text on the projector, or Full screen (F) to fill the whole screen.
Ask the questions one at a time and use Show answer when the class has decided. A shows or hides every answer.
Print student copy for the class, or Print with answers for yourself.
Ideas for class
Before reading, put lantern, lopsided, bulged, tilt and reeds on the board with their meanings from the Words to know section and have students predict what the story 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 retell the story in three sentences: how it began, what the problem was, and how it ended.
Print the student copy for independent work and keep the answer-key copy for yourself.
What reading level is "The Weaverbird's Crooked Nest"?
It was written for 6th grade. It has 232 words and works out to a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of about 5.7. 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.
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