Giraffes

Objectives:

• Students will be able to describe the physical characteristics of giraffes.

• Students will be able to identify the behavioral characteristics of giraffes.

• Students will be able to explain how giraffes are organized into groups and how they communicate with each other.

Suggested Grades:

3rd Grade - 4th Grade - 5th Grade

Lesson Procedure:

Print the reading comprehension worksheet passage and questions (see below).

Students should read the passage silently, then answer the questions. Teachers may also use the text as part of a classroom lesson plan.

Lesson Excerpt:

It would probably not surprise you to learn that giraffes are the tallest animals on the planet. An average male giraffe will grow to a height of about 18 feet! Females usually reach heights of about 16 feet. The tallest giraffe ever measured was nearly 20 feet tall. His name was George and he lived at the Chester Zoo in England from 1959 to 1969.

Giraffes are surprisingly graceful animals. On average, they live up to 25 years. Male giraffes are called bulls and females are called cows. Baby giraffes are called calves.

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