Roadrunners

Objectives:

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

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

• Students will be able to describe how roadrunners react to people.

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:

The roadrunner is a type of cuckoo - an odd bird indeed. Nicknamed the desert clown, these birds actually prefer walking or running to flying. They can often be seen race-walking across the desert. They are able to fly, but only for short distances. When roadrunners run, they lower their heads and stick their long tails straight out so they are as straight as possible. They can run up to 17 miles per hour.

Roadrunners are found throughout all of the desert areas of the American southwest. On average, roadrunners are around two feet long and weigh about a pound and a half.

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