edHelper.com
Animal Themes
Endangered Animals Theme Unit
Birds

Kiwis

Kiwis
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 3 to 6
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   7.81

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    conservation, enable, introduction, species, symbol, mates, hesitate, slender, underground, easily, adult, farmland, kiwi, marrow, attack, laying
     content words:    New Zealand, North Island, Haast Tokoeka, Southern Tokoeka

Print Kiwis
edHelper.com subscriber options:
     Print Kiwis  (font options, pick words for additional puzzles, and more)
     Quickly print reading comprehension
     Print a proofreading activity

Feedback on Kiwis
     Leave your feedback on Kiwis  (use this link if you found an error in the story)

Other Languages
     Spanish: Los Kiwis

Kiwis   
1     Kiwis are the symbol of New Zealand. No, we are not talking about kiwis, the fruit; we are talking about kiwis, the bird.
 
2     Related to ostriches and emus, kiwis are flightless birds. Their wings are so tiny -- about two inches long -- that they are essentially useless. Since kiwis have no use for their wings, they conveniently hide them under their hair-like, coarse, grayish brown feathers.
 
3     Aside from their seemingly wingless appearance, kiwis have two other unique physical features. Unlike most birds that have hollow bones to make them light-weighted and enable them to fly, kiwis have bone marrow just like us. Furthermore, kiwis are the only known birds that have their nostrils on the tip of their long beaks.

Paragraphs 4 to 7:
For the complete story with questions: click here for printable
Copyright © 2008 edHelper