edHelper.com
Mammals
Deserts
The Fennec Fox



The Fennec Fox

A Short Reader

Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 3 to 5
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   3.75

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    dates, mainly, hearing, ever, possible, pounds, heat, moisture, itself, difficult, important, large, enough, useful, protect, body
     content words:    Sahara Desert


Print The Fennec Fox
     Print The Fennec Fox  (font options, pick words for additional puzzles, and more)


Quickly Print - PDF format
     Quickly Print: PDF (2 columns per page)

     Quickly Print: PDF (full page)


Quickly Print - HTML format
     Quickly Print: HTML


Proofreading Activity
     Print a proofreading activity


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



The Fennec Fox
By Sheri Skelton
  

1     Have you ever been told that you have big ears? The fennec fox is one animal that has really big ears. Its ears are six inches long. That may not seem really big, but the fennec fox is the smallest fox in the world. Its body is only fifteen inches long. It weighs only three pounds.
 
2     Big ears are important to the fennec fox for two reasons. The fennec fox lives in the Sahara Desert. It is very hot and dry there. The big ears radiate body heat. That helps the fennec fox keep cool. The big ears are also useful for hearing. The fennec fox can hear any enemies that might be sneaking up. It can also hear its prey. The big ears make it possible for the fennec fox to hear large insects walking on the sand.
 
3     The fennec fox also has other adaptations for desert living. Its coat is the color of sand. That makes it difficult for its enemies to see the fennec fox. Its coat reflects the sun. That helps the fennec fox keep cool. Thick fur covering the fox's feet protect its feet from the hot sand. The thick fur also helps the fennec fox to move quietly across the sand.

Paragraphs 4 to 5:
For the complete story with questions: click here for printable


Copyright © 2009 edHelper