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Which fine feathered fellow of the animal kingdom stands a full yard taller than the average male human, weights over 300 pounds when fully frown, has wings but does not fly, lays the world’s largest eggs, is rumored to bury its head in the sand, and is found exclusively in Africa? If you guessed the ostrich, you’re correct! As the world’s largest, heaviest, and most distinctive bird, the ostrich has features that evolved over thousands of years to aid survival in the harsh environment of Africa’s savannah. Its elongated neck helps the ostrich reach food and spot uninvited visitors before they pounce. No longer able to use its wings for their original purpose, the ostrich developed powerful long legs to flee from ferocious predators and can propel himself up to 45 miles per hour for 30 minutes or more! Discover additional interesting adaptations, unusual habitats, and fascinating features about one of nature’s most unusual birds in this issue devoted to the ostrich—from head to toe!
In this issue students will:
- read informational text about ostriches
- understand that animals have unique features, structures, and instincts that aid in survival and reproduction
- read closely to select vocabulary that fits context
- follow visual directions to draw an ostrich
- illustrate comparative and superlative adjectives using photos in the news
- write descriptively about a favorite animal
- write an acrostic poem inspired by the ostrich
7 page PDF
