LEARNING TARGET

I can identify the main idea of a story and explain how building steps keep animals safe.

Saving the Bluebirds

A Story for Young Architects

Have you ever seen a splash of bright blue feathers flying through your yard? That was likely an Eastern Bluebird! These beautiful songbirds are very special because they are "cavity nesters." In the wild, they look for hollowed-out holes in old, rotting trees to build their nests.

Unfortunately, bluebirds are having a hard time finding homes today. Many of the old trees in parks and neighborhoods are cut down to keep people safe. Without these holes, mother bluebirds have nowhere to lay their eggs. This is why humans have started building "bluebird bungalows."

A bird bungalow is a small wooden house designed just for them. When we build these houses, we have to be very careful. We use cedar wood because it is strong and does not rot in the rain. Cedar also acts as an insulator. This means the birdhouse stays cool in the hot summer sun and warm during chilly spring nights.

The most important thing about building a birdhouse is the order of the steps. We start by measuring the wood carefully. Then, we cut the pieces and drill a small hole for the bird's door. We have to place the hole exactly six inches from the bottom. This keeps the babies deep inside the house where predators, like hungry cats, cannot reach them.

Once the house is put together, we hang it in an open field near a tree. This way, when the babies are ready to fly, they have a safe branch to land on for their very first flight!

Questions

1. What is the main idea of this story?

2. Why is cedar wood the best choice for the bungalow?

3. Why must the door be 6 inches from the bottom?

ANSWER KEY

1. Humans build bungalows to help bluebirds survive.
2. Cedar doesn't rot and it keeps birds warm or cool.
3. It keeps baby birds safe from predators like hungry cats.

Birdhouse Story 3rd Grade v2

Birdhouse Story 3rd Grade v2