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Robin's Nest — Reading Comprehension

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2-LS2-1

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This NGSS passage, 'The Mystery of the Chirping Robin', is designed for second-grade students to explore cause and effect relationships in animal behavior, aligning with NGSS 2-LS2-1. It details the observable patterns of a robin building a nest, sitting on eggs, and feeding chicks, linking these actions (effects) directly to underlying biological needs (causes). The narrative helps students understand that animal behaviors are not random but serve specific purposes, reinforcing the concept that events have causes that generate observable patterns in the natural world. This resource aids in reading comprehension and scientific observation skills.

CONTENT PREVIEW

Lily was eating her breakfast one spring morning when she heard a loud "Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!" outside her window. She saw a small robin flying back and forth from a big tree to the ground. It kept putting things into a messy-looking pile of twigs and mud up in a branch.

"What's that robin doing?" Lily asked her mom.

Her mom smiled. "That robin is very busy! Animals do many things for a reason. There's a cause for their actions, and those actions (the effects) often make observable patterns that help us understand them."

They watched the robin together.

Observable Pattern 1: The robin kept carrying little twigs, bits of string, and mud to the tree branch.
- Cause: The robin needs a safe place to lay its eggs and raise its babies.
- Effect: It is building a nest.
Observable Pattern 2: After a few days, the robin stayed mostly inside the nest.
- Cause: The robin has laid its eggs.
- Effect: It is sitting on them to keep them warm until they hatch.
Observable Pattern 3: A few weeks later, Lily heard tiny "Peep! Peep! Peep!" sounds from the nest, and the parent robin flew back and forth with worms in its beak.
- Cause: The eggs have hatched, and baby birds are hungry.
- Effect: The parent robin is bringing food to its babies.

Lily realized that the robin's busy work wasn't just random flying. Every action had a clear reason! She loved observing the patterns and understanding the causes behind them.

What sound did Lily hear outside her window?

Roar! Roar! Roar!Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!Meow! Meow! Meow!Woof! Woof! Woof!

What kind of bird was Lily watching?

A blue jayA robinA sparrowA crow

What was the robin putting into the pile on the branch?

Leaves and flowersSeeds and berriesTwigs and mudFood for itself

What is the cause for the robin carrying twigs and mud to the tree branch?

It is cleaning the tree. It needs to build a nest.It is playing a game.It is hiding its food.

What was the effect of the robin staying mostly inside the nest for a few days?

It was sleeping.It was laying new eggs.It was keeping its eggs warm.It was waiting for rain.

What is the main idea of this passage?

How birds learn to fly.Why spring is a busy time for robins.How a robin's actions have causes that lead to observable patterns.What baby birds eat.