Prairie Dogs

Lesson Procedure:

Print the reading comprehension worksheet passage and questions (see below).

Students should read the passage silently, then answer the questions. Teachers may also use the text as part of a classroom lesson plan.

Lesson Excerpt:

Prairie dogs are not dogs at all. They are rodents that are actually a type of ground squirrel. They are short and chubby with bushy tails, and they are very fast runners for their size. A prairie dog can run up to 35 miles per hour for a short distance. Their ability to disappear quickly is their main defense against predators. Prairie dogs get their name from the bark-like sound that they make. They use this sound to warn each other of danger. They use different “barks” to identify different enemies, which include birds of prey, coyotes, bobcats, badgers, snakes and ferrets.

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