VANISHING VULTURES (ANDEAN CONDORS)
Visit an endangered bird with one of the world’s largest wingspans!
Grade(s): 2-4
Objectives (grade dependent):
Student(s) will be able to:
 use place value to compare and order whole numbers
 recall and apply addition and subtraction facts
 identify models that approximate standard units of length
 use multiplication and division to solve problems
 use rounding strategies and compatible numbers to estimate solutions
 use place value to order decimals
 relate decimals to fractions
 identify the mathematics in everyday situations
Supplies Needed (for each student):
 Copy of student page
 Pencil
 Student measurements taken in classroom
TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) Alignments:
Grade 2
§111.14.b.1.C; §111.14.b.3.A; §111.14.b.9.A
Grade 3
§111.15.b.3.A; §111.15.b.3.B; §111.15.b.5.A
Grade 4
§111.16.b.1.B; §111.16.b.2.D; §111.16.b.3.A
Background Information for the Teacher:
Andean Condors are endangered birds native to South America. The male Andean condors are
among the world’s largest flying birds. An adult’s wingspan is approximately 10 feet from tip to tip.
Their body can be up to 4 feet high.
The males and females can be differentiated by several factors. The male has a large comb and
wattle that is absent in the female. Females are smaller in size and weigh between 18 and 24
pounds. Males are larger and can weigh from 24 to 33 pounds. They can live up to 75 years in
captivity.
Andean condors can be found in the open grasslands and alpine areas in the high altitude regions of
South America. They soar the thermal waves using their large wingspans in search of food. They are
carnivores and mainly feed on dead animals. Sometimes they will catch live food.
Andean condors nest in caves or on edges on a cliff face, but most populations rely on captive
breeding efforts to maintain their depleting population. The female usually lays one egg every other
year and incubates the egg for up to 59 days. The chicks do not learn how to fly until they are 6
months old.
VANISHING VULTURES (ANDEAN CONDORS) – STUDENT PAGE
Name ___________________________
My information:
My height: __________ feet and __________ inches
2ND GRADE
1. We have 2 Andean condors at the Zoo. Our female, “Daisy”, is 28 years old. “Lurch”, our male, is
42 years old.

Place their ages in order from largest to smallest.
2. The average adult height of a condor is 4 feet tall. The average wingspan of a condor is 10 feet.

Which of their lengths is closest to your height?
3. A female condor can lay an egg every other year.

How many eggs would she be able to lay in 4 years?
VANISHING VULTURES (ANDEAN CONDORS) – STUDENT PAGE
Name ___________________________
My information:
My height: __________ feet and __________ inches
3RD GRADE
1. We have 2 Andean condors at the Zoo. Our female, “Daisy”, is 28 years old. “Lurch”, our male, is
42 years old.

Who is older – “Lurch” or “Daisy”?

By how many years?
2. “Daisy” weighs about 14 pounds. “Lurch” weighs about 21 pounds.

If both “Daisy” and “Lurch” were put on a scale together, what would be their total weight?
3. Condors sit on their nest of eggs for about 56 days before they hatch.

Round that number to the nearest 10’s place.
VANISHING VULTURES (ANDEAN CONDORS) – STUDENT PAGE
Name ___________________________
My information:
My height: __________ feet and __________ inches
4TH GRADE
1. The average wingspan of an adult Andean condor is 10.5 feet. Tim Duncan, a San Antonio Spur’s
basketball player, is 7.2 feet tall.

What is the difference between Tim Duncan’s height and an average adult Andean condor’s
wingspan?
2. We have 2 Andean condors at the Zoo. Our female, “Daisy”, is 28 years old. “Lurch”, our male, is
42 years old.

If you added both of their ages together, what is the closest 10’s place that represents their
ages?
3. “Daisy” weighs about 14 pounds. “Lurch” weighs about 21 pounds.

If the average adult Andean condor weighs about 33 pounds, which condor, “Daisy” or “Lurch”,
is closest in weight to 1/2 of the average weight?
VANISHING VULTURES (ANDEAN CONDORS) ANSWERS
AWV: answers will vary
Vanishing Vulture
2nd Grade
1. “Lurch” = 42; “Daisy” = 28
2. 4 feet
3. 2
3rd Grade
1. “Lurch”; 14 years
2. 35 pounds
3. 60
4th Grade
1. 3.3 feet
2. 70
3. “Daisy”