Non-fiction: African Animals
African Animals
Much of the continent of Africa is a
savanna. A savanna is an open
grassland with few trees. Africa's
savanna is home to many different
types of animals.
The savanna is a habitat. A habitat is
a place where an animal lives. Here are
some animals that live in the African savanna.
World Almanac for Kids
Lions are big cats.
Lion
Lions are big cats with gold-colored fur. Lions are carnivores (KARneh-vawrz). Carnivores are meat eaters. Lions live together in a group
called a pride.
Elephant
Elephants are animals with trunks and tusks. Elephants are
herbivores (ER-beh-vawrz). Herbivores are plant eaters. Elephants
live together in a group called a herd.
Giraffe
Giraffes are the tallest animals in the world. They are plant eaters.
Their height helps them reach leaves on tall trees. Giraffes live in a
herd of about 10 animals.
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Non-fiction: African Animals
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Giraffes are the tallest animals in the world.
Warthog
Warthogs are a type of wild hog. Warthogs are omnivores (AHM-nehvawrz). Omnivores eat both plants and meat. Female and baby
warthogs live in a small group called a sounder. Males live alone.
Hippopotamus
Hippopotamuses are animals that live partly on land and partly in
water. They are herbivores that eat mainly grasses. Hippos live in a
herd of up to 15 members.
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®
© 2012 ReadWorks , Inc. All rights reserved.
Article: Copyright © 2005 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved.
Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation.
Used by permission.
Questions: African Animals
Name: ____________________________
Date: ________________
Directions: Answer the following four questions based on the information
in the passage.
1. Describe the African savanna.
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
2. How are elephants and giraffes similar?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
3. According to the article, what is a warthog? Describe one key
characteristic of a warthog.
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
4. What is this passage mostly about?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Questions: African Animals
Directions: Please read the sentence below and then write the word or
phrase that best answers the questions. The first answer has been provided
for you.
At mealtimes, giraffes eat leaves from tall trees because they have long
necks and can reach high places.
What? giraffes
5. (do) What?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
6. When?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
7. Why?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Questions: African Animals
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that
best completes the sentence.
Many animals live in groups or herds for protection, ______ they can
still be attacked by lions and other meat-eating animals.
A but
B because
C so
Directions: Read the vocabulary word and definition below. Then answer
questions 9 and 10.
Vocabulary Word: habitat (hab ∙ i ∙ tat): an animal’s home in nature.
9. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word habitat.
a. The girl found the rabbit’s hole, which is his habitat in the forest.
b. By taking care of the environment, animals’ habitats can be saved.
c. Some habitats such as the rainforest are protected so that people
cannot do further damage.
d. At the zoo, students learned that the natural habitat of the lion is the
African savanna.
e. Students learned that alligators like to live in a warm and wet habitat.
10. Which image does NOT show an animal in its habitat?
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Teacher Guide and Answer Key: African Animals
Teacher Guide and Answer Key
Passage Reading Level: Lexile 520
Featured Text Structure: Descriptive - the writer explains, defines or illustrates a
concept or topic
Passage Summary: The passage is focused on animals that live on the continent of
Africa. Africa’s savanna is home to many different types of animals: lions, elephants,
giraffes, warthogs, and hippopotamus.
To the Teacher: Read the passage aloud to the class [TIP: while reading aloud, show
the passage on a whiteboard or give each student a copy of the passage so they can
follow along].
Then, use the text-dependent questions 1-8 to facilitate a whole class discussion to
ensure students comprehend the key details from the passage.
Finally, use questions 9-10 to deep teach one important vocabulary word [TIP: you can
use the model provided for teaching additional vocabulary].
1. Describe the African savanna. [Important Detail]
Suggested answer: A savanna is an open grassland with few trees. Africa’s
savanna is home to many different types of animals. A savanna is a habitat.
[paragraphs 1, 2]
2. How are elephants and giraffes similar? [Important Detail]
Suggested answer: Both elephants and giraffes are herbivores. An herbivore is
an animal that eats only plants. In addition, both elephants and giraffes live in
groups. Elephants live in a group called a herd, while giraffes live in a herd as well
of about 10 animals. [paragraphs 4, 5]
3. According to the article, what is a warthog? Describe one key characteristic of a
warthog. [Important Detail]
Suggested answer: A warthog is a type of wild hog. One key characteristic of a
warthog is that they are omnivores, which means they eat plants and meat.
Warthogs females and babies live in a small group called a sounder, while the
male warthogs live alone. [paragraph 6]
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© 2012 ReadWorks , Inc. All rights reserved.
Teacher Guide and Answer Key: African Animals
4. What is this passage mostly about? [Main Idea]
Suggested answer: The article is focused on animals that live in the African
savanna. A savanna is habitat that is an open grassland with very few trees. Lions,
elephants, giraffes, warthogs, and hippopotamus are all animals that live in the
African savanna.
Directions: Please read the sentence below and then write the word or phrase that best
answers the questions. The first answer has been provided for you.
At mealtimes, giraffes eat leaves from tall trees because they have long necks and can
reach high places.
What? giraffes
5. (do) What? eat leaves from tall trees
6. When? at mealtimes
7. Why? because they have long necks and can reach high places
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best
completes the sentence.
Many animals live in groups or herds for protection, ______ they can still be
attacked by lions and other meat-eating animals.
A but
B because
C so
To the Teacher: ReadWorks recommends that you teach this vocabulary word to the
whole class out loud using the four steps listed below.
Vocabulary Word: habitat (hab ∙ i ∙ tat): an animal’s home in nature.
Step 1: Introduce the word
a. Teacher writes the word on the board and divides it into syllables: (hab ∙ i ∙ tat)
b. Teacher says: “This word is habitat. What is the word?” [All students reply
together out loud: “Habitat.”]
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© 2012 ReadWorks , Inc. All rights reserved.
Teacher Guide and Answer Key: African Animals
Step 2: Provide a child-friendly definition
a. Teacher says: “Habitat means an animal’s home in nature.”
b. Teacher says: “The word habitat is used when talking about an animal’s home in
nature. In this passage, the author discusses the animals that make the savanna
their habitat.”
c. Teacher says: “What is the word?” [All students reply together out loud: “Habitat.”]
Step 3: Practice the word
Teacher provides examples and additional opportunities to repeat the word. Read the
first sentence out loud to your students. Begin reading it again and when you come to
the vocabulary word prompt students to say the vocabulary word out loud. Then, finish
reading the sentence out loud to your students.
Directions: Read the vocabulary word and definition below. Then answer questions 9
and 10.
Vocabulary Word: habitat (hab ∙ i ∙ tat): an animal’s home in nature.
9. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word habitat.
a. The girl found the rabbit’s hole, which is his habitat in the forest.
b. By taking care of the environment, animals’ habitats can be saved.
c. Some habitats such as the rainforest are protected so that people cannot do
further damage.
d. At the zoo, students learned that the natural habitat of the lion is the African
savanna.
e. Students learned that alligators like to live in a warm and wet habitat.
Step 4: Check for student understanding
To the Teacher: This step can be completed as a whole class activity or as an
independent practice.
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© 2012 ReadWorks , Inc. All rights reserved.
Teacher Guide and Answer Key: African Animals
10. Which image does NOT show an animal in its habitat?
Suggested Additional Vocabulary: savanna, carnivore, herbivore, omnivore
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