Non-fiction: Insects on the Move
Insects on the Move
A grasshopper can jump a distance of more than 20 times the length of its
body! That means a 2-inch grasshopper can jump more than 3 feet!
Amazing Insects
nps.gov
These insects take the prize for their athletic abilities. Some are expert
runners, swimmers, or fliers. Others can jump very far or even do
acrobatics. They can really move!
The dragonfly is one of the fastest flying insects. Some dragonflies can
reach 35 miles per hour. This insect is also acrobatic. It can fly backward
and turn around quickly. It can also hover, or hang, in the air.
The record for longest insect flight goes to the monarch butterfly. Each
fall, millions of monarch butterflies from North America spread their wings
and fly more than 2,000 miles to forests in Mexico.
The diving beetle is an expert swimmer. When it is
above water, the bubble on its back fills with air. That
lets the beetle breathe underwater. As it swims, the
bubble refills with oxygen taken from the water.
noaa.gov
Diving Beetle
A favorite to win the long jump contest is the flea. This
tiny insect (the size of a pinhead) can jump a distance of
150 times the length of its body. When a flea bends its legs, its rubbery
knees spring back, and off it goes!
The Australian tiger beetle is one of the fastest running insects. This longlegged beetle can reach speeds of 5 ½ miles per hour. The beetle's speed
comes in handy when it is chasing other insects to eat.
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Used by permission.
Name: ____________________________
Questions: Insects on the Move
Date: ________________
Directions: Answer the following four questions based on the information
in the passage.
1. What are the two fastest insects?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
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2. Which two insects can jump long distances?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
3. According to the article, what insect holds the record for the longest
flight?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
4. What is this passage mostly about?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Questions: Insects on the Move
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.
In the fall, millions of monarch butterflies travel from North America to
Mexico by flying more than 2,000 miles.
What? millions of monarch butterflies
5. (do) What?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
6. When?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
7. How?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
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________________________________________________________
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Questions: Insects on the Move
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that
best completes the sentence.
The diving beetle fills the bubble on its back with air, ______ the
beetle can breathe underwater.
A but
B because
C so
Directions: Read the vocabulary word and definition below. Then answer
questions 9 and 10.
Vocabulary Word: expert (ex · pert): someone who is either very good at
doing something or knows a lot about a particular subject.
9. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word expert.
a. The doctor is an expert in the field of medicine and knows a lot about
how to help people get better from sicknesses.
b. The reporter has been reporting the news for over 15 years, so he is
considered an expert.
c. When people have a question about insects, they can ask an
entomologist, or a bug expert.
d. The engineer is an expert because she went to school and has created
many bridges.
e. She has spent 25 years studying art history, so she is considered the
leading expert on this topic.
10. Which expert would you go to if your car is broken?
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Teacher Guide and Answer Key: Insects on the Move
Teacher Guide and Answer Key
Passage Reading Level: Lexile 800
Featured Text Structure: Descriptive - the writer explains, defines or illustrates a
concept or topic
Passage Summary: The passage is focused on insects that can move far distances and
very quickly compared to their sizes. The article provides information about the
grasshopper, dragonfly, monarch butterfly, diving beetle, and Australian tiger beetle.
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. What are the two fastest insects? [Important Detail]
Suggested answer: One fastest flying insect is the dragonfly. Some dragonflies
can reach 35 miles per hour and it can also fly backward. The Australian tiger
beetle is also one of the fastest running insects. This beetle can reach speeds of 5
½ miles per hour. [paragraphs 3, 7]
2. Which two insects can jump long distances? [Important Detail]
Suggested answer: The grasshopper can jump a distance of more than 20 times
its body length. For example, a 2-inch grasshopper can jump more than 3 feet.
The flea which is a tiny insect can jump a distance of 150 times the length of its
body. [paragraphs 1, 6]
3. According to the article, what insect holds the record for the longest flight?
[Important Detail]
Suggested answer: The record of the longest insect flight goes to the monarch
butterfly. In the fall season, monarch butterflies from North America fly more
than 2,000 miles to forests in Mexico. [paragraph 4]
1
© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Teacher Guide and Answer Key: Insects on the Move
4. What is this passage mostly about? [Main Idea]
Suggested answer: The article is focused on insects that can run, swim, fly, or
jump very far or fast compared to how large they are.
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.
In the fall, millions of monarch butterflies travel from North America to Mexico by flying
more than 2,000 miles.
What? millions of monarch butterflies
5. (do) What? travel from North America to Mexico
6. When? in the fall
7. How? by flying more than 2,000 miles
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best
completes the sentence.
The diving beetle fills the bubble on its back with air, ______ the beetle can
breathe underwater.
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: expert (ex · pert): someone who is either very good at doing
something or knows a lot about a particular subject.
Step 1: Introduce the word
a. Teacher writes the word on the board and divides it into syllables: (ex · pert)
b. Teacher says: “This word is expert. What is the word?” [All students reply
together out loud: “Expert.”]
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Step 2: Provide a child-friendly definition
Teacher Guide and Answer Key: Insects on the Move
a. Teacher says: “An expert is someone who is either very good at doing something
or knows a lot about a particular subject.”
b. Teacher says: “The word expert is used when talking about someone who is either
very good at doing something or knows a lot about a particular subject. In this
passage, the author discusses how different insects are experts at running, flying,
jumping or swimming.”
c. Teacher says: “What is the word?” [All students reply together out loud: “Expert.”]
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: expert (ex · pert): someone who is either very good at doing
something or knows a lot about a particular subject.
9. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word expert.
a. The doctor is an expert in the field of medicine and knows a lot about how to help
people get better from sicknesses.
b. The reporter has been reporting the news for over 15 years, so he is considered an
expert.
c. When people have a question about insects, they can ask an entomologist, or a
bug expert.
d. The engineer is an expert because she went to school and has created many
bridges.
e. She has spent 25 years studying art history, so she is considered the leading
expert on this topic.
Step 4: Check for student understanding
To the Teacher: This step can be completed as a whole class activity or as an
independent practice.
3
© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Teacher Guide and Answer Key: Insects on the Move
10. Which expert would you go to if your car is broken?
Suggested Additional Vocabulary: insect, contest
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.