Coastal Habitats of Block Island
A strip of sand may look empty from a distance, but on Block Island it is part of a busy network of habitats. Birds search the shore for food, seals rest near the water, and plants hold shifting dunes in place. Each habitat offers animals a different combination of food, shelter, and space.
An island shaped by the sea
Block Island lies in the Atlantic Ocean, about 12 miles south of the Rhode Island mainland. It is part of Rhode Island, and its town is called New Shoreham. Beaches, bluffs, ponds, and wetlands are packed into an island roughly seven miles long.
Wind and waves constantly move sand along the shore. In some places, wind piles dry sand into dunes. The island also has steep coastal bluffs, where layers of soil and rock rise above the beach. Waves and rain wear away these bluffs over time, adding material to the shore below.
Beaches and dunes
- habitats:
- Places where living things find the food, shelter, and space they need.
- dunes:
- Hills of sand formed by wind.
- bluffs:
- Steep areas of land rising above a shore.
- camouflage:
- Coloring or patterns that help something blend into its surroundings.
- wetlands:
- Areas of land where the ground is covered or soaked with water for much of the time.
- migrations:
- Seasonal movements of animals from one area to another.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What is the main idea of the report? Give two details that support it.
- 2How do beach grass roots and leaves work together to build and protect dunes?
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About this report passage for Upper Elementary
“Coastal Habitats of Block Island” is a report reading passage about Coastal habitats, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 4 minutes to read (564 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.