Exploring America's National Parks
Imagine a place where trees are as tall as skyscrapers or where hot water shoots out of the ground like a giant fountain. These special places are called National Parks. In the United States, there are over sixty large National Parks that are protected by the government. This means that people cannot build houses, stores, or factories there. Instead, the land is kept wild and natural so that everyone can enjoy its beauty. The National Park Service is the group of people, often wearing green uniforms and flat-brimmed hats, who take care of these lands and help visitors stay safe.
The story of these parks began a long time ago. In 1872, Yellowstone became the very first National Park in the entire world. Leaders at that time realized that some places were so beautiful and unique that they should be saved forever. They wanted to make sure these areas looked the same hundreds of years from now as they did back then. Because of this big idea, many other parks were created across the country, from the snowy mountains of Alaska to the sunny islands of Florida.
- National Park:
- An area of land protected by the government so its nature and wildlife can be enjoyed by everyone.
- Glacier:
- A very large, thick sheet of ice that stays frozen all year long.
- Wildlife:
- Animals that live in their natural environment without help from humans.
- Environment:
- The natural world of a specific area, including its plants, animals, and weather.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What are three things that people are not allowed to build in a National Park?
- 2Which organization is responsible for looking after the parks and keeping visitors safe?
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About this informational passage for 3rd Grade
“Exploring America's National Parks” is a informational reading passage about National Parks, written for 3rd Grade. It takes about 4 minutes to read (526 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.