Red the Hawk Over the Prairie
Red was a red-tailed hawk. He lived in the tall grass prairie of Iowa.
Red spread his big wings wide. He flew high up into the blue sky.
Below him, the green grass waved in the wind. Bright yellow wild flowers bloomed in the sun.
Red looked down with his sharp eyes. He was looking for something to eat.
Swish! The grass moved near a rock. Red saw a small gray mouse run fast.
Red swooped down low to the ground. He caught his lunch with strong feet.
Red flew back up to a tall branch. He ate his lunch and rested in the warm air.
Red loved his bright prairie home. It was a great day to fly.
- hawk:
- A large bird with sharp eyes and strong feet that hunts for small animals.
- prairie:
- A wide land covered mostly with wild grass and flowers.
- sharp:
- Able to see small details very clearly from far away.
- swooped:
- Flew down quickly through the air toward the ground.
- branch:
- A part of a tree that grows out from the main trunk.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What kind of bird is Red?
- 2Where does Red live?
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About this short story passage for Lower Elementary
“Red the Hawk Over the Prairie” is a short story reading passage about Red-tailed Hawks and Prairies, written for Lower Elementary. It takes about 1 minute to read (119 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.