Resting on the River
Narrator: The wind is cool. Fall is here!
Birds fly south for the warm sun.
Duck: Look down! I see a big river.
It is the Mississippi River in Illinois!
Swan: We need a break. My wings are tired.
Let us land on the safe water.
Narrator: The birds fly down. They splash in the blue river.
Duck: I see good food! There are seeds and green grass.
Swan: This river is a great stop. Many birds rest here on their long trip.
Narrator: The sun goes down. The birds sleep in the tall grass.
Duck: Good night, big river! Thank you for the meal.
Swan: Tomorrow we fly south again. Rest well, my friend.
Narrator: The Mississippi River helps many birds every fall.
- river:
- A large, flowing body of water.
- tired:
- Needing rest or sleep.
- splash:
- To hit liquid and make it fly around.
- seeds:
- Small plant parts that birds can eat.
- trip:
- A journey from one place to another.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What season is it at the beginning of the story?
- 2Why are the birds flying south?
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About this reader's theater passage for Lower Elementary
“Resting on the River” is a reader's theater reading passage about Bird Migration along the Mississippi River, written for Lower Elementary. It takes about 1 minute to read (124 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.