Wings Over the Canyon
Characters:
- NARRATOR: An informative guide who describes the setting.
- SOFIA: An enthusiastic birdwatcher who loves finding details.
- MATEO: A prepared hiker who carries the binoculars and maps.
- LEO: A knowledgeable friend who knows about local wildlife.
NARRATOR: Welcome to Colca Canyon in southern Peru! This is one of the deepest canyons in the entire world, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the United States. Today, three young birdwatchers are hiking along the dusty, rocky trail. They are searching the skies for a legendary giant.
SOFIA: Watch your step, everyone! The trail is steep, and the canyon wall drops straight down to the Colca River below. The river looks like a tiny silver thread from up here.
MATEO: (Adjusting his backpack) My altimeter says we are over ten thousand feet above sea level. No wonder my chest feels a little tight! But the crisp morning air is totally worth it.
LEO: (Pointing across the canyon) Look at those rocky cliffs on the far side of the gorge. That is where the Andean Condors make their nests. They love these high, windy spots because the steep cliffs help them take off.
- Altimeter:
- An instrument used to measure how high something is above sea level.
- Thermal currents:
- Rising columns of warm air created by the heating of the Earth's surface.
- Wingspan:
- The distance from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other wing.
- Gorge:
- A narrow valley between hills or mountains, typically with steep rocky walls.
- Aloft:
- High up in the air; flying or soaring overhead.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Where is the Colca Canyon located according to the narrator?
- 2How does the depth of the Colca Canyon compare to the Grand Canyon in the United States?
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About this reader's theater passage for Upper Elementary
“Wings Over the Canyon” is a reader's theater reading passage about Andean Condor and Colca Canyon, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (514 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.