Passage: The Amazing Journey of a Monarch Butterfly
Every year, millions of monarch butterflies embark on an incredible journey. They travel thousands of miles from their summer homes in the United States and Canada to warmer climates in Mexico. This migration is one of the longest of any insect species in the world.
The journey begins in late summer. Monarchs can be found fluttering around gardens and fields, feeding on nectar from flowers. As the days get shorter and temperatures drop, they begin to sense the change in seasons. Guided by instinct, they start their journey southward.
The butterflies fly alone, but they often meet up with others along the way. They rely on landmarks, the sun, and even the Earth’s magnetic field to help them navigate. Some will fly as far as 3,000 miles to reach their wintering grounds, where they cluster together in large groups to stay warm.
Once they arrive in Mexico, they find a sanctuary in the oyamel fir forests. Here, they rest and prepare for the next phase of their lives. After several months, when spring arrives, the monarchs begin to reproduce. They lay their eggs on milkweed plants, ensuring that the next generation will have food when they hatch.
The journey of the monarch butterfly is a remarkable feat of nature. Not only does it demonstrate the incredible ability of these insects to navigate vast distances, but it also highlights the importance of protecting their habitats.
Here’s a 6th-grade reading fluency passage along with comprehension questions.
Comprehension Questions:
- What is the main purpose of the monarch butterfly’s migration?
- How do monarch butterflies navigate during their journey? List at least two methods they use.
- What do monarch butterflies do when they arrive in Mexico?
- Why is milkweed important for the next generation of monarch butterflies?
- What does the passage suggest about the importance of protecting the monarch butterfly’s habitats?
