THE LOST DODO:
A FEATHERED MYSTERY
The dodo bird was a flightless species that is now extinct. The bird was first spotted by Portuguese sailors around 1507, who began consuming it for food. The bird became extinct after sailors settled on its island. The dodo bird had extremely delicious meat, which led people to launch a hunt for it. It was finally extinct by 1681.
The dodo was bigger than a turkey, weighing about 23 kg (about 50 pounds). It had bluish-gray plumage, a large head measuring 23 cm (9 inches), blackish feathers with a reddish covering, a hooked beak, tiny, useless wings, dark yellow legs, and curly feathers.
The dodo bird primarily ate nuts, seeds, and roots, but it also munched on crabs and shellfish.
Its favorite meal was rocks which helped it digest a variety of food.
The dodo bird was different from other birds because it built its nest on the ground and did not have any natural predators, so its nest did not need protection.
Questions:
1. If you could have any animals as a pet, extinct or alive, what would it be and why?
2. Imagine you are a sailor in the 1500s, and you spot a new, undiscovered island. What would you do? Would you settle on the island or explore it first?
3. If you had to describe the dodo bird to someone who had never heard of it before, what would you say? How would you compare it to other birds?
4. The dodo bird’s favorite meal was rocks. If you could only eat one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
5. The dodo bird became extinct because of human hunting and settlement on its island.
Do you think people have a responsibility to protect and preserve endangered species?
Why or why not?
6. If you could design a superhero based on the dodo bird, what would their power be and why?
VOCABULARY
• Launch a hunt – start a hunt
• Munch on – to eat something noisily
• Plumage – a bird’s covering of feathers
• Settle – to go somewhere and start living there permanently
• Variety – A different type of something
• Spot – notice
Put the words in the following sentences.
Variety, settled, spotted, plumage, munching on
1. Camels are ______ plastic.
2. I’ve just ______ my teacher, he is over there. He is standing near the entrance of the school.
3. After getting married the couple ______ in America.
4. Turkeys have got very beautiful ______.
5. Our street shop offers people a ______ of products.
DODO BIRD PUPPET SHOW
• Create your own dodo bird puppets using paper bags or other materials.
• Put on a puppet show for your classmates, and share what you have learned about the dodo birds.
• If you could ask a dodo bird one question, what would it be?
• What questions do you still have about dodo birds?
FILM REVIEW
Title of the film: _______________
The director of the film: _______________
What is the plot about: _______________
Name the main characters: _______________
Favourite characters: _______________
Characters you dislike: _______________
Moral of the film: _______________
Favourite quote: _______________
Describe your favourite character: _______________