Animals & Environment
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16 Sept 2026
In places with a lot of artificial light, birds like this Northern cardinal sing an extra 50 minutes on average. That includes about 18 minutes more in the morning and 32 minutes more in the evening. Ser Amantio di Nicolao/Wikimedia Commons
City Lights Make Birds Sing Longer Songs at Night
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) Birds sing longer in bright city areas.
b) Birds stop singing completely in cities.
c) Birds wear tiny glasses to see lights.
Ask:
(1) Do you hear birds near your house at night?
(2) Why do you think street lights stay on when it is dark?
VOCABULARY
bright (/braɪt/, adjective)
Meaning: Full of strong light that is easy to see.
Example: The bright street light shines outside my window at night.
lamp (/læmp/, noun)
Meaning: A tall light post on a street or a light inside a home.
Example: A tall lamp helps people see the dark road.
sleep (/sliːp/, verb)
Meaning: To rest your body and mind with your eyes closed.
Example: Little birds need to sleep when the sun goes down.
song (/sɒŋ/, noun)
Meaning: Musical sounds made by a voice or a bird.
Example: The robin sings a sweet song in the green tree.
town (/taʊn/, noun)
Meaning: A place with many houses, shops, and roads where people live.
Example: Our small town has bright lights on every street.
wake (/weɪk/, verb)
Meaning: To stop sleeping and open your eyes.
Example: The birds wake up early when they see light.
Many wild birds live in our big city parks and garden spaces. They usually eat small bugs and sing happy songs during the sunny day.
At night, big city streets are very bright. Yellow street lamps stay on for many hours. This strong extra light changes how local birds behave.
Scientists look at wild birds in different towns. They see that night lights trick the birds. The birds think the morning sun is coming up very early.
So, these small birds wake up in the dark. They sing their daily songs for a longer time. They do not get enough good rest at night.
People can help these songbirds today. We can turn off extra outdoor lamps late at night. Then, wild birds can sleep well until morning.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Do you prefer sleeping in a dark room or a bright room?
2. What time do birds start singing near your home?
3. Why do wild animals need good sleep every night?
4. How can people make towns quieter and darker at night?
5. Should we turn off street lights late at night?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: bright, lamp, sleep, wake
Many wild birds live in our big city parks and garden spaces. They usually eat small bugs and sing happy songs during the sunny day.
At night, big city streets are very _______(1). Yellow street _______(2) stay on for many hours. This strong extra light changes how local birds behave.
Scientists look at wild birds in different towns. They see that night lights trick the birds. The birds think the morning sun is coming up very early.
So, these small birds _______(3) up in the dark. They sing their daily songs for a longer time. They do not get enough good _______(4) at night.
People can help these songbirds today. We can turn off extra outdoor lamps late at night. Then, wild birds can sleep well until morning.
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of this story?
a) Street lights help birds catch bigger bugs at night.
b) Bright night lights make birds wake up and sing longer.
c) Birds like to live inside warm houses in the winter.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
1. Birds sing songs during the sunny day. T/F
2. Night lights trick birds into thinking it is early morning. T/F
3. Birds get plenty of good sleep in bright towns. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Put these story events in order from 1 to 3:
( ) Birds think the morning sun is coming up.
( ) Yellow street lamps stay on late at night.
( ) Birds wake up early and sing longer songs.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. bright
2. lamp
3. sleep
4. town
5. wake
a. a light on a tall pole
b. full of strong light
c. to stop sleeping and open eyes
d. to rest your body at night
e. a place where people live
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1. The street light is very _______ tonight, so I cannot sleep easily.
a) bright
b) quiet
2. Little birds _______ up early because the park is full of light.
a) sleep
b) wake
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
1. Unscramble the sentence:
A) sing
B) long
C) Birds
D) songs.
E) daily
2. Unscramble the sentence:
A) stay
B) Street
C) lamps
D) on
E) night.
F) all
ANSWER KEY
Warm Up Answer: a) Birds sing longer in bright city areas.
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
1. bright
2. lamp
3. wake
4. sleep
Section 2: Main Idea
b) Bright night lights make birds wake up and sing longer.
Section 3: True or False
1. T
2. T
3. F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
2, 1, 3
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. b
2. a
3. d
4. e
5. c
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1. a) bright
2. b) wake
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
1. C - A - E - B - D (Birds sing daily long songs.)
2. B - C - A - D - F - E (Street lamps stay on all night.)
Section 8: Discussion Questions
Student discussion answers will vary.
Thank you for your feedback!