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Michele Falzone/Alamy Stock Photo
Time Machine,

Journey Into the Grand Canyon

Terrifying heights. Dangerous animals. A mighty river. Would you want to spend a day in the Grand Canyon?

By Alex Winnick
From the October/November 2025 Issue
Featured Skill: Knowledge Building,

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You’re standing on a giant rock. As you peek over the edge, your stomach flips.

The deep valley below could fit four Empire State Buildings! It’s surrounded by giant cliffs. These towering walls of rock look like layers on a cake. Each layer is a different shade of red, orange, or gold.

At the bottom of the valley, you see a shimmering river, twisting and turning like a snake. It feels like you’re on another planet! But you’re in Arizona, at one of the most stunning places in the country: Grand Canyon National Park.

Millions of people come here every year. Fewer than 1 percent of visitors attempt what you’re about to try: climbing down to the mighty Colorado River below. Will you make it?

You’re standing on a giant rock. You look over the edge. Your stomach flips. There is a deep valley below. It could fit four Empire State Buildings! It’s surrounded by giant cliffs. These tall walls of rock look like layers on a cake. Each layer is a different color of red, orange, or gold.

At the bottom of the valley, you see a shimmering river. It’s twisting and turning like a snake. It feels like you’re on another planet! But you’re in Arizona. You’re at one of the most beautiful places in the country. You’re at Grand Canyon National Park.

You’re about to try climbing down to the mighty Colorado River below. Millions of people come here every year. Fewer than 1 percent of visitors try to do this. Will you make it?

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

A Special Place

A Special Place

The Grand Canyon is a beautiful and mysterious place. It stretches 277 miles. It’s so big that astronauts can see it from outer space!

The canyon officially became a national park in 1919. But the land is much older than that. Scientists think some of the rocks in the park are 70 million years old. Dinosaurs were still alive back then!

You check your backpack for water, extra clothes, a map, and a tent. Then you start down the challenging 8-mile path to the canyon floor.

Whoosh! A giant bird swoops right past you. It’s a California condor. Its wings spread 10 feet across. That’s longer than a door! You feel lucky to have seen this rare bird. There are only about 550 of them in the world.

Crash! Chunks of rock break off and bounce into the canyon. As pieces of the cliffs fall down, the canyon slowly becomes a little bit wider. It’s one way the land is always changing. You won’t notice these changes today. But the Grand Canyon will look different in millions of years.

The Grand Canyon is big and beautiful. It’s 277 miles long. Astronauts can see it from outer space!

The canyon officially became a national park in 1919. But the land is much older than that. Scientists think some of the rocks in the park are 70 million years old. Dinosaurs were still alive back then!

You check your backpack for water, extra clothes, a map, and a tent. Then you start down the challenging 8-mile path to the canyon floor.

Whoosh! A giant bird flies past you. It’s a California condor. Its wings spread 10 feet across. That’s longer than a door! You feel lucky to have seen this rare bird. There are only about 550 of them in the world.

Crash! Chunks of rock break off and bounce into the canyon. As pieces of the cliffs fall down, the canyon slowly becomes a little bit wider. It’s one way the land is always changing. You won’t notice these changes today. But the Grand Canyon will look different in millions of years.

Paul Bunyan Illustration by Darryl Ligasan

How did the Canyon Form?

An American folktale says that a giant named Paul Bunyan made the canyon by dragging his ax through Arizona. But scientists say the Colorado River carved through the land for millions of years, making a deep canyon in the rock.

Adventuring On

Adventuring On

Christian Heeb/laif/Redux

Native Land 

The Grand Canyon is home to 11 Native tribes. Each has its own customs and celebrations.

Sweat drips down your face. The canyon’s temperatures range widely. Some trails, like this one, are scorching hot. Others have snow!

Clip-clop, clip-clop. A line of mules approaches. One of the riders greets you warmly. He’s a Native American guide from the Havasupai (hah-vah-SOO-pie) tribe. His tribe has lived on this land for hundreds of years. He’s heading to his village. It’s the only place in the country where mail is delivered by mule!

Suddenly, you spot a twisting shape in the path ahead. Sssssss. A pink rattlesnake! You freeze. This dangerous reptile can’t be found anywhere else on Earth. Luckily, it slithers away into the bushes. Phew.

Sweat drips down your face. The canyon’s temperatures range widely. Some trails, like this one, are scorching hot. Others have snow!

Clip-clop, clip-clop. A line of mules walks by. One of the riders greets you warmly. He’s a Native American guide from the Havasupai (hah-vah-SOO-pie) tribe. His tribe has lived on this land for hundreds of years. He’s heading to his village. It’s the only place in the country where mail is delivered by mule!

Suddenly, you see a twisting shape in the path ahead. Sssssss. A pink rattlesnake! You freeze. This reptile is dangerous. It can’t be found anywhere else on Earth. Luckily, it slithers away into the bushes. Phew.

A Roaring River

A Roaring River

Shutterstock.com 

Finally, you reach the Colorado River! It roars like never-ending thunder.

You’ve climbed down 4,500 feet to the canyon floor. The canyon walls tower above you like giant castles. As you gaze up in wonder, you realize­—the sun is setting! You quickly head to a camping area and set up your tent.

The sunlight dims, and one by one, stars peek out. Soon thousands of them light up the night sky.

As you climb into your tent, you’re still buzzing with energy. You’ve only just scratched the surface of this amazing park. Tomorrow you’ll go rafting down the Colorado River. Next on your list? Stepping out onto the Skywalk. That’s a walkway with a glass floor sticking out from the canyon’s edge. And later you’ll visit a 100-foot waterfall called Havasu Falls.

Closing your eyes, you’re ready to dream of all the adventures to come in this wild and wonderful place.

Finally, you get to the roaring Colorado River! It sounds like never-ending thunder.

You’ve climbed down 4,500 feet to the canyon floor. The canyon walls tower above you like giant castles. As you look up in wonder, you realize­ that the sun is setting! You quickly head to a camping area and set up your tent.

The sunlight dims. One by one, stars come out. Thousands of them light up the night sky.

You climb into your tent. You’re still buzzing with energy. You’ve only just scratched the surface of this amazing park. Tomorrow you’ll go rafting down the Colorado River. You’ll also step out onto the Skywalk. That’s a walkway with a glass floor sticking out from the canyon’s edge. And later you’ll visit a big waterfall called Havasu Falls.

You close your eyes. You’re ready to dream of the adventures in this wild and wonderful place

THINK AND WRITE

Would you want to visit the Grand Canyon? Write a letter to a friend explaining why or why not.

THINK AND WRITE

Would you want to visit the Grand Canyon? Write a letter to a friend explaining why or why not.

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Can't Miss Teaching Extras

Travel to another national park in “A Day in Death Valley,” a Time Machine about the hottest place in the world. You’ll also meet Ranger Gia, a park ranger!

America is home to some incredible sights—as you just learned! Travel to another spectacular place in “Welcome to Alaska,” a Time Machine about this beautiful state.

For another exhilarating adventure, travel inside one of the most active volcanoes in the world in “Journey Inside a Volcano.” You’ll meet a volcanologist too!

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
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Table of Contents

1. Preparing to Read

2. Close Reading

3. Skill Building and Writing

1. Preparing to Read

Set a Purpose for Reading

  • Ask students to predict what this article will be about based on the headline, subhead, and image on pages 20-21. Review the predictions after reading.
  • To provide your students with helpful background information on this national park, play the video “Grand Canyon in Depth.”

Preview Text Features and Vocabulary

  • Before reading, point out the terms peek (to take a quick look), shimmering (shining with a light that seems to move), towering (rising to a great height), scorching (very hot), mule (an animal that is part horse and part donkey), and slithers (moves by sliding one’s body back and forth) and review their definitions. Go over any other vocabulary terms that may be challenging for your students.
  • Point out the photographs on pages 20-22. Ask students to call out any details they notice about the images.

2. Close Reading

  • Read the article as a class or have students follow along as they listen to the audio Read-Aloud.
  • Project or assign the Close-Reading and Critical-Thinking Questions.
  • You may challenge students to either underline or highlight any details that are specific (or unique) to the particular time or place visited in the Time Machine.

Close-Reading Questions

  • Read the introduction. What do you see in front of you? You see a deep valley below you. It’s so deep that four Empire State Buildings could fit in it. The valley is surrounded by giant cliffs. (descriptive details; point of view)
  • Read the introduction. Where are you? You’re in Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. (setting)
  • Read the section “A Special Place.” What details explain the size of the Grand Canyon? The details that explain the size of the Grand Canyon are “It stretches 277 miles,” and “It’s so big that astronauts can see it from outer space!” (key details)
  • Read the section “A Special Place.” Why will the Grand Canyon look different in millions of years? The Grand Canyon will look different in millions of years because the land is always changing. For example, pieces of the cliffs fall down and the canyon slowly becomes a little wider. (cause and effect)
  • Study the photo and caption on page 21. How is the folktale different from scientists’ explanation of how the Grand Canyon formed? The American folktale says that a giant named Paul Bunyan created the canyon. He did this by dragging his ax through Arizona. But scientists say that the canyon was formed by the Colorado River, which carved through the land for millions of years. (compare and contrast)
  • What are two animals that you might see in the Grand Canyon but are unlikely to see anywhere else? Two animals you might see in the Grand Canyon but are unlikely to see anywhere else are the California condor and the pink rattlesnake. There are only about 550 California condors in the world. And the pink rattlesnake lives only in the Grand Canyon. (key details)

 

Critical-Thinking Questions

  • Would you want to visit the Grand Canyon? Use details from the article to support your answer. Answers will vary. Sample responses: Yes, because it would be very exciting. The Grand Canyon is very beautiful and unique. Less than 1 percent of visitors hike down to the river, so I would get to experience something that very few people have. I would see exciting places like the Skywalk, Havasu Falls, and the only place in the country where mail is delivered by mule. No, because it could be dangerous. Many wild animals live there, like the dangerous pink rattlesnake. The land is also constantly changing, and I could get injured while hiking. (supporting an opinion)
  • Read the section “A Roaring River” and look at the photo at the bottom of page 22. Why do you think people enjoy visiting the Skywalk? I think people enjoy visiting the Skywalk because it helps them feel as if they are standing in the middle of the canyon. The glass floor means that they can look down beneath them and see the river many feet below. (inference; text features)

3. Skill Building and Writing

Featured Skill: Knowledge Building

  • Discuss and assign the writing assignment in the Think and Write box on page 22.
  • Distribute our Where Should We Go Next? Skill Builder and have students complete it in class or for homework.

Text-to-Speech