Fly Traps!
: Plants That Bite Back
by Martin Jenkins
illustrated by David Parkins
Activity One: Prediction
Look at the title and the illustration on the front cover. What do you think this book
is going to be about? Write your prediction below.
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Activity Two: Map
Match the pictures of the
carnivorous plants to their habitats.
You may draw your own pictures
in the blank squares or cut out and
glue on the pictures provided.
Mountain
Western Coast
Jungle
Marsh
Pond
Bladderworts
Cobra Lily
Venus Fly Trap
Pitcher Plant
Sundew
Activity Three: Measurements
The leaves of the Giant African sundew can grow to be 18 inches long! Using the
measuring tape, measure out 18 inches.
Now, find the measurements for these items:
Pencil _________in.
The book_________in.
Your desk or table_________in.
The back of your chair_________in.
Your hand_________in.
Your own idea:
I measured _____________________. It was ________ inches long.
List the items you measured from shortest to longest.
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Circle the items that are shorter than the Giant African sundew and underline the
items that are longer than the Giant African sundew.
Activity Four: Draw Your Plant!
There are many pictures of carnivorous plants in this book.
Now it is time to draw your own carnivorous plant!
-How does your plant trap its food?
-What does your plant eat?
*Remember, carnivorous means that the plant eats animals (such as insects,
birds, small mammals, reptiles, or fish).
-Label any important parts of your plant.
Activity Five: What I Learned
Think about the prediction that you made before we read the book.
Was your prediction right?
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Why was your prediction right or wrong?
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What did you learn from this book?
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Activity Six: Adding Endings
When something has happened in the past, add an -ed to the verb (action word).
Present: I walk to the store every day.
Past: Yesterday, I walked to the store.
Fill in the blanks with the past tense (-ed ending) word.
1.
I climb a mountain and walk through all its boggiest, mossiest places.
I ______________ a mountain and ______________ through all its
boggiest, mossiest places.
2.
I sow them in a pot of moss and cover it with glass.
I ___________ them in a pot of moss and ______________ it with glass.
If the action word (verb) ends in an e, just add a -d to the end to make it past tense.
Present: I close the door when I leave.
Past: I closed the door when I left.
1.
I decide Ill just have to have to find a bigger carnivorous plant.
I _______________ Id just have to find a bigger carnivorous plant.
2.
The leaves of the sundew dissolve the soft parts of the bug.
The leaves of the sundew _______________ the soft parts of the bug.
