Name:
Date:
Grade: 2
Nature Observation
Did you ever see a toad? I had one in my yard, and what do you think he liked to eat? Bread? Oh, no. Milk? No, he liked spiders. If I put a spider near him, out came the toad's tongue, and into his mouth went the spider. You and I do not like spiders, but my toad would eat forty or fifty for his dinner.
Scientific Focus: Natural history observation • Toad's sticky tongue • Expressive questions & answers • Garden insect control.
1
Nature Investigation & Text Facts
Read the observation text carefully. Answer the questions on the lines below.
1. Habitat: Where did the writer find the toad living? In the
2. Diet: What favorite food did the toad feast upon?
3. Appetite: How many spiders could the hungry toad eat for dinner?
4. Capture Tool: What special organ quickly flicked out to catch prey? The
2
Science Detective & Punctuation
Investigate how a toad's tongue works and study expressive sentence types.
A. Nature Science Fact: Why can an insect not escape when touched by a toad's tongue?
Because the toad's tongue is covered with a substance that holds it fast.
B. Question vs. Statement: Add the correct ending punctuation mark (? or .):
Did you ever see a toad The toad eats spiders in the yard
C. Possessive Apostrophe: Write the possessive form:
The tongue of the toad → the tongue
3
Writing the Story of the Toad
Write three connected sentences telling the story of a garden toad. Tell where he lives, how he catches his dinner, and why he is helpful.
1. Habitat:
2. Hunting:
3. Helper:
4
A Gardener's Best Friend
Why is a quiet toad such a welcome friend in a vegetable garden? Write one complete sentence.
My Thought: