A Giant in the Water: teacher key

Alligator Snapping Turtles, grade 2 edition, written for 2nd grade. The alligator snapping turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in North America. It has a spiked shell, a worm-like tongue and a nest in the sand.

Read the book. Print this page for the key.

Questions and answers

1. Where do alligator snapping turtles live?
   • In the southern United States (answer)
   • At the North Pole
   • In a desert
2. What do people call the alligator snapping turtle?
   • The king of the river
   • The dinosaur of the turtle world (answer)
   • The fish of the night
3. What does part of its tongue look like?
   • A worm (answer)
   • A stick
   • A shell
4. What do these turtles eat mostly?
   • Grass
   • Fish (answer)
   • Corn
5. When are these turtles most active?
   • At night (answer)
   • At noon
   • At breakfast
6. Algae grows on the turtle's back and helps hide it. What does that tell you?
   • It is easy to see
   • It blends in with the water (answer)
   • It can fly

Words

• freshwater: not salty water
• jaws: mouth bones
• algae: tiny water plants
• nest: egg home