The World of Minibeasts · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

The World of Minibeasts

Science · Animals of the World · ages 7-9
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. There are more kinds of which animal than any other single animal on Earth?

    • Eagle
    • Beetle
    • Dog

  2. How many legs does a spider have?

    • 6
    • 8
    • 10

  3. What are minibeasts to birds and frogs?

    • Food
    • Pets
    • Homes

  4. How many legs does an insect always have?

    • 6
    • 8
    • 10

  5. If the minibeasts around a pond disappeared, what would happen to the frogs?

    • Nothing would change
    • They would have less food to eat
    • They would grow bigger

  6. Minibeasts are so small that they do not matter much to nature.

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. Which job do earthworms do to help nature?

    • Hunt other minibeasts for food
    • Break down dead leaves into soil
    • Carry pollen between flowers

  8. Which of these is NOT an insect?

    • Spider
    • Bee
    • Ladybird

  9. Minibeasts do three big jobs for nature. Which choice names all three?

    • Dig burrows, climb trees, and chase mice
    • Pollinate flowers, break down dead leaves, and feed other animals
    • Build nests, sing songs, and fly south

  10. A creature in the garden has 6 legs. Zara says it must be an insect. Ben says it could be a spider. Who is right?

    • Zara, because insects have 6 legs
    • Ben, because spiders have 6 legs
    • Both of them
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

The World of Minibeasts W1-mt_R7LEuZjTmx-s1

  1. Beetle · The lesson says there are more kinds of beetle than any other single animal on Earth.
  2. 8 · Spiders have 8 legs. That is what makes them arachnids, not insects.
  3. Food · Minibeasts are food for birds, frogs, and many other animals.
  4. 6 · Every insect has exactly 6 legs. That is one way you can tell an insect apart from other minibeasts.
  5. They would have less food to eat · Frogs eat minibeasts, so losing minibeasts means losing frog food.
  6. False · Minibeasts pollinate flowers, turn dead leaves into soil, and feed other animals. Small creatures do big jobs.
  7. Break down dead leaves into soil · Earthworms and woodlice eat dead leaves and turn them into rich soil that helps new plants grow. That job is called being a decomposer.
  8. Spider · A spider has 8 legs, so it is an arachnid, not an insect. Bees and ladybirds have 6 legs.
  9. Pollinate flowers, break down dead leaves, and feed other animals · The lesson's three jobs are pollinating flowers, breaking down dead leaves into soil, and being food for other animals.
  10. Zara, because insects have 6 legs · Six legs means insect. Spiders have 8 legs, so Ben's idea does not fit.
Worksheet · LightMySky