A Special Spider
A Special Spider
Photo Credit: Charles and Clinton Robertson
The wolf spider is a special spider. It does
not build a web. It hunts for food like a wolf
hunts. It walks around on the ground looking
for food.
Most spiders lay their eggs on their web.
The wolf spider mother carries her eggs with
her. Many baby spiders hatch from the eggs.
The babies are called spiderlings.
The mother cares for her spiderlings in an
unusual way. She carries them on her back.
Soon the little ones will be free to go out on
their own.
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
A Special Spider
Name:
Date:
Directions: For questions 1-4, circle the correct answer.
1. What is the wolf spider?
a) a large animal
b) a regular spider
c) a special spider
2. This passage compares wolf spiders to wolves. How are wolf
spiders like wolves?
a) Wolf spiders carry their eggs with them the same way
wolves carry their eggs.
b) Wolf spiders hunt for food like wolves hunt for food.
c) Wolf spiders carry spiderlings on their back the same way
wolves carry their young.
3. Mother wolf spiders have many baby spiders that they carry on
their back. What does this information tell us about the size of
wolf spider spiderlings?
a) Spiderlings are bigger than their mother.
b) Spiderlings are very small.
c) Spiderlings are almost as big as their mother.
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
A Special Spider
4. What is “A Special Spider” mainly about?
a) wolves
b) spiderlings
c) wolf spiders
5. A) Where do wolf spiders look for food?
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B) Draw a picture of a wolf spider looking for food.
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
A Special Spider
6. What did you learn from “A Special Spider”?
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7. Class Discussion Question: This passage is titled “A Special
Spider.” Describe the three ways that wolf spiders are different
from other spiders. Explain why these differences make wolf
spiders special.
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
A Special Spider
Teacher Guide & Answers
Note to Teacher: Read each question out loud to your students and have each student
complete the worksheet independently. For questions 5 A) and 6, you can have students draw
their answers, answer orally, or write their answers depending on your students’ progress. If you
have them write their answers, you may want to write the word(s) on the board for them to
copy. Question 7 is a class discussion question.
Passage Reading Level: Lexile 470
Directions: For questions 1-4, circle the correct answer.
1. What is the wolf spider?
a) a large animal
b) a regular spider
c) a special spider
2. This passage compares wolf spiders to wolves. How are wolf spiders like wolves?
a) Wolf spiders carry their eggs with them the same way wolves carry their eggs.
b) Wolf spiders hunt for food like wolves hunt for food.
c) Wolf spiders carry spiderlings on their back the same way wolves carry their young.
3. Mother wolf spiders have many baby spiders that they carry on their back. What does this
information tell us about the size of wolf spider spiderlings?
a) Spiderlings are bigger than their mother.
b) Spiderlings are very small.
c) Spiderlings are almost as big as their mother.
4. What is “A Special Spider” mainly about?
a) wolves
b) spiderlings
c) wolf spiders
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
A Special Spider
5.
A) Note to Teacher: See note at the top of the first page.
Where do wolf spiders look for food?
Suggested answer: the ground
B) Draw a picture of a wolf spider looking for food.
Suggested answer: Students’ pictures may vary but should include a spider walking on
the ground looking for food.
6. Note to Teacher: See note at the top of the first page.
What did you learn from “A Special Spider”?
Suggested answer: Answers may vary and should be supported by the passage.
7. Note to Teacher: See note at the top of the first page.
Class Discussion Question: This passage is titled “A Special Spider.” Describe the three
ways that wolf spiders are different from other spiders. Explain why these differences make
wolf spiders special.
Suggested answer: Answers may vary but students should explain that wolf spiders are
different from other spiders because they do not build webs. Instead they hunt for their
food on the ground like a wolf. They also carry their eggs with them instead of laying their
eggs on a web. Finally, they care for their baby spiders by carrying them on their back.
Students should communicate that these differences make wolf spiders special because
they hunt, lay their eggs, and care for their babies in ways that are unlike those of other
spiders.
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.