Writing Activities: Year 2

Kinabalu giant red leech

The Kinabalu giant red leech lives in just one place on earth. It is found only on the slopes of Mount Kinabalu on Asia’s largest island: Borneo. The leech is bright orange-red and grows up to half a metre in length. It lives in damp leaf litter (dead leaves that have fallen to the floor) and only comes out during or just after heavy rain.

In this clip the Kinabalu giant red leech makes a meal of its even bigger neighbour, the Bornean blue earth worm.

Literacy idea

Imagine you are a scientist who has just seen the Kinabalu giant red leech for the first time. Write a report of at least four sentences, using adjectives (describing words) to tell your reader what it is like and verbs (doing words) to tell your reader what it does.

Here are some examples:

• The Kinabalu giant red leech lives in Borneo.
• The Kinabalu giant red leech is bright in colour.
• The Kinabalu giant red leech eats ________.
• The Kinabalu giant red is very _______ in size.

Wider curriculum idea

Make an earth worm obstacle course at home. You could create obstacles using things like pillows and blankets. Then squirm on your tummy and see if you can get past the obstacles without using your hands or feet.