Spiderwick Field Guide

Grades
37

Library Lessons
by | Lynne Farrell Stover

Arthur Spiderwicks Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You

Accurately Restored and Described by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
Introduction
This companion book to The Spiderwick Chronicles appears to be inspired
by the impressive scientific notations concerning The Invisible World left
behind by the Grace childrens uncle, the naturalist Arthur Spiderwick.
Parchment-like pages contain incredible illustrations and hand-written text
detailing the characteristics of brownies, boggarts, banshees, and other
magical beings.
Note: It is not necessary for students to be familiar with this book or
The Spiderwick Chronicles to successfully participate in these activities.
Students who are interested in Arthur Spiderwicks Field Guide to the
Fantastical World Around You may also enjoy other series companion books:
The Beatrice Letters by Lemony Snicket. HarperCollins, 2006.
Care and Feeding of Sprites by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. Simon & Schuster, 2006.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander; special edition with a foreword by
Albus Dumbledore. (J. K. Rowling) Arthur A. Levine Books, 2001.
Lyras Oxford by Philip Pullman. Knopf, 2003.
Quidditch through the Ages by Kennilworthy Whisp; forward by Albus Dumbledore (J. K.
Rowling) Arthur A. Levine Books, 2001.
The Redwall Cookbook by Brian Jacques. Philomel Books, 2005.
Warriors Field Guide: Secrets of the Clans by Erin Hunter. HarperCollins, 2007.

Lesson 1: Creating a
Classroom Field Guide
From Audubons Birds of America to the Internets
www.enature.com, field guides are a much-valued
reference tool. Using Arthur Spiderwicks Field Guide
to the Fantastical World Around You as a model, students can create a unique classroom field guide of
their own.

Suggested Grade Level: 47

Time Required: 3540 minutes

Objectives:
The student will be introduced to various
field guides.
The students will collaboratively write a field
guide based on imaginary creatures.
Materials:
A Field Guide to Our Fantastical School:
Table of Contents visual
A Field Guide to Our Fantastical School:
Sample Page visual
A Field Guide to Our Fantastical School
activity sheets
writing tools
markers and/or colored pencils
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Library Lessons
various examples of field guides from the
librarys collection
a copy of Arthur Spiderwicks Field Guide to
the Fantastical World Around You
Procedure:
1. Prepare and collect materials prior to class.
2. Introduce the students to sample field guides
defining them as reference books providing
the reader with descriptions and illustrations
of plants or animals found in nature.
3. Show the students a copy of Arthur
Spiderwicks Field Guide to the Fantastical World
Around You. Explain that the authors created
it as a companion book to The Spiderwick
Chronicles, and while it is a field guide it is
based on imaginary creatures.
4. Display the books table of contents and note
that the authors gave the creatures scientific-sounding Latin family classifications.
Tell the students that the Latin suffix idae
is used to denote a family of animals in the
recognized codes of classification. Examples
include Felidae for the cat family and
Canidae for the dog family.
5. Ask the students why they think the authors
gave Latin classifications to imaginary creatures. Possible answers include, They wanted
the creatures to sound real, and It makes
Arthur Spiderwick sound like a scientist.
6. Inform the students they will be creating
a classroom field guide based on invisible
creatures that may inhabit the school.
7. Display the visual A Field Guide to Our
Fantastic School: Table of Contents. Quickly
review the contents with the students
explaining that it is similar to the table of
contents found in Arthur Spiderwicks Field
Guide to the Fantastical World Around You.
8. Display the visual A Field Guide to Our
Fantastic School: Sample Page. Review it with
the students.
9. Redisplay A Field Guide to Our Fantastic
School: Table of Contents. Allow the students
to pick one of the creatures listed for the creation of their own field guide page. Students
may work in pairs or small groups. Keep this
visual displayed for student reference.
10. Distribute the activity sheets, writing tools,
and markers.

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11. Encourage students to be creative. If students

are unable to complete the activity sheet in
the allocated class period they may finish it as
a homework assignment.
12. Collect completed activity sheets to be
assembled in a class book. Ask for volunteers
to create additional artwork such as a front
and back cover. Other volunteers may wish
to write a new table of contents, dedication
page, and foreword.
13. Place completed class book in a prominent
place to be viewed and enjoyed by others.

McREL Standards

Writing
Uses the general skills and strategies of the
writing process
Gathers and uses information for research
purposes
Reading
Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational
texts

Lesson 2: Real or Imaginary?

In the first sentence of the foreword to Arthur
Spiderwicks Field Guide to the Fantastical World
Around You Tony DiTerlizzi asks the question
What is Real? He continues this query by stating
that just because something cannot be seen does
not make impossible to exist. This interesting
concept is worth further study.
Suggested Grade Level: 36
Time Required: 2025 minutes
Objectives:
The student will be able to identify a factual
statement.
The student will determine the difference
between imaginary and real creatures.
Materials:
Real or Imaginary? visual
Real or Imaginary? activity sheet
writing tools
various examples of field guides from the
librarys collection
a copy of Arthur Spiderwicks Field Guide to the
Fantastical World Around You

Library Lessons
Procedure:
1. Prepare materials prior to class.
2. Introduce the lesson by asking the students if
they know the differences between dragons and
lizards. They may mention size, habits, and
diet. When the response addresses the fact that
one is imaginary and the other real, display the
foldout dragon illustration on pages 9394 in
Arthur Spiderwicks Field Guide to the Fantastical
World Around You. You may also want to show
an example of an illustration of a lizard in either
a field guide or an encyclopedia.
3. Display the Real or Imaginary? visual. Review
and discuss the content with the students.
4. Distribute copies of the activity sheet. Students
may work independently or in pairs. Encourage
students to work quickly. The fun in this activity is that you cannot always tell if a creature is
real or imaginary by its name.
5. Check for understanding.
Real or Imaginary? Answers:
1. Abominable Snowman Imaginary
2. Blobfish Real
3. Cheetah Real
4. Duck-billed Platypus Real
5. Elf Imaginary
6. Faun Imaginary (not to be confused with fawn,
which is real)
7. Gila Monster Real
8. Hippogriff Imaginary
9. Imp Imaginary
10. Jackalope Imaginary
11. Koala Bear Real
12. Leafy Sea Dragon Real
13. Manticore Imaginary
14. Norwegian Ridgeback Imaginary
15. Ogre Imaginary
16. Pink Fairy Armadillo Real
17. Quokka Real
18. Rhinoceros Real
19. Star-nosed Mole Real
20. Tasmanian Devil Real
21. Unicorn Imaginary
22. Vampire Bat Real
23. Werewolf Imaginary
24. Xantus Real
25. Yeti Crab Real
26. Zombie Imaginary

Extension Activities:
Students who enjoyed this activity may like to:
Choose two creatures from the activity sheet
and write five facts about each.
Create a Real or Imaginary list of their own.
Illustrate several creatures found on the list.

McREL Standards

Reading
Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational
texts

Lesson 3: Arthurs Anagrams

In The Ironwood Tree, book four of the Spiderwick
Chronicles, Simon Grace uses the letters in words
to help solve a puzzle so that he can save his sister. When he sees the words SEEM TO TRICK
HEN TOOK PEN engraved above a door, he
quickly recognizes this is an anagram, a word or
phrase that is made by rearranging the letters of
another word or phrase. He rearranges the letters to read, KNOCK THREE TIMES TO OPEN.
What if Jareds uncle Arthur Spiderwick had been
a fan of anagrams? It could be that his field guide
concerning the invisible world may not have
been totally truthful. After all, an anagram for
FIELD GUIDE is FUDGE, I LIED!
Suggested Grade Level: 36
Time Required: 1520 minutes
Objectives:
The student will be introduced to anagrams
and participate in a decoding activity.
Materials:
Arthurs Anagrams activity sheet
writing tools
optional copy of Arthur Spiderwicks Field
Guide to the Fantastical World Around You
Procedure:
1. Prepare activity sheets before class.
2. Exhibit a copy of the book, Arthur Spiderwicks
Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You,
if available. Show the students the table of contents listing the various creatures featured in the
book.

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Library Lessons

3. Define an anagram as a word or phrase that is

created by rearing the letters of another word.
Explain that it may be difficult to take the information in this book seriously because an anagram for FIELD GUIDE is FUDGE, I LIED!
4. Distribute the activity sheets. Students may
work individually or in pairs.
5. Check for understanding.

McREL Standards

Writing
Uses the general skills and strategies of the
writing process
Benchmark 1. Knows that writing, including
pictures, letters, and words,
communicates meaning and information

Answers to Arthurs Anagrams

1) Banshees
E. Base Hens
2) Brownies
K. Born Wise
3) Changelings
G. Chasing Glen
4) Gargoyles
J. Real Soggy
5) Giants
A. A Sting
6) Goblins
M. Glib Son
7) Hobgoblins
H. Longish Bob
8) Kelpies
C. Skip Lee
9) Leprechauns
B. Seal Puncher
10) Manticores
D. Star Income
11) Phoenixes
N. Ex Phonies
12) Salamanders
I. Near Mad Lass
13) Sprites
F. Press It
14) Unicorns
K. Coins Run

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Lynne Farrell Stover has over thirty years of experience

as an educator and is currently a Teacher Consultant at
James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She
has taught many teacher workshops and won Teacher of
the Year in 1999 from the Virginia Council of Economic
Education and from the Virginia Association for the Gifted.
She is the author of Magical Library Lessons, More Magical
Library Lessons, Magical Library Lessons: Holiday Happenings,
and From Snicket to Shakespeare from UpstartBooks.

A Field Guide to Our Fantastical School

Table of Contents
In the Library
Book Worms (Verolibridae)
Libearies (Fertomeidae)
Resorcerers (Lamiascriptoridae)
Shelf Elves (Tabulabrevisidae)

In the Gym and Locker Room

Jinx Imps (Nonbeneficiumidae)
Locker Jammers (Cellaexcludoidae)
Point Pixies (Discrimenfortunoidae)
Sneaker Sniffers (Sandalonodororidae)

In the Cafeteria
Bad Breath Boggarts (Malusrespiroidae)
Lunch Lurkers (Substantiaperciperidae)
Melters (Tabescoidae)
Mushers (Mansuetusidae)

In the Computer Lab

Key Clumpers (Lapstrubidae)
Mouse Movers (Murisadboidae)
Screen Freezers (Pannusfrigusidae)
Techno Trolls (Ingeiumonstrumidae)

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A Field Guide to Our Fantastical School

Sample Page
Creature Name: Key Clumpers
Family: Lapstrubidae
Habitat: A computer lab, where many different people use computers throughout the day, is where Key Clumpers like to live.
Diet: Key Clumpers enjoy the crumbs from cookies and the sticky
residue from spilled drinks. They find these in abundance at computer stations where people eat snacks.
Behavior: Key Clumpers like to make the keys on a computer
keyboard stick together and act in an unpredictable manner. They
delight in misspelled words and appreciate causing mistakes.
Physical Appearance: Key Clumpers change in appearance.
When two keys on a keyboard are stuck together they resemble
those two keys. A full-grown Key Clumper will eventually look
like an entire keyboard.

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Name(s): ______________________________________________
Date: ____________________

A Field Guide to Our Fantastical School

Creature Name:

Family:

Habitat:

Diet:

Behavior:

Physical Appearance:

Illustration:

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Real or Imaginary?
A fact is anything that can be checked out or verified to be true.
A factual statement can be proven true with research by using books, the Internet, interviews
and observation. Be aware that factual statements can be made about imaginary things.
FOR EXAMPLE:

The Leopard A Real Animal

Five Facts
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

A leopard is a member of the cat family with spotted fur.

Male leopards weigh between 70 and 200 pounds; females are smaller.
Leopards are good swimmers.
Leopards can live up to 20 years.
Leopards are protected in parts of Asia and Africa.

The Leprechaun - An Imaginary Creature

Five Facts
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

The leprechaun is an elf-like fictional character found in Irish folklore.

A leprechaun is thought to have magical powers.
Leprechauns are often pictured dressed in green.
It is believed that leprechauns know where pots of gold are hidden.
It is said that leprechauns are shoemakers by trade.

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Real or Imaginary?
Directions: Quickly read the list of creatures and circle
whether you think they are real or imaginary.

1. Abominable Snowman
2. Blobfish
3. Cheetah
4. Duck-billed Platypus
5. Elf
6. Faun
7. Gila Monster
8. Hippogriff
9. Imp
10. Jackalope
11. Koala Bear
12. Leafy Sea Dragon
13. Manticore
14. Norwegian Ridgeback
15. Ogre
16. Pink Fairy Armadillo
17. Quokka
18. Rhinoceros
19. Star-nosed Mole
20. Tasmanian Devil
21. Unicorn
22. Vampire Bat
23. Werewolf
24. Xantus
25. Yeti Crab
26. Zombie

REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL
REAL

IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY
IMAGINARY

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Arthurs Anagrams
An anagram is a word or phrase that is made by rearranging the letters of another word or
phrase. Match the anagram to the correct imaginary creature found in Arthur Spiderwicks Field
Guide to the Fantastical World Around You.

_____ 1. Banshees

A. A Sting

_____ 2. Brownies

B. Seal Puncher

_____ 3. Changelings

C. Skip Lee

_____ 4. Gargoyles

D. Star Income

_____ 5. Giants

E. Base Hens

_____ 6. Goblins

F. Press It

_____ 7. Hobgoblins

G. Chasing Glen

_____ 8. Kelpies

H. Longish Bob

_____ 9. Leprechauns

I. Near Mad Lass

_____ 10. Manticores

J. Real Soggy

_____ 11. Phoenixes

K. Coins Run

_____ 12. Salamanders

L. Born Wise

_____ 13. Sprites

M. Glib Son

_____ 14. Unicorns

N. Ex Phonies

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