Name ________________________________________

SEA SPONGES
Sea sponges live in the ocean. They do not have brains,
hearts, or blood. Sea sponges do not have heads, arms,
or legs either. They do not move around. There are
around 5,000 types of sea sponges. The smallest
are the size of a pea and the tallest are taller than
most people. Sponges can be shaped like barrels,
tubes, antlers, or rocks. Sponges are invertebrates
because they do not have backbones. Many sponges
have skeletons though to help them keep their unusual shapes.
Sponges spend almost all their lives in one place. A sponge attaches
itself to something hard when it is very young. Many sponges join
themselves to rocks, while others attach themselves to coral reefs.
Sponges cannot move around to get food. Water brings them all the
food they need instead. The water flows into openings called pores
in a sponge’s leathery skin. If flows through tunnels and over
parts of a sponge’s body. The soft parts take tiny microscopic
plants and animals from the water and feed on them. Sponges
taste and smell bad. Some have poison inside them. Most sea
animals stay away from sponges, but a few can eat them. Sponges
do not usually die when they are eaten. The bitten-off parts just
grow back instead. Sponges’ enemies include fish, sea slugs, snails,
and turtles. A sponge’s body has several large and small openings.
These holes and tunnels make good hiding places for some animals.
Some fish, crabs, and shrimps even use sponges as their homes.
Some of these animals go in and out, while others spend their whole
lives inside a sponge. A few kinds of crabs use sponges in a surprising
way. Some tear and snip off pieces of sponges and carry them on
their backs to help disguise them from their enemies. People
started using sponges over 4,000 years ago. They were taken out of
the sea and left out in the sun. The skin and soft parts rotted
away, leaving the squishy skeletons. Greeks and Romans used
sponges for washing and cleaning. Soldiers used them to pad their
helmets. Sponges are still used for washing and cleaning, but most
are not real sponge skeletons. They are made in factories, but are
like sea sponges with holes and tunnels that hold lots of water.
©Teaching to the Middle
Name ______________________________
MATCHING:
SEA SPONGES
Match each term with its description.

1. ____ water A. Some types tear off bits of sponges to hide

2. ____ brain B. Used sponges for washing and cleaning

3. ____ invertebrates C. Most sea sponges do not have this part

4. ____ skeletons D. Brings microscopic plants and animals to sponges

5. ____ pores E. Animals without backbones

6. ____ crabs F. Some sponges have this in them

7. ____ Greeks G. Openings in sea sponges

8. ____ poison H. Sea sponges have these that keep their shape

MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the best answer.

9. Which statement is true about sea sponges?

A. There are only a few types of sea sponges.
B. Sea sponges usually smell nice.
C. Sea sponges have a backbone that keeps them upright.
D. Sea sponges spend almost their entire lives in one location.

10. How do sea sponges get food?

A. They grab food that is passing by.
B. Microscopic plants and animals flow into the sponge.
C. They move around to find food on the sea floor.
D. Fish bring them microscopic plants and animals to eat.

11. Which statement about sponges is true today?

A. Most sea sponges are used in households today.
B. People no longer use sponges in daily life.
C. Sponges are usually man-made in factories today.
D. Sponges no longer live in the ocean.

12. What happens when a sea sponge is eaten?

A. They die immediately.
B. They slowly die.
C. They survive with the missing sections.
D. The bitten-off part usually grows back.
©Teaching to the Middle
Name ________________________________________

SEA SPONGES
Sea sponges live in the ocean. They do not have brains,
hearts, or blood. Sea sponges do not have heads, arms,
or legs either. They do not move around. There are
around 5,000 types of sea sponges. The smallest
are the size of a pea and the tallest are taller than
most people. Sponges can be shaped like barrels,
tubes, antlers, or rocks. Sponges are invertebrates
because they do not have backbones. Many sponges
have skeletons though to help them keep their unusual shapes.
Sponges spend almost all their lives in one place. A sponge attaches
itself to something hard when it is very young. Many sponges join
themselves to rocks, while others attach themselves to coral reefs.
Sponges cannot move around to get food. Water brings them all the
food they need instead. The water flows into openings called pores
in a sponge’s leathery skin. If flows through tunnels and over
parts of a sponge’s body. The soft parts take tiny microscopic
plants and animals from the water and feed on them. Sponges
taste and smell bad. Some have poison inside them. Most sea
animals stay away from sponges, but a few can eat them. Sponges
do not usually die when they are eaten. The bitten-off parts just
grow back instead. Sponges’ enemies include fish, sea slugs, snails,
and turtles. A sponge’s body has several large and small openings.
These holes and tunnels make good hiding places for some animals.
Some fish, crabs, and shrimps even use sponges as their homes.
Some of these animals go in and out, while others spend their whole
lives inside a sponge. A few kinds of crabs use sponges in a surprising
way. Some tear and snip off pieces of sponges and carry them on
their backs to help disguise them from their enemies. People
started using sponges over 4,000 years ago. They were taken out of
the sea and left out in the sun. The skin and soft parts rotted
away, leaving the squishy skeletons. Greeks and Romans used
sponges for washing and cleaning. Soldiers used them to pad their
helmets. Sponges are still used for washing and cleaning, but most
are not real sponge skeletons. They are made in factories, but are
like sea sponges with holes and tunnels that hold lots of water.
©Teaching to the Middle
Name ______________________________
MATCHING:
SEA SPONGES
Match each term with its description.

1. ____ water A. Some types tear off bits of sponges to hide

2. ____ brain B. Used sponges for washing and cleaning

3. ____ invertebrates C. Most sea sponges do not have this part

4. ____ skeletons D. Brings microscopic plants and animals to sponges

5. ____ pores E. Animals without backbones

6. ____ crabs F. Some sponges have this in them

7. ____ Greeks G. Openings in sea sponges

8. ____ poison H. Sea sponges have these that keep their shape

MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the best answer.

9. Which statement is true about sea sponges?

A. There are only a few types of sea sponges.
B. Sea sponges usually smell nice.
C. Sea sponges have a backbone that keeps them upright.
D. Sea sponges spend almost their entire lives in one location.

10. How do sea sponges get food?

A. They grab food that is passing by.
B. Microscopic plants and animals flow into the sponge.
C. They move around to find food on the sea floor.
D. Fish bring them microscopic plants and animals to eat.

11. Which statement about sponges is true today?

A. Most sea sponges are used in households today.
B. People no longer use sponges in daily life.
C. Sponges are usually man-made in factories today.
D. Sponges no longer live in the ocean.

12. What happens when a sea sponge is eaten?

A. They die immediately.
B. They slowly die.
C. They survive with the missing sections.
D. The bitten-off part usually grows back.
©Teaching to the Middle
Name ________KEY______________________
MATCHING:
SEA SPONGES
Match each term with its description.

1. __D__ water A. Some types tear off bits of sponges to hide

2. __C__ brain B. Used sponges for washing and cleaning

3. __E_ invertebrates C. Most sea sponges do not have this part

4. __H__ skeletons D. Brings microscopic plants and animals to sponges

5. __G__ pores E. Animals without backbones

6. _A___ crabs F. Some sponges have this in them

7. __B__ Greeks G. Openings in sea sponges

8. __F__ poison H. Sea sponges have these that keep their shape

MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the best answer.

9. Which statement is true about sea sponges?

A. There are only a few types of sea sponges.
B. Sea sponges usually smell nice.
C. Sea sponges have a backbone that keeps them upright.
D. Sea sponges spend almost their entire lives in one location.

10. How do sea sponges get food?

A. They grab food that is passing by.
B. Microscopic plants and animals flow into the sponge.
C. They move around to find food on the sea floor.
D. Fish bring them microscopic plants and animals to eat.

11. Which statement about sponges is true today?

A. Most sea sponges are used in households today.
B. People no longer use sponges in daily life.
C. Sponges are usually man-made in factories today.
D. Sponges no longer live in the ocean.

12. What happens when a sea sponge is eaten?

A. They die immediately.
B. They slowly die.
C. They survive with the missing sections.
D. The bitten-off part usually grows back.
©Teaching to the Middle