Pitcher

Activity overview

Run the activity

This activity has been co-created with the Eden Project as part of Explorify’s collaboration with Science and Discovery Centres.

You will be zooming in and out of the image above – starting very close and stepping back slowly. 

1. Start by asking everyone: 

• What do they think the image is and why? 

• What does the image remind them of and why? 

2. Every time you zoom out, ask the class: 

• Can they describe the colours, shapes and textures? 

• What do they think the image is now – have they changed their minds? 

Background science

The picture shows a climbing, carnivorous pitcher plant; ‘pitcher’ being another name for a large jug.  The pitcher is actually a part of the leaf that grows to form this shape.  Inside the pitcher, there’s a sweet liquid (nectar) which is where the plant’s unfortunate victims drown.  The inside walls are slippery with it, making it all but impossible to escape. 

The outer walls and worm-like rim (or lip) of each pitcher produce the nectar that attracts insects, but it’s not only insects that have been caught by these traps.  Small rodents, birds, and amphibians have also been trapped, and ultimately digested, inside the pitchers.   

This type of plant (Nepenthaceae sp.) is native to the tropical forests of Borneo and Sumatra where they are known as Monkey Cups because monkeys are believed to drink water from them.  The plant in the picture can be found growing in the canopy of Eden’s Rainforest Biome.   

Watch out for...  

Some children may think that plants get their energy from the soil, through their roots, rather than by absorbing the Sun’s energy for photosynthesis.  Furthermore, they may think that a  carnivorous plant gets all its energy from the insects it traps.  In fact, carnivorous plants also photosynthesise and use the insects they catch to supplement the nutrients lacking in the soil where they grow.      

This does not need to be corrected during the session, but you can pick it up later. 

Take it further

Activities 

SAPS (Science & Plants for Schools) have produced guidance about how to grow carnivorous plants in the classroom and suggested some investigations.  

Eight examples of carnivorous plants are showcased here by National Geographic Kids. 

More information on the Highland tropical pitcher plant is provided on Eden’s website here. 

In this creative activity, children design and make their own carnivorous plant. 

Research further facts about carnivorous plants using this information provided on Eden’s site. 

If you are in the area, consider visiting Eden for an educational experience that will connect your pupils with nature in an immersive and unforgettable way.

Or you could take an exciting virtual tour of the Eden Project here.

Linked Explorify activities - our recommendations: 

Mission Survive  How does your garden grow?  Design a plant with adaptations for survival in a garden habitat. 

What’s Going On?  Venus flytrap  Sir David Attenborough describes how another carnivorous plant traps insects. 

What’s Going On?  Aliens shapes The huge and extremely stinky Titan arum flower is shown in all its glory. 

The Big Question  Why don’t all plants look the same?   Discuss the great variety of plants on Planet Earth.  

What’s Going On?  Sturdy pads   Another extraordinary leaf adaptation is demonstrated by these giant lily pads. 

Odd One Out  Types of leaves  Water lily leaves are compared with beech leaves and agave.  

Watch 

Here’s a video explaining how Venus flytraps and pitcher plants catch their prey.  

This longer film (10 mins) from Naturalist Outreach at Cornell gives a more in-depth yet accessible explanation of how these plants work. 

This film includes a dissection of a pitcher plant revealing a surprising number of partially-digested insects inside. 

Cross-curricular 

You could learn about rainforests through a geography-based topic.  Resources from ActionAid for the Amazonian rainforest can be found here.  NASA’s Earth Observatory provides further information about the two types of rainforest and their locations. 

Further reading

Five reasons to keep carnivorous plants in your classroom are suggested here.