Talented Animals

Part 1
Ask questions and make predictions
Part 2
Plan and investigate
Part 3
Record and analyse data
Part 4
Evaluate the information
Part 5
Communicate and share ideas

Information for Teachers

Curriculum links

Australian Science Standards

BS (ACSSU73) Living things depend on each other and the environment to survive

GS (ACHASSK088) The importance of environments, including natural vegetation, to animals and people

New Zealand Science Achievement Objectives

LW: The key structural features and functions involved in the life processes of plants and animals

 

Helpful websites

You may want to direct your students to some or all of these websites to help with their investigations.

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com

http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/birds

http://www.paulnoll.com/Oregon/Birds/Avian-senses.html

Students can use words like these in doing their search:

longest+jumping+animals

fastest+flying+birds

How to search the internet

1 Keep your request short

Fewer words will give a more accurate search.

2 Choose exactly what you want

For example: Arctic Circle Climate

3 Use quotes

Double quotes around a set of words tell the search engine to consider those exact words in that exact order without any change. For example: “Arctic Circle Climate”

4 Use the plus sign (+)

If you add a plus sign (+) between words, the internet will search for all the words. For example: migrate+birds+whales+mammal

5 Use the minus sign (–) to say what you don’t want

Use a minus sign (–) to show words you do not want to appear in your results. For example: if you search for burrowing animals and do not want mammals in your search,  –mammals will exclude mammals. Note that you need to put a space before the minus sign for the word to be excluded.

6 Be very clear about what you don’t want

Part 1
Ask questions and make predictions

After reading Talented Animals, you may have many questions about the ways animals move, their special senses, how their bodies help them live, and how they use tools.

List your questions

  • Compare your list with questions that others have.
  • Choose a question you would like to investigate.
  • You can work alone, with a partner, or in a small group.

You may want to choose one or more of these questions to investigate

Q1. Investigate the beaks of different birds. Find out about their size, shape, and what the birds use them for.

Q2. Compare the fastest runners or the longest jumpers or the fastest fliers or swimmers. How are these animals able to move so quickly and how does it help them?

Q3. Which animals have the most amazing senses? How do they use that sense? What amazes you about that?

Go to Part 2 Plan and investigate →