Swimathon
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Approach: Independent Level: Year 4 and year 8
Focus: Using a distance key
Resources: Map, ruler
248Kb
Questions/instructions:

Click on map to enlarge.

A school is planning a swimathon where children are going to swim across Lake Rotoroa.

They want to find the narrowest place to cross.







 
% responses
2007 ('03)
y4
y8
1. Find the red and blue points that mark the shortest place to cross.    
 
D to 3
21 (30)
44 (54)
2. How far is it to swim across the lake at these points?  
 
30m
3 (7)
23 (33)
29m – 31m
0 (1)
0 (1)
about 3cm
2 (1)
2 (1)
other response correct for answer
given in question 1 (in metres)
9 (6)
20 (11)

Total score:
2
4 (5)
29 (32)
1
17 (27)
29 (23)
0
79 (68)
42 (45)
Subgroup Analysis [Click on charts to enlarge] :
Year 4


Year 8


Commentary:
This task involved using a ruler and a distance key to measure distances on a map and find thez shortest route. Very few students at either year 4 or year 8 were able to complete this task, although year 8 students showed improvement over year 4 students. Year 4 students did less well in 2007 than in 2003. Year 8 boys scored a little higher than year 8 girls. Year 8 Pakeha students scored a little higher than year 8 Mäori and Pasifika students.