Eel Trap
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Approach:  Station
ACCESS
Level: Year 8
Focus: Investigating and evaluating design  
Resources:
Picture
frame 276Kb
Questions/instructions:  


Look at the picture of the eel.

Eels are a type of fish but they look a bit like a snake. They are slippery. They eat fish, bugs or meat. Eels live in rivers and streams.

1. Draw arrows to parts of the eel trap that make it a good eel trap.

2. Beside each of your arrows write how that part of the trap makes it a good eel trap.

[Click on graphics to enlarge.]
 
% responses
2008 ('04)
y8
Rope: (to hold trap in place)
identified and explained
49 (61)
not identified, but explained
2 (2)
identified (arrow drawn)
20 (16)
Funnel: (to let eel in but not out)
identified and mentioned trapping effect
31 (27)
not identified, but mentioned trapping effect
1 (2)
identifed and mentioned lets eels in
38 (44)
not identified, but mentioned lets eels in
4 (6)
identified only, no adequate explanation
10 (10)
Bait:
(to entice eel into trap)
identified and explained
74 (70)
not identified, but explained
3 (1)
identified (arrow drawn)
8 (10)
Netting:
(see or smell bait/keep eels inside/ allow water to flow through)
identified and explained
22 (22)
not identified, but explained
0 (0)
identified (arrow drawn)
5 (10)

Total score:
8–9
10 (10)
6–7
40 (49)
4–5
32 (27)
2–3
16 (12)
0–1
3 (2)
Subgroup Analysis [Click on charts to enlarge] :
Year 8
Commentary:
Most students had a basic understanding of how the eel trap worked and could explain some of the essential features of the trap. There were minimal gender differences in performance, nor much change from 2004 to 2008.

eel picture