:Oh Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat!
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Approach: Independent  Level: Year 4 and year 8
Focus: Identifying and linking relevant information
Resources: Highlighter
1.6MB

   
Questions / instructions:
Imagine your cat has gone missing.
You are really upset.
Your Mum says you can put an ad in the paper. Mum will have to pay for each word in the ad, so you can only use up to 20 words.
 
% responses
2005 ('01)
Y4
Y8
1. Use the highlighter to mark what you think needs to be in the ad.
 
Hissy is pretty
27
20
My sister got Hissy for her birthday
22
6
She is black with white paws
88
92
She has a really loud purr
62
40
She pricks up her ears when you say “Hissy”
43
52
She loves fish and chicken
43
27
She sleeps on my bed
21
4
I think she is nicer than our neighbour’s cat
18
3
Hissy has a bell on her collar to warn the birds
63
68
Hissy isn’t afraid of dogs
39
24
I’ve never seen her eat a mouse
18
4
Not all cats are friendly
19
4
2. Write an ad for the paper. You can use up to 20 words.
    [Only considered what was written in the first 20 words]
Describes Hissy:
(black with white paws; pricks up ears when name called; bell on collar)
3 or more pertinent parts of description
16
24
1-2 pertinent parts of the description
57
54
any other response
27
22
Provides contact details:
well
6
14
 
some
3
6
none
91
80
Total score:
7–8
1
2
 
5–6
17
30
4
22
25
3
19
23
2
15
10
0–1
26
10

Commentary:
Year 8 students were more strategic than year 4 students in identifying the most useful information for an advertisement for a lost cat. Few students at either year level wrote a very appropriate ad within the listed constraint of 20 words.
 
Chapter Graphic
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