Platypus
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Approach:  Station
ACCESS
Level: Year 4 and year 8
Focus: Finding information in a reference text  
Resources:
Information card, answer booklet
176Kb
Questions/instructions:  


1. Look at the information about the platypus.
It comes from the World Book Encyclopaedia.
Platypus is a mammal that reproduces by laying eggs. Platypuses are often called duckbills because they have a wide, flat, hairless snout like a duck’s bill.

Platypuses live along streams in Australia. They have webbed feet and a wide, flat tail that helps them swim. The platypus has claws on its front and back feet.

The platypus uses its bill to scoop up worms, small shellfish, and other animals from the bottom of streams. They crush their food with horny pads at the back of their jaws. They have a thick coat of brown fur.

Platypuses live in burrows that they dig in the banks of streams.Except for female platypuses with their young, each animal lives in its own burrow. During the breeding season, the female platypus builds a nest of leaves and grass at the end of her burrow. Before laying her eggs, she blocks the entrances to the burrow with dirt. Female platypuses lay from one to three eggs at a time. Platypus eggs hatch after about 10 days. Young platypuses stay in their mother’s burrow for about four months and feed on their mother’s milk.



% responses
2009 ('05)
y4
y8
2. Use the information to fill out a story map with facts about the platypus.    
platypus Information given:

A platypus...		    
is …
a mammal
82 (77)
92 (87)
has …
 a wide, flat, hairless snout:    
 
yes
7 (9)
18 (13)
yes, mentions “snout” plus one or two of “wide”, “flat”, “hairless”
14 (8)
26 (25)
has …
webbed feet
39 (43)
52 (50)
a wide, flat tail
29 (32)
42 (35)
claws
23 (20)
45 (34)
thick brown hair [fur]
16 (21)
21 (23)
lives …
in Australia
51 (56)
50 (60)
along streams
62 (56)
74 (75)
in burrows
48 (48)
68 (60)
lays ...
eggs
93 (94)
93 (94)
eats...
by crushing food with horny
pads at the back of their jaws
13 (15)
41 (32)

Total score:
10–12
2 (1)
11 (11)
8–9
8 (8)
20 (15)
6–7
30 (27)
35 (40)
4–5
36 (40)
25 (25)
0–3
25 (25)
8 (9)
Subgroup Analysis [Click on charts to enlarge] :
Year 4
Year 8
Commentary:
Most children got the basics of this task involving a story map, but many were not particularly effective at elaboration on the basic approach. Girls slightly outperformed boys. There was modest improvement from year 4 to year 8; performance levels were similar in 2005 and 2009.