Spiders
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Approach:  Station
ACCESS
Level: Year 4 and year 8
Focus: Making connections within and across text  
Resources:
Information card
FRAME 252Kb
Questions/instructions:  
Ana has been bitten by a spider. Read the information about two spiders that have dangerous bites.
Use the clues below and tick the boxes to show which spider or spiders fit each clue.

Redback Spider

spiderWhat they look like
Females have black bodies. There is a red stripe on their back which has a white edge around it.

Where they are found
Redbacks only live in Central Otago in the South Island and in New Plymouth in the North Island. They live around peoples’ houses because they like warmth.

Bites
It is rare to be bitten by a redback as they will only bite when they are disturbed or trapped in clothing. The bite feels like a sharp pin prick and may lead to redness and pain where the bite occurred. If you are bitten you MUST go to a doctor.

 

White-Tailed Spider

spiderWhat they look like
All white-tailed spiders are black with a white patch at the end of their abdomen.

Where they are found
White-Tailed spiders live in all parts of New Zealand. They mostly live around peoples’ houses and gardens.

Bites
The bite can be painful but the burning, swelling, redness and itchiness quickly goes away and there are no long lasting effects. Putting ice on the bite can make it feel better.

 
1.
Redback
2.
White-Tailed
3.
Redback & White-Tailed
The bite was painful      
Ana was sitting at her back door      
Ana lives in New Plymouth      
The spider had a black body with a white spot      
 


% responses
y4
y8
The bite was painful:
column 3 ticked OR both columns 1 and 2 ticked
29
46
Ana was sitting at her back door:
column 3 ticked OR both columns 1 and 2 ticked
23
54
Ana lives in New Plymouth:
column 3 ticked OR both columns 1 and 2 ticked
21
49
The spider had a black body with a white spot:
column 2 ticked
74
91
 
1. Which spider has bitten Ana?
White-Tailed
45
73
2. What should she do now?
put ice on the bite (to make it feel better)
33
67

Total score:
5–6
9
41
4
11
19
3
21
15
2
24
14
0–1
35
11
Subgroup Analysis [Click on charts to enlarge] :
Year 4
Year 8
Commentary:
It would have been better if the table which the students filled in was designed differently, either with column 3 (Redback and White-Tailed) omitted or with the word “only” added before the name of the spider in columns 1 and 2. Sixty percent of year 8 students and 20% of year 4 students scored more than half marks. Year 8 Pasifika students scored poorly compared to the other four subgroups.