Kiwi and Kea
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Approach: One to one Level: Year 4 and year 8
Focus: Adaptation differences between two New Zealand birds
Resources: Picture A (kiwi), picture B (kea)
436Kb
Questions/instructions:  
 

In this activity you will be looking at two New Zealand birds.

Look at the pictures of the kiwi and the kea.

Hand out pictures.
A (kiwi) B (kea)
Click on graphics to enlarge.
Illustrations, with thanks, from: © Gunson, D. (illus.) Crowe, A. (2001). Which New Zealand Bird?; Auckland: Penguin Books NZ.
   
% responses
2007 ('03)
   
y4
y8
1. Tell me how their feathers are different.
 
different colours
59 (62)
47 (55)
different textures
37 (33)
40 (46)
different sizes/shapes
45 (46)
68 (74)
2. What does the kiwi use its feathers for?
 
weather protection (warmth, keeping dry)
66 (61)
79 (76)
camouflage
19 (24)
24 (30)
3. What does the kea use its feathers for?
 
weather protection (warmth, keeping dry)
37 (30)
48 (42)
camouflage
9 (8)
15 (23)
flight
76 (82)
77 (76)
Now look at the beaks of the two birds. Allow time.

4. What kind of food would the kiwi’s beak help it to get?
5. How could the kiwi’s beak help it to get that kind of food?
    
 
listed types of food or locations of food that the kiwi’s beak is particularly suitable to get
53 (48)
76 (72)
explained accurately why the kiwi’s beak is particularly suitable for some types of food
62 (61)
76 (83)
6. What kind of food would the kea’s beak help it to get?
7. How could the kea’s beak help it to get that kind of food?

listed types of food or locations of food that the kea’s beak is particularly suitable to get
14 (16)
29 (30)
explained accurately why the kea’s beak is articularly suitable for some types of food
29 (31)
47 (42)
Look at the feet of the two birds.Allow time.

8. Why are the kiwi’s and kea’s feet different from each other?
   
 
kiwi’s feet good for walking/balancing on ground
52 (61)
83 (87)
kea’s feet good for holding onto perches/branches
59 (59)
82 (86)

Total score:
10–14
8 (8)
24 (17)
8–9
20 (23)
33 (53)
6–7
35 (25)
29 (25)
4–5
24 (31)
12 (3)
0–3
13 (13)
2 (2)
Subgroup Analysis [Click on charts to enlarge] :
Year 4
Year 8
Commentary:
This task showed strong progress from year 4 to year 8. There was a particularly large performance difference between year 4 Pakeha and Pasifika students.