LOWER PRIMARY
AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS
RIC-0279 4.0/183
Published by R.I.C. Publications
http://www.ricgroup.com.au
rali Aust an i n A mals
Foreword
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Teac he r
Australian Animals is a series of three blackline masters published to foster and develop interest in Australian fauna through a framework of language development. These activities provide an ideal opportunity to introduce a high-interest topic as part of your language program. Skills introduced and covered include: • oral reading • comprehension • research • silent reading • reporting • semantic grids • word study • key words • main idea • sequencing • brainstorming • interpretation • organisation of facts • retrieval of information • three-level questioning/prior knowledge/comparisons A variety of common and some not so common Australian animals are covered with comprehension text, comprehension questions at three levels and a wide variety of language activities to develop knowledge of Australian animals and language skills. Detailed teacher information is provided.
1
Brainstorm
24-25 Platypus
2
Before and After Chart
26-27 Wombat
3
Think Sheet
28-29 Gecko
iii
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30-31 Budgerigar
4-5
Australian Animals
6-7
Marsupials
8-9
Nocturnal Animals
10-11 Kangaroo 1 12-13 Kangaroo 2 14-15 Emu 1
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iv
Contents © R. I . C.P ubl i cat i ons 20-21 Koala Teacher Information • f o r r e v i e w p u r posesonl y• 22-23 Echidna Clip Art/Cover sheet
o c . che e r o t r s super 32
Australian Animals Semantic Grid
33
Australian Animal Report
34
Australian Animal Word Sleuth
35
Answers
16-19 Emu 2
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rali Aust an i n A mals
Teacher Information rali Aust an Animals
Before the Activity
Think Sheet tralian Aus imals An
Brainstorm What do Title
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
•
Before and After Chart
Page 2
Body Parts
Think Sheet
Page 3
animal eats:
like to find
out about this
Where I think this
animal lives:
What I wou ld like
to know abou t this animal:
animal?
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R.I.C. Publica tions
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tions R.I.C. Publica
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Teac he r
ld you things wou What other
What I think this
Before Reading
Page 1
animal looks like:
p. for each grou
What I know about
Brainstorm
e a heading are alike. Mak things that Group the Body Parts. For example;
Before and After Chart
•
•
What I think this
After reading
To help make maximum use from each animal study, generic activities have been provided that can be used with all activities. These activities are:
Australian Animals
Title
? t you know abou
These three language strategies can be used to introduce the topic and have children focus on what they know and what they would like to know using strategies that are essential tools for future learning. It is suggested that one of these be used to precede each animal study.
Nocturnal Anim als
The Animal Studies
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• 1.
b) look animals night.
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Nocturnal at food for
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Find and circle 10 Australian nocturnal animal s in the word shape. lk ow
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Additional language activities are provided that will give variety to the study of the animal.
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s. ces to their ending ings of the senten Match the beginn water at night. • look for food and • (a) Bilbies and owls of smell. • and a strong sense • s R.I.C. animals. (b) Nocturnal animal ns nocturnalPublicatio • are Australian • hearing good (c) They have of the sleep or keep out s animal • • these (d) During the day sun.
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Questions at three levels are given to provide practice and consolidation of comprehension skills.
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During the day these are active at night. s are animals that sun goes down many Nocturnal animal the sun. When the for food and keep away from c) eyes dark. have animals sleep or They begin to look They see to the large start to move about. in of these animals eyes water. s have very large Many nocturnal animal dark. They also have in the smell to help them see of and a strong sense ss. very good hearing darkne the in their way 2. Find a word to help them find in the story that means: lian animals are owls,a) opposi te of friends Some nocturnal Austra These and the cuscus. very possums, bats, bilbies nal because of the b) to be active at night animals may be noctur of Australia. For parts some in hot climate to c) the weath darkness also helps er many animals the their enemies. protect them from
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Nocturnal Animals
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Text is provided to give a general description of the physical characteristics and behaviours of a specific animal. This information can be supplemented by existing school resources.
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Australian Animals
Unjumble these sentences. are Australian noctur nal. animals Many
a)
9
nal? animals are noctur
8
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After the Animal Study
As a method of revision, evaluation or further study, two generic activities are provided: •
Australian Animal Semantic Grid
Page 32
Australia
n Anim
rt Australian Animals
Page 33
is it foun
Drawin g of you
r animal.
its you
ng:
Eats insects
About
Digs a burrow
How it
moves:
eats:
looks like
R.I.C. Publ ications
What it
can do:
Platypus
Native Budgerigar
Emu
What it
Gecko
Wombat
Kangaroo
Koala
What it
Echidna
Put a ✓ or ✘ in the boxes
for each animal.
Sema Australian Animals
Eats grass
ntic Grid
Lays eggs
d?
Found only in Australia
Australian Animal Report
Where
Is Is a marsupial nocturnal
•
al Repo
Has fur
tralian Aus mal s Ani
Title:
:
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rali Aust an Animals
Australian Animals
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Name
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Brainstorm
rali Aust an i n A mals
?
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
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Teac he r
What do you know about
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• Group the things that are alike. Make a heading for each group. For example; Body Parts.
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Body Parts
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What other things would you like to find out about this animal?
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After reading
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Teac he r
rali Aust an i n A mals
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
Before Reading
What I know about
Before and After Chart
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o c . che e r o t r s super
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Think Sheet
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Title
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
What I think this animal eats:
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Teac he r
What I think this animal looks like:
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Where I think this animal lives:
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o c . che What I would like tor e oknow about this animal: r st super
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Australian Animals
rali Aust an i n A mals
Some Australian animals are marsupials. Marsupials are animals that have a pouch for their young. Two of these animals are the kangaroo and the koala. There are many other Australian animals that are marsupials.
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
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Teac he r
Australia is a very big country. In Australia there are many different animals. Many of these animals can only be found in Australia.
Australia also has many interesting birds. One well-known bird is the emu. It is a large bird that cannot fly. Other Australian birds are the black swan, the galah and the kookaburra.
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Australia has many lizards and snakes. Many of these snakes are poisonous, such as the king brown snake. Some Australian goannas are very large and can run very fast.
3.
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2.
What are marsupials?
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. teor no. o Answer yes c . c e r a) The emu can'th fly. er o t s super What is your favourite Australian bird?
b) All Australian lizards and snakes are poisonous. c)
Marsupials have a pouch.
d) The black swan is a marsupial. On the back of this page, draw and name your favourite Australian marsupial and Australian bird. R.I.C. Publications
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Australian Animals 1.
rali Aust an i n A mals
Put these words into alphabetical order. Australia
marsupial
lizard
koala
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
2.
What am I? Draw me.
b)
a)
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Teac he r
goanna
I have strong back legs. I can leap high.
I have a large tail. I am a
.
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons o rr ev i ew pur posesonl y• I• amf small and furry. I sleep in trees.
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3.
.
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I like to eat gum leaves.
. te o k o o k a b. u r c kookaburra echidna c e her o x p st kangaroo dingo ao rrr o t s r u wombat koala pei n g o z p a d Find the 14 Australian animals in the word sleuth.
emu galah possum numbat
parrot swan goanna brolga
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Marsupials
rali Aust an i n A mals
Australia has more marsupials than any other part of the world. Marsupials make up a special group of mammals. Marsupials are different to other mammals. They give birth to very small babies. The baby will wiggle its way to the mother's pouch. Here it stays for many months drinking its mother's milk and growing.
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
Australia has a lot of marsupials. Some of these are the kangaroo, koala, bandicoot, possum and Tasmanian devil.
List three important things that marsupials have in common. • •
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•
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2.
Fill in the missing words from the story. a)
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Marsupials are a special group of
b) A marsupial. c)
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1.
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Teac he r
As the baby gets older it sometimes leaves the pouch, always staying close to its mother in case of danger. When it leaves the pouch, it will grow to full size by eating the same food as its parents.
o c . che e r o t r s s uper has more
.
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marsupials than any other country. 3.
Why do you think a pouch is so important to a marsupial?
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Marsupials
rali Aust an i n A mals
1. Unjumble these sentences.
b)
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Teac he r
mammals. different other to Marsupials are
c)
lot marsupials. Australia a of has
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a)
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons 2. Putp these marsupials ino alphabetical •f orr evi ew ur poses nl y•order. possum
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koala wombat
. te kangaroo
bandicoot
3.
o c . che e r o t r s super Colour these animals. Circle the marsupials.
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Nocturnal Animals
rali Aust an i n A mals
Nocturnal animals are animals that are active at night. During the day these animals sleep or keep away from the sun. When the sun goes down many of these animals start to move about. They begin to look for food and water.
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S Some nocturnal Australian animals are owls,
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons What do nocturnal animals do at night? •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•
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2.
possums, bats, bilbies and the cuscus. These animals may be nocturnal because of the very hot climate in some parts of Australia. For many animals the darkness also helps to protect them from their enemies.
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1.
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Teac he r
Many nocturnal animals have very large eyes to help them see in the dark. They also have very good hearing and a strong sense of smell to help them find their way in the darkness.
Match the beginnings of the sentences to their endings.
• • look for food and water at night. . te o c (b) Nocturnal animals • • and a strong. sense of smell. che e r o nocturnal animals. r (c) They have good hearing •p •r are Australian st su e (a) Bilbies and owls
(d) During the day these 3.
•
• animals sleep or keep out of the sun.
Why do you think so many Australian animals are nocturnal?
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Nocturnal Animals 1.
rali Aust an i n A mals
Unjumble these sentences. a)
are Australian nocturnal. animals Many
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
c)
eyes dark. have They see to the large in
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons Find • a word inr the story that p means: f or ev i ew ur posesonl y• opposite of friends
c)
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bo at c . Find and circle 10 Australian ch e r o nocturnal animals in e ther word t l kr s s u e p w o shape.
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b) look animals night. Nocturnal at food for
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Kangaroos 1
rali Aust an i n A mals
Kangaroos are animals that are only found in Australia. They carry their babies in a pouch and can jump long distances.
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
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Teac he r
There are many different types of kangaroos in Australia. Some are very tall and others are very small. Some kangaroos can even climb trees. All kangaroos have a strong tail which they use for balance. Their back legs are very powerful. They help the kangaroo to move quickly across the ground.
Kangaroos mostly sleep through the day and feed in the evening and at dawn. They mainly eat grass and plants. Family groups of kangaroos can often be found together. They are very shy animals.
2.
Where can kangaroos be found?
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons •two f oparts rr e vi w puuses r po esonl y• Name that ae kangaroo to s move.
3.
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4.
Read and draw.
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What do kangaroos like to eat?
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1.
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A grey kangaroo eats grass while a big red kangaroo leaps across the green paddock.
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Kangaroos 1
rali Aust an i n A mals
Keywords and phrases are important parts of a story. They help us understand the ideas in the story. 1.
Circle the key words in paragraph one from the story. (Discuss them with a par
2.
tner or teacher .)
r o e t s Bo r e … found in p ok u … jumpS distances
Complete these key phrases from the story. a)
c)
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Teac he r
b)
… carry babies in a
d) strong tail for e)
4.
and
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons •f or evi ew pur posesonl y• Answer yes or r no. Circle other key words in the story. Discuss your answers.
a)
All kangaroos can climb trees.
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3.
eat
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b) Kangaroos are found in many countries.
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5.
Kangaroos mostly sleep through the day. tall
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hop
jumps
mob
strong Green plants, Australia, eat, long Blue legs, tail, in, hop, small, nocturnal, joey, jumps, tall, young
leap
young
nocturnal
bound
joey pouch strong
small legs plants
long
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Kangaroos 2
rali Aust an i n A mals
When kangaroos live together, the group is called a mob. Kangaroos move from place to place in search of green grass and water. In the hot Australian climate this can mean the mob often needs to move.
r o e t s B r e There areo many kinds of kangaroos. p o u kkangaroo are the The red and grey S most common. 1.
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Teac he r
Kangaroos are a type of animal called a marsupial. Most female marsupials have a pouch. They raise their babies in the pouch until they can move around by themselves. A baby kangaroo is called a joey. The joey is only centimetres long when it is born. It spends up to six months growing in the pouch. The joey leaves for a short time but jumps back in when there is danger.
List two important facts about a joey.
a) © R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•
3.
4.
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2.
What is a family group of kangaroos called?
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b)
o c . The two most common chekangaroos are the r e o t r s s r u e p kangaroos.
and
Why do you think kangaroos need to move so much?
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Kangaroos 2 1.
rali Aust an i n A mals
Colour the correct answer. a)
A baby kangaroo is called a kitten
b) A group of kangaroos are called a c)
herd
joey mob
. flock .
r o e t s Bo in its mother's pouch. r e A joey spends up to 6 10 8 months p ok u S Kangaroos eat
leaves insects green grass .
2.
Label the kangaroo.
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Teac he r
d)
cub
big legs joey
pouch
strong tail
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3.
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© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons front paws green •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y •grass
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How many words can you make from the letters in the word KANGAROO?
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Emu 1
rali Aust an i n A mals
Emus are found all over Australia. They need to have a good supply of water to live. There are not many emus in the desert. They eat flowers, fruits, insects and grasses.
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons Colour the emus List the main features of: correctly. •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y • a)
an adult emu
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1.
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
The emu has brown feathers. These feathers cover the body like a mop. Baby emus have light brown and white stripes on their body. These turn brown as they grow. The emu has a long neck. The adult's neck is often blue in colour. It does not have feathers on it.
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Teac he r
The emu is the largest bird found in Australia. It is a flightless bird. This means it has wings but cannot fly. This is because its wings are too small. The emu has long legs. This means it can run very fast to escape from danger.
b) a baby emu
2.
. te o Why aren't there many emus in the desert areas? c . che e r o t r s super
3.
Circle the correct words. a)
Emus need a good supply of (flowers, water, feathers).
b) (Baby, Adult) emus have a brown and white striped body. c)
An emu's wings are (big, small) and its legs are (long, short).
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Emu 1
rali Aust an i n A mals
1. Join the dots by following the letters in alphabetical order. z Draw three stripey chicks near their mother eating insects or grass.
a
x v
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
d f
i
y
l
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Teac he r
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© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•
Circle the key words in paragraph one from the story.
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a)
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Key words and phrases are important parts of a story. They help us understand the ideas in a story.
2.
. teemu is a … the bird. o c . c e her r … fast to escape o t s super
b) Complete the key phrases from the story.
…
emus have brown and
… eats flowers, grasses.
,
and to live.
… good supply of 3.
stripes.
Circle other key words and phrases in the story. Discuss your answers with a partner or teacher.
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Emu 2
rali Aust an i n A mals
Emus have their babies in the winter months. A nest of twigs and leaves is built on the ground. The female emu lays her eggs in the nest. She can lay as many as twenty eggs at one time. The eggs are a lot bigger than a chicken egg. The male emu then sits on the eggs to keep them warm. He sits on the eggs for eight weeks. In this time he hardly eats and does not drink at all.
Teac he r
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r o e t s Bo r e p ok u When the chicksS are born their feathers have a striped look. They leave the nest after two or three days. They eat insects and green grasses. They grow very quickly. A family of emus, called a mob, can live together for eighteen months before they split up.
Who sits on the eggs?
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur po sesonl y• For how long ?
w ww
3.
2.
What do emus like to eat?
How many eggs can the emu lay?
m . u
1.
4.
. te o Why do you think emus have their babies in winter? c . che e r o t r s super
5.
Describe the nest built by an emu. Draw it.
An emu's nest. R.I.C. Publications
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Emu 2 1.
rali Aust an i n A mals
Use these words to c complete the crosspatch.
h
i
c
k
feathers egg mob two insects emu
Teac he r
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
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chick leaves hatch female twigs nest striped
Emu Quiz
1. The emu is the largest Australian
6. What colour can an adult emu's
neck be? © R. I . C.Publ i c at i ons YES NO •f orr e vi ew pur posesonl y•
bird.
2. Emus are found all over
7. Emu's need a good supply of
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3. Why can't the emu fly?
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m . u
.
to live.
8. The emu's neck is covered in
feathers.
NO o c 9. They like to. eat flowers, fruits, 4. How does the emu chescape e r er o danger? t and . s super YES
10. What do emus build their nest
from? 5. Describe the baby chicks
feathers. Score /10 R.I.C. Publications
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Emu 2
rali Aust an i n A mals
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
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Teac he r
s ys a a l mu ty e e en . al w m t e s f st The many a her ne s in g g e
2. Cut out the egg pieces below. Glue them in order onto the next page to show the life cycle of the emu. Draw a picture for each sentence.
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•
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m . u
n bor e r ks a and c i h n c The h brow iped wit ite str wh thers. fea
qu ick The ins ly. A chic ect s a ks s, f du gro gre ruit lts t w en , flo hey gra we ea ss. rs a t nd
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o c . che e r o t r s super The male emu sits
on the eggs for up to eight weeks to keep them warm.
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Emu 2
rali Aust an i n A mals
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
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Teac he r
A nest of leaves and twigs is built on the ground.
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m . u
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o c . che e r o t r s super
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Koala
The koala is a very popular Australian animal. Although the koala looks like a bear, it is not. It is a marsupial and has a pouch for its young. The koala spends most of its life living in trees. The toes on its front feet are shaped to help it grip the branches of the trees. Koalas eat the leaves of the eucalypt trees in which they live. They only drink a little water as they get most of the water they need from the leaves they eat.
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
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Teac he r
rali Aust an i n A mals
The koala is only found on the eastern coast of Australia. When the baby is born it weighs less than one gram. It moves to the pouch to feed and grow for up to six months. After this the baby koala is carried by its mother on her back until it is old enough to fend for itself.
a)
The koala is a bear.
b) The koala is a marsupial.
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Marsupials have a pouch for their young.
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o c . How long doesc a baby koala live 3. Why do you think the koala is a e her r in its mother's pouch? popular o t s Australian animal? super d) Koalas are found all over Australia.
2.
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1.
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons Answer yes or no. •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•
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Koala 1.
rali Aust an i n A mals
Read and draw.
Match the beginning of the sentences with their endings. a)
b) c)
A young koala
•
•
weighs less than one gram.
d) A koala gets water •
•
rides on its mother's back.
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3.
• shaped to grip tree branches © R. I . C•.Pub l i cat i ons A are • p eating •koala's f ortoes r ev i ew u•r pby os eseucalypt onl yleaves. • A newborn koala
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o c . che e r o t r s super
Put these words in alphabetical order. young pouch
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2.
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
ew i ev Pr
Teac he r
The furry, grey koala is sitting in the branch of a eucalypt tree. It is carrying a baby on its back and eating leaves. The koalas sharp claws grip the branch of the tree.
koala weighs toes eucalypt
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21 www.ricgroup.com.au
Echidna
rali Aust an i n A mals
The echidna is also known as the spiny anteater. It is like the platypus because it is an egg-laying mammal. These are the only two Australian animals to do this. Echidnas can be found only in Australia and Papua New Guinea.
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
ew i ev Pr
Teac he r
The echidna is a small, round animal covered with brown hair and spines. It has a long snout to help it find and eat ants. From the snout comes a long tongue. The tongue is covered with a sticky liquid. It flicks out and catches ants and termites. After the echidna lays an egg it hatches in the pouch. It stays there feeding on its mother's milk until it grows spines. The echidna is a nocturnal animal. It shelters during the day to keep cool.
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3.
© R. I . C.Pub i c at i o ns 2.l Explain how the echidna uses its tongue. •f orr evi ew pur po sesonl y•
How is the echidna like the platypus?
m . u
1.
. te o shelters keep The the in echidna to day cool. c . che e r o t r s super
Unjumble these sentences. (a)
(b) anteater. called echidna a is also The spiny
4.
How do you think the echidna protects itself from its enemies?
R.I.C. Publications
22 www.ricgroup.com.au
Echidna Use the words to fill in the spaces below.
tong ue
iny p s
anteater. It is an egg-
echidna
. It is covered in
laying
r o e t s hair and Bo . The echidna r e p has a long, sticky ok to feed u mammal S on . Its young grow from
Teac he r
pouch
ew i ev Pr
2.
is also known as the
spines ants
egg
The
and hatch in its
an
.
mother's
Use the clues to find the mystery word. 1.
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons Another name for echidna is spiny . •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•
2. Its tongue is covered in
liquid.
in the pouch.1.
3. The eggs
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2.
4. Uses these for protection.
3.
on ants. . t e pointy nose. o Their long, c . che e r o Feeds at night. t r s super 4.
5. Echidnas 6. 7.
3.
5.
6.
7.
Unjumble these words. (a) (b) (c) (d)
m . u
1.
rali Aust an i n A mals
adcehin rpsumaila rteaaten (c) iqduli
(b)
(a) (d)
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23 www.ricgroup.com.au
Platypus
rali Aust an i n A mals
The platypus is an unusual Australian mammal. It has a bill and webbed feet like a duck. It has brown fur and a flat tail like a beaver. It lives on land and in the water. Unlike other mammals the platypus lays eggs. All of these things make it an animal like no other.
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u male platypus is bigger than the female. The S The male grows to 50 cm in length. The platypus lives
1.
2.
ew i ev Pr
Teac he r
The platypus lives in freshwater streams and ponds. It can be found in Tasmania and along the eastern coast of Australia. The platypus eats small river creatures such as shellfish and insects.
in a burrow in the bank of rivers or streams. The female lays two eggs and feeds her young milk.
Where does the platypus live in Australia?
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons Name things the platypus. •two f ounusual rr ev i ewabout pu r p osesonl y• (a)
4.
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3.
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(b) a)
Which is bigger, the male or the female platypus?
. te
o c . b) How big does it grow? ch e r e o t r s animal? su r pe What do you like most about this Australian
R.I.C. Publications
24 www.ricgroup.com.au
Platypus
List 3 important facts about the platypus inside the shape below.
2.
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
ew i ev Pr
Teac he r
1.
rali Aust an i n A mals
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•
Read and draw.
. te
m . u
w ww
The mother platypus has dug a burrow in the river's bank. She has laid two eggs. The large, brown male platypus is swimming in the river. The shellfish are hiding in the reeds.
o c . che e r o t r s super
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25 www.ricgroup.com.au
Wombat
rali Aust an i n A mals
Wombats are marsupials that are found only in Australia. They are heavy, burrowing animals. They are dark brown to black in colour and look like a small bear. Wombats can grow to more than 100 cm in length and weigh up to 32 kg. The four legs of a wombat are short, with five toes on each foot. There are three types of wombat: -
-
the southern hairy-nosed wombat, which is found in South Australia and on the Nullarbor Plain.
ew i ev Pr
Teac he r
-
r o e t s Bo r e p o u k the northern hairy-nosed wombat, which is S found only in Queensland.
the common wombat, which is found on the eastern coast of Australia in NSW and Victoria, as well as in Tasmania.
Wombats usually have one baby. It is raised in the pouch for six months and then lives on its own. Wombats burrow under the ground for shelter and protection. They are nocturnal. They feed on grasses and the roots of plants.
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•
w ww
2.
What do wombats like to eat?
How does a wombat look after its baby?
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m . u
1.
3.
o c . Why do you think wombats c e her r burrow underground? o t s super
4.
Find the opposite of these words in the story. (a) lost
R.I.C. Publications
Draw a wombat burrowing underground.
(b) light 26
Wombat 1.
rali Aust an i n A mals
Fill in the missing words.
Teac he r
po uc h
. They usually have one
r o e t s Babout for six r e o pWombats dig okfor shelter and u S . The baby lives in the
.
ew i ev Pr
2.
, found only in
Wombats are
Australia ws o r r months bu y b ba marsupials protection
.
Answer yes or no. (a) Wombats are marsupials. (b) They lay eggs.
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons Wombats can be found only in Australia. •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•
(c)
(d) Wombats love to eat roots and plants.
w ww
3.
m . u
(e) Wombats live above the ground. Find the words in the sleuth below. m o n t
r s u p i a l e a s t p o . rt t s w o m b a t n b g roa e co w o s ec d u s i x b u r e r. her r o t o e s b c s ou ap se ts r o o t s r a
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marsupial wombat ground grass roots east shelter coast protection hairy nosed island feed burrow brown heavy toes five six months pouch baby one R.I.C. Publications
27
Gecko
rali Aust an i n A mals
Geckos live in many parts of Australia. They are found in forests, swamps and deserts. Some are as small as 5 cm and others can grow up to 30 cm in length. Geckos are nocturnal and like to feed on insects. The female gecko lays mostly two eggs at a time.
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u The names of some Australian S
geckos are the velvet gecko, southern spotted velvet gecko, rough knob-tailed gecko and the ring-tailed gecko.
1.
Why do geckos have pads on their feet?
2.
List two facts about the gecko's eyes.
m . u
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•
w ww 3.
ew i ev Pr
Teac he r
A gecko is a type of lizard. Geckos are found all around the world. Australia has many types of geckos. Geckos are different from other lizards. They have large pads on their feet. These pads help them to hold on when climbing. They have large eyes. Their eyes do not have eyelids. They can use their tongue to lick their eyes clean. Their bodies are covered in soft skin with tiny scales.
. t e of the gecko below. o Label the parts c . c e pads tongue eyes tail her r o t s super
R.I.C. Publications
28 www.ricgroup.com.au
Gecko 1.
rali Aust an i n A mals
Match the beginnings and endings of the sentences. a) All geckos are
•
• help them grip when climbing.
b) They can use their long tongue •
• an Australian gecko.
r o e t s B r • • too lick their eyes clean. e p o u k Geckos are a • • nocturnal. S
c) The large pads on their feet
•
• type of lizard.
d) The ring-tailed gecko is
2.
ew i ev Pr
Teac he r
e)
Read the clues to find answers for the word puzzle below. 1. Geckos have
eyes.
2. They have no
. 1.
2. © R. I . C.Publ i ca t i on s 3. . wp •f orr evi e ur poseso l y• 4. n
3. Pads on their feet help them
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5. Some geckos live in swamps, deserts and
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The mystery word is
3.
5.
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-tailed 4. The rough gecko is an Australian gecko.
o c . Unjumble the words and write them in a gecko.e che r o t r s super
.
.
izdral gcimibnl yidseel tsserfo R.I.C. Publications
29 www.ricgroup.com.au
Budgerigar
rali Aust an i n A mals
Answer yes or no.
b)
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons Pet budgerigars smaller than native budgerigars. •f orr evare i ew pu r p ose sonl y•
c)
Budgerigar means 'good bird'.
a)
All budgerigars are yellow and green.
w ww
d) They live in large flocks.
2.
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m . u
1.
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
Budgerigars live in flocks. A flock can have as many as 10 000 birds in it. The flocks move around in search of water. When it is dry, a budgerigar can go for two weeks without water. Budgerigar is an Aboriginal word which means 'good bird' or 'good food'. Wild budgerigars feed mostly on small seeds and can lay 5 - 8 eggs at a time.
ew i ev Pr
Teac he r
Budgerigars are sometimes called budgies. People all around the world keep budgerigars as pets. They are a small Australian parrot found in the dry, desert regions of Australia. The native budgerigar is green and yellow. Most budgerigars kept as pets are a little bigger than the native kind and can be many different colours.
o c . If so, name, colour and ch e r er o draw your pet. t s super Do you have a pet budgie?
If not, draw, name and colour a pet budgie you would like to own. My pet's name is . R.I.C. Publications
30 www.ricgroup.com.au
Budgerigar
Read the first paragraph on budgerigars. Underline the key words or phrases. Record your words in the shape below.
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
ew i ev Pr
Teac he r
1.
rali Aust an i n A mals
Animal Groups - When animals live in large groups they are often given a group name. For example, budgerigar - flock.
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr e i ew ur posesonl y• cattle •v • p pride
Match the group names for these animals. a)
b) pup
•
•
school
c)
•
•
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•
•
pack
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lion
d) wolf
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3.
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2.
fish
budg
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igar
litter
flo
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pa
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col
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R.I.C. Publications
bigg ck
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ear 31
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R.I.C. Publications
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Platypus
Native Budgerigar
Gecko
Emu
Wombat
Kangaroo
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Echidna
Koala
Found only Is a Is in marsupial nocturnal Australia
o c . che e r o t r s super
m . u
Teac hEats Digs a er burrow insects
Put a ✓ or ✘ in the boxes for each animal.
w ww Eats grass
Lays eggs
Australian Animals Semantic Grid
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•
ew i ev Pr
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
32
Has hair
rali Aust an i n A mals
Australian Animal Report
rali Aust an i n A mals
Title:
Drawing of your animal.
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
About its young:
ew i ev Pr
Teac he r
Where is it found?
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•
What it eats:
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How it moves:
o c . che e r o t r s super What it can do:
What it looks like:
R.I.C. Publications
33 www.ricgroup.com.au
Australian Animal Word Sleuth
rali Aust an i n A mals
Write words from the sleuth under the correct headings below. f
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Teac he r
r o e t s Bn o b r k o s c o e p o u t Sz r j p o s s u mke j
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s t m i ©e R . I . C.Publ i cat i onns e n z z e • f ortr ev i ew pur posesson l y•l n
Animal Features
Animal Foods
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Animal Names
m . u
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Answers
rali Aust an i n A mals Page 14
Page 4
1. Animals that have a pouch for their young. 2. Answers may vary. 3. (a) Yes, (b) No, (c) Yes, (d) No.
Page 5
1. Australia, goanna, koala, lizard, marsupial. 2. (a) I am a kangaroo. (b) I am a koala. 3. o
o
k
a
b
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Page 6
1. Teacher check. 2. (a) Teacher check. (b) flightless, run, danger, baby, white, fruits, insects, water. 3. Teacher check.
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S Page 16
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Insects and green grasses. (a) male emu, (b) 8 weeks 20 eggs. So they're born when food will be most plentiful. Nest is built of twigs and leaves on the ground.
c
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a
1. • Give birth to very small babies. • Have a pouch for young. • Feed on mother's milk. 2. (a) Mammals, (b) Answers may vary (koala, kangaroo, possum, bandicoot, Tasmanian devil), (c) Australia 3. A pouch is important to a marsupial as it is where its young feed, grow and are carried.
Page 7
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© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•
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6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Blue Water No Insects, grass twigs, leaves
Page 20
1. (a) No, (b) Yes, (c) Yes, (d) No 2. Up to six months. 3. Answers may vary.
Page 21
1. Teacher check. 2. (a) A newborn koala weighs less than one gram. (b) A koala's toes are shaped to grip tree branches. (c) A young koala rides on its mother's back. (d) A koala gets water by eating eucalypt leaves. 3. Eucalypt, koala, pouch, toes, weighs, young.
o c . che e r o t r s super
1. Australia. 2. Strong tail, powerful back legs. 3. Grass and plants. 4. Teacher check.
Page 11
1. Teacher check. 2. (a) Australia, (b) long, (c) pouch, (d) balance, (e) grass, plants. 3. Answers may vary. 4. (a) No, (b) No, (c) Yes. 5. Teacher check.
Page 13
Yes Australia Wings too small Runs very fast Brown and white stripes
Page 18-19 Teacher check
1. (a) Many Australian animals are nocturnal. (b) Nocturnal animals look for food at night. (c) They have large eyes to see in the dark. 2. (a) enemies, (b) nocturnal, (c) climate 3. wombat, owl, kangaroo, bat, cuscus, koala, bilby, possum, platypus, echidna.
Page 10
Page 12
b
m . u
w ww
1. Nocturnal animals look for food and water at night. 2. (a) Bilbies and owls are Australian nocturnal animals. (b) Nocturnal animals look for food and water at night. (c) They have good hearing and a strong sense of smell. (d) During the day these animals sleep or keep out of the sun. 3. Animals are protected by the dark when searching for food; avoids hot climate; protection from enemies.
s
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2. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
a
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Page 17
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1. (a) Marsupials are different to other mammals. (b) The baby drinks its mother's milk. (c) Australia has a lot of marsupials. 2. bandicoot, kangaroo, koala, possum, wombat. 3. Teacher check.
Page 8
Page 9
Page 15
ew i ev Pr
Teac he r
k
1. (a) Brown feathers, long neck, blue neck with no feathers. Page 14 cont (b) Light brown and white striped body. 2. Needs a good water supply to live. 3. (a) water, (b) Baby, (c) small, long.
Page 22
1. Egg-laying mammal. 2. Sticky liquid covering; flicks out to catch ants and termites. 3. (a) The echidna shelters in the day to keep cool. (b) The echidna is also called a spiny anteater. 4. Uses its spines, curls up in a protective ball.
Page 23
1. Echidna, spiny, mammal, spines, tongue, ants, egg, pouch.
1. (a) A joey is only centimetres long when born. (b) It can spend six months in the pouch. (c) Returns to the pouch when there is danger. 2. Mob. 3. Red, grey. 4. In search of green grass (food) and water.
2. o
c
t
3. (a) echidna (c) anteater
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1. (a) joey, (b) mob, (c) green grass, (d) 6. 2. Teacher check. 3. Answers may vary.
a
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(b) marsupial (d) liquid
35 www.ricgroup.com.au
Answers
rali Aust an i n A mals
b
g
r
a
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s
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o
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b
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s
b
c
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Page 34 Animal Foods fruit leaves shellfish flowers termites milk plants insects grass ants
✘
✘
Emu
Gecko
o c . che e r o t r s super d
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Mystery word is gecko. 3. Lizard, climbing, eyelids, forests. Page 30
1. (a) No, (b) No, (c) Yes, (d) Yes 2. Teacher check - answers may vary.
Page 31.
1. Teacher check. 2. (a) cattle - herd (c) lion - pride (e) fish - school 3. budgerigar, flock, good parrot, native, search colours, food, bigger
(b) pup - litter (d) wolf - pack
✔ ✔
✘
✔
✘
Native Budgerigar
✔ Wombat
Teacher check.
✔
✘
✘ ✔ ✘
✔
Kangaroo
✔
Echidna
Page 33
m . u
l
✔
1. (a) All geckos are nocturnal. (b) They can use their long tongue to lick their eyes clean. (c) The large pads on their feet help them grip when climbing. (d) The ring-tailed gecko is an Australian gecko. (e) Geckos are a type of lizard.
Koala
Page 29
w ww
1. To hold on when climbing. 2. No eyelids, large eyes, cleans eyes with tongue. 3. Teacher check.
✘
✔
✔
✘
✘
✘ ✔ ✔ ✔
✔ ✘
✔
✘
✔
✘
✔
✘
Eats insects
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•
Page 28
✔
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r
Found only Is a Is in marsupial nocturnal Australia
Teac he r a
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
Grasses and the roots of plants. In a pouch for six months. For shelter and protection. (a) found, (b) dark.
ew i ev Pr
m
✘
1. Marsupial, Australia, baby, pouch, months, burrows, protection. 2. (a) Yes, (b) No, (c) Yes, (d) Yes, (e) No 3.
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Page 27
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1. 2. 3. 4.
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Page 26
✔
1. Teacher check. 2. Teacher check.
✔
Page 25
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1. Tasmania and eastern coast of Australia. 2. Egg-laying mammal; bill and webbed feet like duck; flat tail like beaver; lives on land and water. 3. (a) male, (b) 50 cm in length 4. Answers may vary.
Lays eggs
Page 24
Has hair
Page 32
Animal Names platypus gecko echidna wombat possum koala emu
Animal Features pads feathers wings fur tongue snout eyelids pouch webbed feet spines
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