Australian Animals: Ages 8-10 by Teacher Superstore

MIDDLE PRIMARY

AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS

RIC-0280 4.0/184

Published by R.I.C. Publications

http://www.ricgroup.com.au

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Foreword

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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.

Clip Art/Cover sheet

18-19 Echidna

Brainstorm

20-21 Dingo

Before and After Chart

22-23 Kookaburra

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24-25 Tasmanian Devil

Think Sheet

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26-27 Black Swan

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4-5

Introducing Australian Plants and Animals

6-7

Unique Adaptations of Australian Animals

8-9

Marsupials

10-11 Kangaroo 12-13 Emu 14-15 Koala

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iii

28-29 Frilled Lizard 30

Interesting Word Chart

Australian Animals Semantic Grid

Australian Animal Report

Australian Animal Word Sleuth

Australian Animal Quiz

35-36 Answers

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Teacher Information Before and After Chart

Before the Activity

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Record what you know about this Australian animal.

Think Sheet

stralian Au imals An

Brainstorm

Australian Animals

To help make maximum use from each animal study, generic activities have been provided that can be used with all activities. These activities are:

al. What I already know about the ralian anim about an Aust

Title

What do you think

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Brainstorm

Page 1

•

Before and After Chart

Page 2

this animal looks

this animal eats?

What do you like

most about this

Teac he r

this animal?

. or your class a partner animal? ideas with about your Discuss your ld you like to know wou What else

Page 3

like to know about

Drawing of

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ations R.I.C. Public

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Think Sheet

animal?

What would you

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•

like?

After working on activities about your animal, record any new information you have learnt below. Where do you think this animal lives? into similar . Group them and keywords topic heading. s idea a Look at your give them them and List s. idea New things I have learnt about the

After reading

•

Title:

Before reading

you can key words the ideas or Record all

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.

Introducing Australian Plants and Animals

The Animal Studies

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© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons Text is provided to give a general description of the physical characteristics and behaviours of a specific animal. This •canf o r evi e w pu r presources. osesonl y• information ber supplemented by existing school

Australia is a country of many contrasts. The climate ranges from very cold regions in the Eastern Alps and Tasmania, to the extremely dry and hot areas of the central desert regions. There are other regions that have extremely hot temperatures for parts of the year but still receive large amounts of rain. 1. Find the meaning Many of Australia's plants (flora) and animals (fauna) are s for thes e words. unique and have had to get used to living in these harsh a) uniq ue as conditions. This process is called adaptation. It occurs over many millions of years, b) Many animals and plants change their physical characteristics and behaviour. harshof our plants have adapted to suit the harsh conditions. For example, eucalypt trees have long, narrow c) predto direct leaves to avoid the main heat of the day. The leaves also droop downwards ator raindrops towards its root system. Some other specially adapted Australian flora include the native grasstree (blackboy), spinifex and the Sturt desert pea. 2.Australia's animals have also Sort thes e which words has adapted to surviving in a wide range of conditions. An example is the emu, into their correct flora become a flightless bird because it has no natural predators. or fauna eucalypt, group. poss Some of the other well-known Australian fauna are the kangaroo, koala, platypus, bilby,um, platypus, saltb ush, bilby possum and wombat. Australia also has a wide range of unique reptiles and spiders. , emu, koal Sturt dese rt pea, nati a, waratah ve grasstree , , wombat, wattle Flora 1. What are the two terms used to describe Australian:

Introducin

g Australi

(a)

Questions at three levels are given to provide practice and consolidation of comprehension skills.

plants?

(b)

Name two regions that show the vast differences in our harsh climates.

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Animals and find

words for

How do humans adapt to changes in the environment, for example, when you are cold?

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Australian Animals

(b)

3. Read the How has the emu adapted to Australian conditions? pass each of thes age about Intro ducing Aus e sound tralian Plan groups. ts and 5.

Additional language activities are provided that will give variety to the study of the animal.

imals

Fauna

Why do you think Australia has many unique flora and fauna?

(a)

s and An

animals?

an Plant

Use the back of this pag eucalypts e to draw have adap a diagram ted to surv explainin ive in the g how man R.I.C. Publi Australian y cations environm ent.

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After the Animal Study

As a method of revision, evaluation or further study, three generic activities are provided: rali Aust an Animals

dead carcasses road kill

g y meanin

Dictionar

one in pouch

Young

ginger/yellow fur

Covering grassy plains

Location:

Description:

no marsupial

Tasmanian Devil

Frilled Lizard

Dingo

Black Swan

Koala

Echidna

Platypus

Dynamics: (What it can do.)

Emu

Page 32

Title:

Classification:

Kangaroo

Australian Animal Report

Page 31

Home

•

Australian Animal Semantic Grid

Name:

Nocturnal

•

stralian Au imals An

Chart

ing My mean

Passage

Put an appropriate answer in the boxes for each animal.

Word

Diet

g Word Interestin

Kookaburra

Name:

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Australian Animal Report

Page 30

Australian Animals - Semantic Grid

Interesting Word Chart

Mammal, reptile, bird or marsupial (monotreme)

•

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Drawing of my animal. 32

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rali Aust an Animals

Australian Animals

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Name

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Brainstorm

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Record all the ideas or key words you can about an Australian animal.

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Title

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Discuss your ideas with a partner or your class. What else would you like to know about your animal? R.I.C. Publications

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Before and After Chart

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Record what you know about this Australian animal.

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Before reading Teac he r

What I already know about the

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New things I have learnt about the

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below.

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Think Sheet

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Title:

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Teac he r

What do you think this animal looks like?

What do you think this animal eats?

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What do you like most about this animal?

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Where do you think this animal lives?

o c . che What would you r e olike to know about this animal? r st super

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Introducing Australian Plants and Animals

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r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

Teac he r

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Many of Australia's plants (flora) and animals (fauna) are unique and have had to get used to living in these harsh conditions. This process is called adaptation. It occurs over many millions of years, as animals and plants change their physical characteristics and behaviour. Many of our plants have adapted to suit the harsh conditions. For example, eucalypt trees have long, narrow leaves to avoid the main heat of the day. The leaves also droop downwards to direct raindrops towards its root system. Some other specially adapted Australian flora include the native grasstree (blackboy), spinifex and the Sturt desert pea. Australia's animals have also adapted to surviving in a wide range of conditions. An example is the emu, which has become a flightless bird because it has no natural predators. Some of the other well-known Australian fauna are the kangaroo, koala, platypus, bilby, possum and wombat. Australia also has a wide range of unique reptiles and spiders.

Why do you think Australia has many unique flora and fauna?

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Name two regions that show the vast differences in our harsh climates.

o c . che e How has the emu adapted to Australian conditions? r o r st super (a)

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(b)

How do humans adapt to changes in the environment, for example, when you are cold?

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Introducing Australian Plants and Animals 1.

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Find the meanings for these words. a)

unique

harsh

predator

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Sort these words into their correct flora or fauna group.

Sturt desert pea, native grasstree, wombat, wattle

Flora

Fauna

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eucalypt, possum, platypus, saltbush, bilby, emu, koala, waratah,

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Read the passage about Introducing Australian Plants and Animals and find words for each of these sound groups.

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Use the back of this page to draw a diagram explaining how many eucalypts have adapted to survive in the Australian environment.

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Unique Adaptations of Australian Animals

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An adaptation is when an animal has changed its physical characteristics and behaviour to enable them to survive in a changing environment. Scientists agree that Australia's climate has changed at different times over many millions of years. Therefore, animals that lived in these changing times and conditions had to adapt if they were to survive. Some adapted and survived, others did not and are now extinct.

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Australia has many animals that have unique adaptations. This is brought about by the continent's isolation from the rest of the world and the fact that most animals cannot move from other lands to Australia. Many of these animals have adapted to suit conditions that are unique to Australia. Some animals are marsupials, such as the koala and kangaroo. Others, such as the emu, dingo and many reptiles are also found only in Australia. Some adaptations of Australian animals include the kangaroo, which has adapted to be able to move swiftly over long distances using its rear feet and a strong tail. The wombat is specially adapted to dig and live in burrows to escape the heat, cold, rain and bushfires. The platypus developed the ability to live in both water and on land, where it burrows into the soil to make its home. The emu is able to travel quickly over the ground and does not need wings to fly. The sugar glider is a possum that has adapted the ability to glide between branches of trees to feed or escape from danger.

ÂŠ R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons f orofr e vi e wcontinue pur os es l ytoâ&#x20AC;˘ The naturalâ&#x20AC;˘ behaviour animals will top force them to o findn ways survive in our 1.

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What does 'adaptation' mean?

o c . chofe Describe the adaptation two Australian animals and how e r o they use these features to survive. t r s super days

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How long can the process take?

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changing, harsh environment.

years

hundreds of years

millions of years

(a)

(b)

Why does an animal need to 'adapt' to its environment?

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Unique Adaptations of Australian Animals 1.

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Fill in the missing words. has many animals that have

lation Australia iso s behaviour characteristic onments survive envir als unique world anim

cannot move from other lands to Australia.

Adaptation is when an animal has

its physical

and

. It is important

that animals continue to adapt and change to their to enable them to continue to

Unjumble these sentences. (The text may help you.) (a)

live wombat dig specially is The and to burrows. in adapted

(b)

adaptations. many that has have unique Australia animals

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or the fact that

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Teac he r

other parts of the

from

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changed

adaptions. This could be due to our

its trees possum able glide is The sugar between enemies. escape glider from to to a that is

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o c . che e r o t r s sup er Draw and name an Australian animal to suit its home below.

burrow

tree

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Marsupials

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very little about. These vary from the tiny marsupial mice of the Australian forests through to koalas, wombats and possums.

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The most well-known of the Australian marsupials is the kangaroo. The kangaroo is known around the world for the way it carries its young in a pouch and moves by hopping. There are, however, many other Australian marsupials which people know

Australia also has two unique mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. These are the echidna and platypus. They belong to a group of mammals called monotremes.

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Teac he r

Australia is famous throughout the world for its fascinating animals. Some of the most well known of these include the kangaroo and the koala. Both of these animals are marsupials which are a special type of mammal. Australia has a greater number of marsupial species than any other country or continent in the world. The marsupial differs from other mammals in that they use a pouch to rear their young. Their young are born hairless and only centimetres long. They wriggle their way to their mother's pouch to feed on her milk and continue to grow.

As well as the large number of marsupials, there are also a number of placental mammals. These are mammals that bear live, fully developed young and include humans. Australian placental mammals include whales, dolphins, dingoes, flying foxes and dugongs.

What are monotremes?

Name two Australian placental mammals.

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Name two facts about marsupials. (a)

(b)

koala 5.

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Circle the marsupials. wombat

emu

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Draw a koala eating leaves.

dingo

dugong

kangaroo

flying fox

possum

Why do you think the koala is such a popular Australian marsupial?

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Marsupials 1.

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Complete the pyramid diagram below with facts from the passage 'Marsupials'. Main title

Subheadings

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Other types of mammals

Australian facts

Marsupials have a pouch to rear their young.

Australia…

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Australia has the largest number of marsupial species in the world.

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Facts

Marsupials

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Answer yes or no. (a)

Dingoes are placental mammals.

(b)

Australia has only a few marsupials.

(c)

The echidna is a unique marsupial called a monotreme.

(d)

Monotremes are egg-laying mammals.

(e)

Koalas are an example of a monotreme.

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Kangaroo

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The kangaroo is Australia's best known animal. It is a marsupial and is known world wide as the animal that hops and carries a 'joey' in its pouch. The kangaroo is one of two animals that are found on the Australian coat of arms. There are more than 50 different kinds of kangaroo found in Australia and they vary in size from small wallabies which can weigh as little as one kilo through to the large male red kangaroos weighing up to 85 kg.

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The kangaroo has large, well developed rear legs which are used to move quickly over the ground. Larger kangaroos can reach speeds of 60 kilometres per hour in short spurts and can move long distances at speeds of 30 kilometres per hour. A long, strong tail is used with the hind legs to help balance the kangaroo when it is stationary. The forearms are short and light compared to the rear legs. Different species of kangaroos have different family habits. Some live an isolated life. Most, however, live in family or larger groups called mobs. The female gives birth to a blind, hairless and underdeveloped baby weighing less than one gram. It crawls unaided to the pouch where it spends up to six months feeding and growing. As it matures, the joey begins to spend some time outside the mother's pouch. It remains close by its mother and jumps back into the pouch in case of danger. Between seven and nine months the joey becomes independent and joins the family group.

2. 3.

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Describe the young kangaroo at birth.

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o c . Explain the purpose of these kangaroo parts. c e her r o t s super a) rear legs

Kangaroos can live in large groups called (litters, mobs, herds, flocks)

b) 4.

tail

Most larger kangaroos like the regular supplies of

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the grey and red kangaroo, need a regular supply of water and green feed. This means they often live along the coastal strips and areas that are well watered. More hardy species, such as the rock wallabies, can be found in the drier areas in the central desert regions.

and and green

kangaroo need .

Do you think the kangaroo will ever become extinct? Explain.

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Kangaroo 1.

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Read the information below about the life cycle of the kangaroo. Cut and glue them in the correct order on the flow chart below.

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S 2.

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. te The o blind, hairless The young kangaroo stays The young suckles milk c . newborn grasps the ce e from its mother forh close to its mob learning r omother's fur and crawls to t s to s beu independent and to several months and grows r per enter the pouch about in the pouch.

Kangaroos generally produce one young at a time. The female cleans the pouch to prepare for the birth.

fend for itself as an adult.

1-5 minutes after birth.

The joey begins to leave As they become more the pouch for a short time independent they spend to learn to feed and less time in the pouch. move. It stays close to its mother and returns to the Between 6-8 months they leave the pouch. pouch in case of danger.

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Emu

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On which Australian coin can you find the national coat of arms? $1

50c 20c 10c 5c

What industries have grown from the farming of emus?

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S 3.

List three facts about the breeding season of emus. (a)

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The emu is Australia's largest bird and along with the kangaroo is found on the national coat of arms. It is a flightless bird with tiny wings hidden under its feathers. Scientists suggest that because of its size and lack of natural enemies the emu did not have a need to fly and has adapted to become a flightless bird. The emu has a body covering of black feathers that fade to a brown colour. Its neck and head are covered in skin which has a bluish tinge. Emus require a regular water source and are therefore found mostly in coastal regions or areas where there is an adequate water supply. The emu's long legs enable it to stride nearly three metres, making it easy to travel long distances in a short time to find food or water.

ÂŠ R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons â&#x20AC;˘f orr evi ew pur posesonl yâ&#x20AC;˘ (b)

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The female is larger than the male and lays 5 - 12 eggs during the breeding season, which is normally winter. The nest is a low platform of twigs and leaves. Once the eggs are laid, the male is responsible for sitting on the eggs for the entire nesting period, lasting about eight weeks. During this time, the male rarely eats and drinks, only leaving the nest to turn the eggs. The emu chicks are born with striped feathers and grow rapidly, eating insects, native fruits and plants. The emu family, called a mob, stays together for as long as eighteen months.

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(c)

Draw what you think an emu nest looks like.

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Emus are now farmed by humans for leather, meat and oil. These products are in great demand throughout the world and it has become a growing industry in Australia. R.I.C. Publications

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Emu

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Complete the table below with facts or key words from the passage 'Emu'. Breeding Cycle

Food

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Features

Complete the quiz below. 1.

TRUE

Why is the emu a flightless bird?

FALSE

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12) weeks.

9. How long is an emu's stride?

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10.

The male emu is larger than the female. TRUE

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8. The eggs hatch at approximately

FALSE

What two animals can be found on the national coat of arms?

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Koala

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The koala is often called a koala bear because it looks like a small bear. However, the true name is koala and the word bear should not be used when talking about this animal. Like many Australian animals, the koala is a marsupial. It is also an arboreal animal which means that most of its life is spent living in trees. The koala has specially adapted feet to help it grip and climb.

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Most koalas are found on the south-eastern coast of Australia. They don't live naturally in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Koalas have a life expectancy of approximately 20 years and are considered mature when they reach the age of four.

Koala is an Aboriginal word meaning 'no water'. It is known that the koala gains its moisture from the eucalypt leaves which form its diet. However, the koala is known to drink a little from the pools left after rain. The koala is also capable of swimming across rivers, in order to escape danger or seek new food. An adult koala can eat for about four hours each day, mostly at night, and sleeps the rest of the day.

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Koalas have single young which are carried in a pouch. When the baby is born it weighs less than a gram and grows to 450 grams in the first four months. As the koala becomes more independent it moves from the pouch and is carried on its mother's back, returning to the pouch to drink. After about a year it becomes fully independent of its mother and moves to another tree to find a mate and fend for itself.

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Why shouldn't we use the name koala bear?

m . u

. te animal? What is an 'arboreal' When would a koala need to swim? o c . che e r o t r s super How many hours does the koala sleep? 5

14 hours

Why do you think the word 'koala' is a good name for this animal?

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Koala

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Keywords and phrases are an important part of a story that helps us to recall the main ideas of an article. Write the key words or phrases from the last paragraph of the passage 'Koala'.

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Use key words or phrases to answer these questions. Complete the short answer notes first. Use this information to write a detailed answer.

Topic: Koalas

Question: How does a koala care for its young?

Short answer

Long answer

pouch

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Topic: Koalas

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Short answer

Long answer

Aboriginal word 'no-water'

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Match these words with their meanings. arboreal

•

mammals who feed and carry their young in a pouch

marsupials

•

to eat certain types of food

independent

•

spends most of its life in a tree

diet

•

able to act or think on its own

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Platypus

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When the platypus was first sighted, reports that such an animal existed were not believed. Who could imagine an animal with such a strange physical appearance could exist? However, it was soon agreed that such an animal did exist and it was from a special group of mammals called monotremes. These animals, of which Australia has only two, are egglaying mammals and are thought to have existed for more than thousands of millions of years. The strange physical appearance of the platypus includes a duckbill, webbed feet, large broad tail and a body covered in waterproof fur. The male platypus is larger than the female and is approximately 50 cm in length.

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Teac he r

The platypus feeds mostly at night, eating shellfish, shrimps, worms and insect larvae and can only be found in the freshwater sections of rivers. They are rarely sighted, feeding mostly at dawn and dusk. The platypus is an excellent example of how animals can adapt in order to survive in a changing environment.

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The platypus is found in Tasmania and on the eastern coast of Australia. It spends most of its day living in burrows on the banks of rivers and only 3-4 hours per day in the water. There are two burrows, one for living in and the other for the female when she is breeding. She digs a separate burrow and can lay up to three eggs. In about ten days they hatch and the young suckle from their mother, but there is no pouch. The young remain with their mother in the burrow for up to four months. A platypus can hibernate in its burrow in cold winters. The platypus has claws on its front and hind feet to aid it in digging burrows. The male, however, has a poisonous spur on its hind legs which is thought to be used to defend itself in times of danger.

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Where can the platypus be found?

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What is the name for an egg-laying mammal?

m . u

o c . c e r Why would a platypush hibernate? er o t s super

The platypus likes to eat (insect larvae, leaves, grass, shrimp, worms, eggs, small animals, shellfish).

Why do you think explorers were not believed when they reported sightings of the platypus?

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Platypus 1.

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Fill in the missing words. The platypus is an egg-laying a

called

. It is thought to have for over hundreds of

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S of years. Its strange appearance

includes a large broad

feet, a

existed, mammal, monotreme,

and a

duckbill, fur, webbed, tail,

millions, waterproof,

Complete the table with key facts from the passage 'platypus'.

Description

Platypus Food

Found/Homes

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covering of

Breeding Cycle

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burrow

egg-laying

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duckbill

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Label the diagram below with four features describing the platypus.

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Echidna

rali Aust an i n A mals

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

The echidna is nocturnal and spends a lot of its time at night searching for and eating a wide variety of ants and termites. During the day it shelters from the heat. It has a tongue that can stretch up to 20 cm. The tongue is covered in a sticky fluid that the ants stick to when it is flicked in and out rapidly. When it senses danger the echidna either rolls into a tight ball or digs into the ground.

The echidna lays one egg, which is incubated in a pouch until it hatches in about ten days. The young echidna stays in the pouch until it starts to develop its own spikes. Between 6-8 weeks the young echidna leaves the burrow and becomes independent of its mother.

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

With the platypus, the echidna is one of two monotremes found in Australia. A monotreme is an egg-laying mammal. The echidna is an anteater with spines. The word echidna means 'spiny fast tongue'. It is approximately 45 cm long and 20 cm wide and weighs up to seven kilograms. The echidna's long, sharp spines stick out of thick dark hair. It has no neck and a long snout which it uses to help find ants and termites. The echidna is only found in Australia and New Guinea. They live in open forests or sandy desert regions. The New Guinean echidna has a longer beak than its Australian relative.

ÂŠ R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons f o r e vi ew pur posesonl yâ&#x20AC;˘ Whatâ&#x20AC;˘ does ther word 'echidna' mean?

The echidna's diet is mostly a variety of Describe how the echidna uses its tongue to feed.

. te

m . u

w ww

and

o c . che e r o t r s super When sensing danger the echidna .

Read and illustrate. The spiny anteater is in the forest, stretching and flicking out its tongue, feeding on a juicy ants nest.

R.I.C. Publications

18 www.ricgroup.com.au

Echidna 1.

rali Aust an i n A mals

Complete the table below with key facts from the passage 'Echidna'. Echidna

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

Find the meanings for these words. (a)

(b)

(c)

relative

w ww (d)

Breeding/family life

m . u

Features

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

Location

fluid

. te

o c . c e r Answer yes or no. h er o t s super a) The echidna has a long neck and a short snout. b)

During the day it shelters from the heat.

Its tongue is covered in a sticky fluid.

The young echidna is born in the pouch with a spiny covering.

(e)

The echidna's egg hatches in its pouch.

R.I.C. Publications

19 www.ricgroup.com.au

Dingo

rali Aust an i n A mals

Dingoes are wild dogs of Australia. Scientists believe that the dingo's ancestor is the Indian wolf. These animals came to Australia with groups of fishermen nearly 4 000 years ago.

A dingo is about the size of a medium dog. A mature male dingo weighs between 15-20 kilograms. Dingoes have larger skulls and jawbones than domestic dogs. Their coat is usually yellowish-ginger but sometimes black and tan or white. It has pointed ears and a bushy tail. A dingo yelps and howls but rarely barks.

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

Dingoes are found all over Australia except for Tasmania. This is because the island was separated from the mainland long before the dingoes arrived.

Dingoes generally are territorial animals roaming within an area of several kilometres. They eat mainly rats, rabbits, lizards, kangaroos and wallabies. Dingoes may hunt small animals on their own but can hunt in packs for larger prey. Sheep and cattle have been known to be killed by them which has given the dingo a bad name with farmers. A female dingo has a litter once a year in winter or early spring. Litters can vary from one to eight or more pups. The young remain with their parents until late summer, when they are able to fend for themselves.

ÂŠ R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons â&#x20AC;˘f orr evi ew pur posesonl yâ&#x20AC;˘

Why aren't dingoes found in Tasmania?

2. 3.

w ww

In what months are female dingoes likely to have their litter? Why do you think this is?

A dingo

. te

and howls but it rarely

m . u

o c . che e r o t r s super

What animals are dingoes likely to hunt in packs?

R.I.C. Publications

How are dingoes thought to have been introduced to Australia?

20 www.ricgroup.com.au

Dingo 1.

rali Aust an i n A mals

Use key words from the passage 'Dingo' to make notes in the short answer column. Use this information to write a detailed answer.

Topic: Dingoes

Question: What are the main features of a dingo?

Long answer

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

Short answer

Match the collective (group) noun with its animal. litter

•

cattle

mob

•

seagulls

herd

•

flock

•

kangaroos

w ww

m . u

©R I . C.Publ i cat i ons • . dingoes pack •f •o •v pups rr e i ew pur posesonl y•

Cut the information boxes out below. Glue them in order to make a flow chart. Illustrate each sentence.

. te

o c . che e r o t r s super ➔

➔

✁ The adult dingo can hunt on its own or in packs.

A female dingo has a litter once a year.

R.I.C. Publications

The young remain with their parents until late summer when they can fend for themselves. 21

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Kookaburra

rali Aust an i n A mals

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

Kookaburras are generally found alone or in pairs and spend large amounts of time sitting on branches waiting for insects and reptiles to show themselves. They have a keen eyesight and can swoop to pick up the prey like snakes, rodents, small birds and insects. They take it back to their perch where they batter their catch on the branch before eating it.

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

The kookaburra is best known for its loud call or 'laugh'. This is used by groups of kookaburras to identify their territory. A member of the kingfisher family, it is found in open forest areas of the eastern and south-eastern coast of Australia. It is also found in the south-west of Australia where it has been introduced. The kookaburra has white and brown-black markings with a pale blue patch on the wings. They are territorial birds that are fully protected in Australia.

Kookaburras mate for life and can live for up to 25 years. The female kookaburra lays up to four eggs, which are generally kept in tree hollows. Young, unmated birds often help the parents incubate and raise the chicks. The eggs hatch between 25-28 days. The young birds are called fledglings and learn to fly after a few weeks. The fledglings spend a lot of time on the ground feeding and may fall prey to predators like cats, foxes, wedge-tailed eagles and grey butcher birds.

Give two reasons why kookaburras sing.

w ww (a)

(b)

. te

m . u

Kookaburras sing mostly at dawn and dusk and do so more often in the winter. They may also sing to claim a new territory or to signal danger. At night they roost together to make them look too big for a predator to attack.

o c . che e r o t What two ways could a kookaburra protect itself? r s super Kookaburras have white and (blue, black, brown, orange) markings with a (green, yellow, blue) patch on the wings.

Young birds are called

(a)

(b)

Why do you think kookaburras batter their food before eating it?

R.I.C. Publications

22 www.ricgroup.com.au

Kookaburra

rali Aust an i n A mals

Complete the box below. Choose a word of your own from the passage. Word

Paragraph found

My explanation

Dictionary meaning

territory

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

predator

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

signal

Kookaburra Quiz 1. What is the kookaburra best known

w ww

fledglings.

Kookaburra's like to eat . tefamily. and o c . . Kookaburras are usually found in large c e her r groups. o What do they do with their food before t s s r u e p TRUE FALSE eating it?

2. It is a member of the

m . u

7. Name two predators of kookaburra

for?

4. Why does it have a keen eyesight? 10. Kookaburras are fully protected in

Australia. TRUE

5. The young birds are called

. 6. Eggs hatch about (15, 20, 25, 40) days. R.I.C. Publications

FALSE SCORE /10 23

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Tasmanian Devil

rali Aust an i n A mals

The Tasmanian devil is a black, fierce looking, meat-eating marsupial about the size of a small dog. They are the largest of the flesh-eating marsupials that are known to be still alive. Its powerful jaws and long, sharp teeth have given this animal a fearful reputation. In fact, the Tasmanian devil spends most of its time scavenging for food and living off dead carcasses and road kill. While it has been known to kill poultry and small domestic animals this is a rare happening. Quite often several 'devils' will share a carcass.

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

Teac he r

ew i ev Pr

The Tasmanian devil once lived on mainland Australia. The competition with the dingo for the same food is thought to have caused its extinction from this area and it is now found only in Tasmania. It is nocturnal, spending most daylight hours in its den and night hours foraging and scavenging for food. The whiskers of a devil's face and front legs help it to feel its way in the dark. The female can have four or more young which are reared in a backward opening pouch. Only four pups will survive however, as the female has only four teats to feed her young. After fifteen weeks in the pouch the young leave and are reared in the den. The mother brings back pieces of meat for them to eat. They still rely on their mother's milk for a further fifteen weeks. Gradually they learn how to fend for themselves and leave the den to find a mate of their own.

w ww

What does the word 'carcass' mean?

. te

How are the 'devil's' whiskers useful?

m . u

o c . che e r o t r s super

Explain why the Tasmanian devil no longer lives on mainland Australia.

Night hours are spent (sleeping, fighting, foraging).

Why do you think the 'devil' has a backward opening pouch?

R.I.C. Publications

24 www.ricgroup.com.au

Tasmanian Devil Match the beginning of these sentences with their endings. The Tasmanian devil once

•

off dead carcasses and road kill.

They are the largest of

•

which spends night hours gathering food.

•

lived on mainland Australia.

It is a nocturnal marsupial

•

the flesh-eating marsupials still alive.

Four young can be reared

•

until they are old enough to fend for themselves.

Find the meaning for these words. (a)

scavengers

(b)

poultry

(d)

fend

w ww

. te

m . u

(c)

ew i ev Pr

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

Tasmanian devils often live

Teac he r

rali Aust an i n A mals

o c . che TaLosmcaatinoina/nHoDmeevil r e o Dynamics (What it can do.) r st super

Find information from the passage to make notes under each heading.

Description

R.I.C. Publications

25 www.ricgroup.com.au

Black Swan

rali Aust an i n A mals

The black swan is one of Australia's most famous birds. It is also well known as the bird emblem for Western Australia. They were first sighted by Dutch explorers on an expedition led by William de Vlamingh in 1697. Except for white patches on its wings and its orangered bill and eyes, the black swan is a completely black water bird. They can grow to 140 cm in height and have a wingspan of up to two metres. The females are smaller than the males and have a lighter coloured bill. The males are known as cobs and the females as pens.

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

Teac he r

Like ducks, swans preen themselves. This waterproofs their feathers. Using their beak, the swan strokes an oil gland on its tail and then spreads the oil to its feathers.

ew i ev Pr

Black swans live by rivers, lakes and swamps in Australia. They eat water plants and grasses near the water. Australian black swans may stay in large groups called colonies. They are good parents, guarding nests carefully and sharing the responsibilities in looking after their young. They build large nests of grass, leaves and sticks near the waters edge. The female lays 4-7 large, pale green eggs. Both parents sit on the nest to incubate the eggs. A nest of eggs is called a clutch. The young have fluffy, downy feathers and are a light grey in colour. They are called cygnets. They know how to swim as soon as they hatch. When only a day or two old they follow their parents into the water and soon learn to find food for themselves. Cygnets learn to fly at about four to five months. In warm summer months, a greater collection of swans can be found in coastal areas and major waterways as inland lakes and streams dry up with summer heat. The black swan was first sighted in

w ww

explorers on

an expedition led by

. te

m . u

How does a swan waterproof its feathers?

o c . che e r o t r s supareas er Why do we find more swans on coastal in summer?

Give an explanation for these words:

(a)

(b)

cygnet

R.I.C. Publications

colony

26 www.ricgroup.com.au

Black Swan 1.

rali Aust an i n A mals

Fill in the missing words.

orange-red

live by rivers,

Black

and swamps in Australia. They eat water plants and

wings

lakes

swans

feathers

near water. They lay a

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

grasses clutch cygnets

of pale-green eggs. The young are light

in colour and are called

. Adults have black

and

on their bill and eyes.

Colour the swan correctly.

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

with white patches on their

grey

Use keywords from the passage to make notes in the short answer column. Use this information to write a detailed answer to the question.

Topic: Black Swans

Question: What makes the Black Swan a good parent?

w ww

m . u

Short answer

. te with these words. Colour correctly. o Label the diagram c . c e cygnets cob pen waterplants nest clutch her r o t s super

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Frilled Lizard

rali Aust an i n A mals

The frilled lizard is Australia's largest dragon lizard. It is found in the drier, warmer regions of northern Australia and the drier, open forests of New Guinea. This lizard is also the reptile emblem of Australia.

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

Frilled lizards are easily recognised by the brightly coloured frilled skin around their head. The male is more colourful than the female and also has a black belly. When the lizard is threatened or frightened, it expands its frill, opens its mouth and hisses. Although it may look fearsome it is not venomous. It grows to about one metre in length. The frill of the lizard is also thought to help spread heat from its body to keep cool in the harsh climates.

The female lays about a dozen eggs in a shallow nesting chamber which she digs in soft earth. The frilled lizard is partly arboreal, using the tree trunk as a vantage point to spot its prey. When perching on tree trunks and branches, the frilled lizards can camouflage themselves by blending in with the background and remaining very still. Their main diet consists of insects, an occasional mouse, and other creatures in trees or on the ground small enough to be swallowed. They are active during the day and can move extremely quickly across the ground by running on their hind legs.

Give two reasons why the lizard would need to use its frill. (a)

w ww

(b)

What is the main diet of the frilled lizard?

. te

m . u

ÂŠ R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons The frilled lizard Australia's largest lizard. â&#x20AC;˘f orisr evi ew pur poseson l yâ&#x20AC;˘

o c . che e r o t r s super

Why do you think that frilled lizards are more active during the day?

True or false?

6. How can camouflage help the

(a)

Males are more colourful than females

(b)

Frilled lizards are venomous

(c)

They can run quickly on their hind legs

(d)

They like to eat other reptiles

(e)

Frilled lizards can camouflage themselves

( f)

The frill can also help to cool them down

R.I.C. Publications

frilled lizard?

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Frilled Lizard

Read and illustrate. The frilled lizard sits camouflaged on the tree trunk waiting for an unsuspecting prey. Suddenly from behind comes a familiar swooping noise. Angered and threatened, the lizard raises itself on its hind legs, expands its frill, opens its mouth and hisses.

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S BEFORE

AFTER

Complete the box below. Choose a word of your own from the passage 'Frilled Lizard'. Word

Paragraph found

My explanation

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

rali Aust an i n A mals

Dictionary meaning

fearsome

w ww

. te

camouflage

m . u

vantage

o c . che e r o t r s super

Put these words into alphabetical order in the footprints. reptile, quickly, harsh, hisses, brightly

R.I.C. Publications

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Name:

Interesting Word Chart Passage

My meaning

Dictionary meaning

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

Word

rali Aust an i n A mals

w ww

. te

m . u

o c . che e r o t r s super

R.I.C. Publications

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R.I.C. Publications

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Frilled Lizard

Tasmanian Devil

Black Swan

Dingo

Kookaburra

Koala

Echidna

Platypus

marsupial

. te

Emu

Kangaroo

Mammal, reptile, bird or marsupial (monotreme)

o c . che e r o t r s super

m . u no

Nocturnal

w ww grassy plains

ginger/yellow fur

Put an appropriate answer in the boxes for each animal.

Teac hCovering er Home

Australian Animals - Semantic Grid

ew i ev Pr

one in pouch

Young

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

dead carcasses road kill

Diet

rali Aust an i n A mals

Australian Animal Report

rali Aust an i n A mals

Name: Title:

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

Classification:

Location:

w ww

. te

m . u

o c . che e r o t r s super

Dynamics: (What it can do.)

Drawing of my animal.

R.I.C. Publications

32 www.ricgroup.com.au

Frilled lizard Tasmanian devil Koala Black swan e c h Dingo l v m a Platypus o a k n Kookaburra Echidna t q c g d u Emu t a s m a n i a Kangaroo Flora h j e o p i x f Fauna f c p b u d i k Marsupial r w u e m a r u Pouch Dugong o f l r i l e Possum o r p f l a Wallaby Litter g b v Nest Eggs Fur Spine Mob Pack Can you find the word that means change to survive? Den

. te

o c . che e r o t r s super

m . u

R.I.C. Publications

www.ricgroup.com.au

z s

m o

Teac he r

Australian Animal Word Sleuth

w ww

Find the words in the sleuth.

ew i ev Pr

d e

j b

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

rali Aust an i n A mals

Australian Animal Quiz 1. What is the term to describe Australian (a)

plants?

(b)

animals?

rali Aust an i n A mals

12. Name two things that make the platypus so unusual. (a) (b)

2. Explain what adaptation means.

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

13. The echidna is an egg-laying mammal. TRUE

FALSE

14. What is the echidna's favourite food?

and

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

3. Name two Australian marsupials.

15. Australia's wild dogs are called

4. What is a monotreme?

16. Why can they be pests to farmers?

5. Name the two animals on the National Coat of Arms.

7. The emu is Australia's largest flying bird.

w ww

TRUE

18. What does the kookaburra like to eat?

m . u

©andR. I . C.Pub l i c at i o ns sing? 17. Why do kookaburras What are young kangaroos called? •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• FALSE

8. What products can we get from farmed emus?

. te

o c . The koala is not a bear. che e r o TRUE FALSE r t s super

19. Why isn't the Tasmanian devil not found on mainland Australia?

10. Why would a koala need to swim?

20. Name of the Tasmanian devil's home.

11. What does a platypus eat? SCORE /20 R.I.C. Publications

34 www.ricgroup.com.au

Answers Page 4

rali Aust an i n A mals

1. (a) flora, (b) fauna 2. Isolated from other countries; large contrasts in habitats/climates; other possible answers. 3. (a) Eastern Alps/Tasmania, (b) Central desert regions. 4. Become flightless as it has no natural predators. 5. Dress to suit hot/cold; keep out of the sun; other possible answers. 1. (a) Unique - different from others. (b) Harsh - cruel or severe. (c) Predator - to hunt other animals for food. 2. Flora - eucalypt, saltbush, Sturt desert pea, wattle, waratah, native grasstree. Fauna - possum, platypus, wombat, bilby, koala, emu. 3. ea - eastern, leaves, pea, heat. er - other, over, desert, eastern, characteristics, spiders. al - natural, physical, central, animals. ur - surviving, occur, Sturt. 4. Drawings of narrow, drooping leaves, raindrops to roots.

Not a bear, but a marsupial. 20 hours. Spends most of its life living in trees. To escape danger or seek new food. Answers may vary.

Page 15

1. Teacher check. 2. Teacher check. 3. Arboreal - spends most of its life in a tree, Marsupial - mammals who carry and feed their young in a pouch. Independent - able to act or think on its own. Diet - to eat certain types of food.

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

Page 6

1. Animals change physical and behavioural characteristics to survive in the environment. 2. Millions of years. 3. 5 possible answers in text. 4. To survive in changing conditions.

Page 7

1. Australia, unique, isolation, world, animals, changed, characteristics, behaviour, environments, survive. 2. (a) The wombat is specially adapted to dig and live in burrows. (b) Australia has many animals that have unique adaptations. (c) The sugar glider is a possum that is able to glide between trees to escape from its enemies. 3. Burrow - wombat/platypus. Tree - koala/possum. Open plains - kangaroo/emu.

Page 16

1. Tasmania, eastern coast of Australia, freshwater sections of rivers. 2. Monotreme. 3. Insect larvae, worms, shrimp, shellfish. 4. To escape cold winters. 5. Answers may vary.

Page 17

1. Mammal, monotreme, existed, millions, duckbill, webbed, tail, waterproof, fur. 2. Teacher check. 3. Waterproof, large broad tail, webbed feet, duckbill.

Page 18

1. Spiny fast tongue. 2. Ants, termites. 3. Tongue covered in sticky fluid, flicks in and out rapidly, stretches to 20 cm in length. 4. Curls up into a tight ball, digs underground. 5. Teacher check.

1. Egg-laying mammals. 2. Dugong, flying fox, whale, dolphin, dingo. 3. (a) pouch to rear young, feed young milk. (b) young born very small and wriggle way to pouch. 4. Wombat, kangaroo, koala, possum. 5. Answers may vary.

w ww

Page 10

1. Teacher check.

1. Teacher check. 2. Relative - someone who is part of your family. Incubate - to keep warm naturally or artificially. Rapidly - fast, quickly. Fluid - a substance that can flow, either a liquid or gas. 3. (a) No, (b) Yes, (c) Yes, (d) No, (e) Yes

Page 20

1. Mainland Australia was separated from Tasmania long before dingoes arrived. 2. Yelps, barks. 3. Larger prey like sheep or cattle. 4. Through fishermen nearly 4 000 years ago. 5. Winter. Answers may vary.

Page 21

1. Teacher check. 2. Litter - Pups Mob - Kangaroos Herd - Cattle Pack - Dingoes Flock - Seagulls 3. Teacher check.

2. Yes, no, yes, yes, no.

1. Born blind, hairless and underdeveloped, weighs less than 1 gram, crawls unaided to pouch. 2. Mobs. 3. (a) to move quickly over long distances. (b) to balance. 4. red, grey, water, grass. 5. Answers may vary.

. te

o c . che e r o t r s super

Page 11

Teacher check.

Page 12

1. 50 c. 2. Leather, meat, oil. 3. Breeding season in winter, nest is low platform of twigs and leaves, 9-12 eggs, male sits on eggs for 8 weeks, laid, male rarely eats/drinks while nesting, chicks born with striped feathers. 4. Teacher check.

Page 13.

Page 19

m . u

Page 8

Page 9

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

Page 5

Page 14

Teacher check. Quiz: 1. Mob 2. Wings too small/adapted to having no natural enemies. 3. Insects, plants, native fruits. 4. Twigs, leaves. 5. False 6. Kangaroo, emu. 7. False 8. 8 weeks 9. 3 metres 10. Winter

Page 22

1. To signal danger, to claim a new territory. 2. Black, brown, blue. 3. Fledglings. 4. Roost together at night to look bigger, living in pairs or family groups, use of keen eyesight. 5. Answers may vary.

Page 23

1. Teacher check. Quiz: 1. Its laugh. 2. Kingfisher. 3. False. 4. To catch small prey like insects and reptiles. 5. Fledglings. 6. 25 days. 7. Cats, foxes, butcher birds, wedge-tailed eagles. 8. Insects, reptiles. 9. Batter it. 10. True.

Page 24

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

R.I.C. Publications

The dead body of an animal. To help feel its way in the dark. Couldn't compete with dingo for the same food. Foraging. Answers may vary.

35 www.ricgroup.com.au

Answers 1. The Tasmanian devil once lived on mainland Australia. They are the largest of the flesh-eating marsupials still alive. Tasmanian devils often live off dead carcasses and road kill. It is a nocturnal marsupial which spends night hours gathering food. Four young can be reared until they are old enough to fend for themselves. 2. (a) Scavengers - an animal which eats flesh from dead animals. (b) Poultry - birds such as chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese which are used for food production. (c) Fierce - wild or violent. (d) Fend - to fight off or resist. 3. Teacher check.

Page 33

Word - adapt

Page 34

1. (a) flora, (b) fauna 2. Changing characteristics or behaviour to survive in an environment. 3. Answers may vary (koala, kangaroo, bilby, wombat, etc. 4. An egg-laying mammal. 5. Emu, kangaroo. 6. Joeys. 7. False. 8. Leather, meat, oil. 9. True. 10. To escape danger, seek new feed. 11. Shellfish, insect larvae, worms, shrimps. 12. Duckbill, broad flat tail, webbed feet, egg-laying mammal, waterproof fur. 13. True. 14. Ants and termites. 15. Dingoes. 16. Can hunt in packs, attack small livestock. 17. To claim a new territory, at dusk/dawn, to signal danger. 18. Snakes, rodents, small birds, insects. 19. Forced from the mainland by competition with dingoes for the same food. 20. Den.

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

Page 26

1. 1697, Dutch, William de Vlamingh. 2. Strokes an oil gland on its tail and then spreads oil to its feathers. 3. Waterways further inland dry up. 4. (a) Young swan, (b) large group of swans

Page 27

1. Swans, lakes, grasses, clutch, grey, cygnets, feathers, wings, orange-red. 2. Teacher check. 3. Teacher check.

Page 28

1. Dragon. 2. (a) to fend off danger. (b) to spread heat and cool its body temperature. 3. Insects, mice, other creatures in trees or on the ground small enough to swallow. 4. Answers may vary. 5. (a) true, (b) false, (c) true, (d) false, (e) true, (f) true. 6. To catch prey by remaining very still and hard to see.

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

Page 25

rali Aust an i n A mals

1. Teacher check. 2. Teacher check 3. Brightly, harsh, hisses, quickly, reptile.

insects, mice, small creatures brightly covered frill, black belly, scales

dead carcasses road kill 4 or more pups

12 eggs in nest

black hair/fur

Tasmania

drier, warmer regions

4-7 pale green water plants, eggs grasses

rats, lizards, rabbits, wallbies, kangaroos

insects and reptiles

eucalypt leaves one in pouch

ants and termites

no reptile

Frilled Lizard

yes marsupial

Tasmanian Devil

black feathers

rivers, lakes, swamps no

bird

Black Swan

ginger/yellow fur

mammal

Dingo

1-4 eggs

1-8 pups

mainland Australia

no bird

Kookaburra

grey hair

brown/white feathers, blue tip wings

yes marsupial

Koala

mainland Australia

one egg in pouch

monotreme

Echidna

yes monotreme

Platypus

open forests or spines with sandy deserts dark brown hair

brown hair

freshwater riverbanks

no bird

Emu

1-3 eggs in burrow

5-12 eggs in nest

marsupial

Kangaroo

grassy plains

one in pouch

brown/black feathers

grassy plains

(mainland Australia)

yes

o c . che e r o t r s super eucalypt trees

water and grass insects, native fruit, plants, water

Young

Mammal, reptile, bird or marsupial (monotreme)

Nocturnal

Home

Covering

. te

grey/red hair

Diet

w ww

shellfish, shrimps, worms, insect larvae

Page 31

m . u

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R.I.C. Publications

36 www.ricgroup.com.au