An analysis of relevant features given by students shows that the most common responses were flipper, mentioned in 50% of the correct answers, and streamlined body (21%). 

Other features were much less likely to be mentioned. This is not surprising as they could not be observed on the picture provided, and would only be mentioned by those students who already knew about these features, rather than using the picture as a prompt. Of these, 11% of correct answers mentioned dense or waterproof fur, 8% mentioned blubber, small external ear (3%), and webbing between toes (1%).

Common errors covered a wide pattern within these categories:

1. Features not related to swimming e.g., four legs, feet, etc.
2. Incorrect features, e.g., no fur, etc.
3. Gave reasons why sea lions would go swimming, e.g., nice and cool, to catch fish, etc.

Next learning steps

1. Find photographs on the Internet or in books and get children to observe the features more closely (use the keywords 'Hookers sea lion' for a New Zealand example). Some prompts could be:
   • What features can you see?
   • What do you notice about its ears/legs/etc?
   • What do you notice about its shape/covering?
   • Look carefully at its limbs.
2. Ask students to suggest how their special features help sea lions survive in water. Some prompting questions could be:
   • What features help it move through the water? •
   • How does it keep warm?
3. Students could also discuss how some of its features have contributed to its endangered status.
   • Hunted for its fur.
   • Drowns when it is caught in trawling nets (sea lions are mammals, so need to surface to breathe).