Birds' egg detective

Birds' egg detective

Pencil and paper
Overview
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Working with Students
Further Resources

This chart identifies some birds' eggs.

Use the chart above to answer the following questions.

a)  How many kinds of birds' eggs can be identified using this key? __________

b)  How many of these birds lay coloured eggs? __________

c)  Write the name of the bird which lays these eggs:  

  i)  ____________________ A white egg
     
  ii) ____________________
A light blue egg
     
  iii) ____________________
A green/brown egg  speckled with red-brown

d)  Which bird lays plain brown eggs? ____________________

 

Level:
3
Curriculum info: 
Science, Communicating in science, Living World
Keywords: 
birds, eggs, keys, classification, classification keys
Description of task: 
Students use a chart that identifies some birds' eggs to answer short response questions.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.
 
Capability: Interpret representations
This resource provides opportunities to discuss the purposes of identification keys and how to read them.
 
Science capabilities: 
Interpret representations
Making Better Sense: 
Birds
Answers/responses: 
 

Y6 (10/99)
a)   8 easy
b)   5 moderate
c) i)ii)iii) KingfisherStarlingBlackbird moderateeasyeasy
d)   House sparrow easy
Diagnostic and formative information: 
  Common error
c) i)       ii)    iii) Barn owl – 28% of studentsGrebe – 13% of studentsHedge sparrow – 19% of studentsSongthrush – 12% of students