Animals in Zoos

Animals in Zoos

Pencil and paperOnline interactive
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Marking Student Responses
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Further Resources
This task is about developing an argument about keeping animals in zoos.
Some people think that it is wrong to keep animals in zoos.
Other people think it is good to have animals in zoos.
Read the information below and think about this issue.
Then do the tasks that follow.
Otter.png Red-panda.png
I'm an ORIENTAL SMALL- CLAWED OTTER and in the wild we live near the streams and rivers of South-East Asia. Sadly these streams are becoming polluted and it's getting harder and harder for us to find food in them. At Wellington Zoo you'll find me just as  you walk out of the main entrance and if you're around at 1.30 pm you can watch me being fed. Yay! Grapes again for lunch. You'd never know it but red pandas, like me, usually eat bamboo in our wild homes in the Himalayas. But I'd do anything for a grape – even pose with my tongue hanging out. My name is Reka, which means "beautiful" in Māori. Once I escaped from Wellington Zoo and explored Island Bay, but these days I hang around home.

Question 1Change answer

a)  List two arguments for, and two arguments against, keeping animals in zoos.
For Zoos Against Zoos

Question 1Change answer

b)  Choose one side or the other of the argument.
Use the two reasons from your chart and any other ideas to write a short paragraph that tells people your views on keeping animals in zoos.
It is right to keep animals in zoos, or It is wrong to keep animals in zoos.
For Zoos Against Zoos
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper or online.
Copyright: 
Text and image source: 'Presto', Evening Post. Tuesday, November 18, 1997. Permission for use.
Level:
3
Curriculum info: 
English, Creating meaning, Writing
Key Competencies: 
Thinking, Using language, symbols, and texts
Keywords: 
debating, point of view, argument, opinion, supporting ideas
Description of task: 
Students are required to identify arguments for and against keeping animals in zoos and then use these to write a paragraph expressing their point of view about this issue.
Learning Progression Frameworks
This resource can provide evidence of learning associated with
Creating texts to influence others, set 3
within the Writing Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Read more about the Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Answers/responses: 
 

Y6 (11/1998)
a) For any 2 reasonable arguments in support of zoos, e.g.:

  • Zoos protect animals.
  • People enjoy zoos.
  • Zoos are educational.

For any 2 reasonable arguments against zoos, e.g.:

  • Zoos (environments) are not natural.
  • It is wrong to keep wild animals in cages.
  • Animals in zoos look sad.
 2 marks – moderate

1 mark – very easy

 

 

2 marks – difficult

1 mark – easy
b) Opening sentence states the opinion of the writer.
2 ideas presented.
Conventional sentence structure used, i.e., capitals, fullstops.		 easy
moderate
moderate
Teaching and learning: