Identifying invertebrates

Identifying invertebrates

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This task is about using a key to name some animals.

You have 5 pictures of animals. Look at each animal in turn. Follow the arrows on the key to find out its name.

One segment - A

 

 segment - B

 

 D
legs - C
 E


KEY

  

Name of animal from following the key

A

  

B

  

C

  

D

  

E

  

 

Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper.
Level:
4
Curriculum info: 
Science, Communicating in science, Living World
Keywords: 
nemp, evolution, classification, identification, invertebrates, respiration, keys, classification keys
Description of task: 
For this NEMP task students use a key to name five small animals. They answer a question about the gas animals need to survive.
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 how to read identification keys.
 
Science capabilities: 
Interpret representations
Making Better Sense: 
Invertebrates
Answers/responses: 

 

Y8 (09/1999)

a)
A –  Woodlouse
B –  Earwig
C –  Centipede
D –  Spider
E –  Millipede

Number correct:
5 correct
4 correct
3 correct
2 correct
1 correct
0 correct

82%
82%
65%
93%
62%

56%
2%
27%
5%
6%
4%

Commentary
Performance on the animal key task improved slightly from 1995 to 1999. Students had greatest difficulty in distinguishing the centipede and the millipede.