Possums' coats

Possums' coats

Pencil and paperOnline interactive
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This task is about reading text and a diagram to interpret information.
Possum's coats
 
Scientists have found that the percentage of grey-coated and black-coated possums in an area can be related to the annual rainfall of the area. 
 
The percentage of black-coated possums increases by 1% with every 20 mm rise in annual rainfall. 
 
This graphic diagram shows the percentage (%) numbers of black- and grey-coated possums in five different areas.
 

Question

a)  Which area has the greatest rainfall?

    • 1

    • 2

    • 3

    • 4

    • 5

Question 1Change answer

b)  If the annual rainfall in Area 1 is 1400 mm, calculate what would it be in Area 4.
      mm

Question

c)  Differences in a population, like the coat colour differences in possums, are known as 

    • variation

    • individual choice

    • genetic manipulation

    • cloning

Question 1Change answer

d)  In another area, scientists want to know the percentage of grey-coated and black-coated possums.
     Outline a method the scientists could use to find out the percentage of each coat colour for this area.
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper or online.
Level:
5
Curriculum info: 
Science, Investigating in science, Living World
Keywords: 
ecology, adaptation, variation, possums
Description of task: 
Students are given a diagram and information on the ratios of black- to grey-coated possums. Students answer questions relating to this information as well as identifying a method that could be used to determine the percentage of each coat colour.
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 different graphing methods scientists use to represent data.
 
Capability: Gather and interpret data
This resource provides opportunities to discuss methodology of fair tests.

Capability: Use evidence
This resource provides opportunities to discuss what/how much evidence is needed to support an explanation.
Science capability: Use evidence (TKI)
 
Science capabilities: 
Gather and interpret data, Interpret representations, Use evidence
Answers/responses: 

 

Y10 (06/2001)

a)

Area 5

easy

b)

1540

difficult

c)

A (variation)

easy

d)

Any 1 of: 

  • Trap a number of possums and from this calculate the percentage of each coat colour.
  • Find/calculate the annual rainfall of the area and compare this with previous data to work out coat colour percentages.

difficult