Praying mantis

Praying mantis

Pencil and paperOnline interactive
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Working with Students
Further Resources
This task is about features of animals that help them to survive.

Question 1Change answer

Look carefully at the picture. Write about the parts of the praying mantis that help it to survive. An example has been done for you.
The green colour of the praying mantis helps it to hide in the grass or on leaves.
praying mantis
Photo source: P.R Clerke, DOC.
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper or online.
Levels:
2, 4
Curriculum info: 
Science, Knowledge, Living World
Keywords: 
nemp, Life processes, adaptation, praying mantis
Description of task: 
For this NEMP task students write about the parts of a praying mantis that help it survives.
Curriculum Links: 

Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.
 
Capability: Gather and interpret data
This resource provides opportunities to discuss using careful observations as evidence.
 

Capability: Use evidence
This resource provides opportunities to discuss using evidence e.g., features to help explain how animals survive.
Science capability: Use evidence (TKI)
 
Science capabilities: 
Gather and interpret data, Use evidence
Making Better Sense: 
Adaptation
Answers/responses: 

 

Y4 (10/1999)

Y8 (09/1999)
- strong legs for hopping, walking, attacking
- long front legs, able to reach out to catch prey
- grappling hooks on forelegs to aid climbing
- wide apart bulbous compound eyes to give maximum vision
- biting jaws to eat other insects – not plants
- wings to fly
- antennae/feelers to feel/sense
 

Number of valid responses:
4-5
2-3
0-1

21%
19%
13%
13%
6%
37%
32%

  


5%
38%
57%

27%
28%
20%
18%
10%
53%
46%

   


10%
56%
34%
Diagnostic and formative information: 
Commentary
A majority of year 4 students identified less than two adaptive features, as did one third of the year 8 students.