Prerequisite Maths Skills
Pupils will require the following skills to access this sequence of activities:
NUMBER – ability to represent length, weight, age and volume by number
SPACE, SHAPE AND MEASURE – ability to measure length and weight
NUMERACY AND MATHEMATICS – ability to calculate percentages, ratios and scales
HANDLING DATA – ability to draw graphs and read data from graphs and tables
ICT SKILLS – ability to access data electronically, and to use common programs (Word, graphing with Excel)
Brief lesson outline
The five-lesson sequence takes the pupil through these activities:
View photos and video, and compare data on other mammal birth weights to understand the underdeveloped nature of kangaroos at birth
Explore everyday representations of the size of a newborn joey
Use growth chart to graph (foot and tail lengths and weight) versus age of each of five different marsupials (kangaroos and wallabies), to illustrate a joey’s growth in the mother’s pouch.
For each of the five marsupials, present the graphs on posters, illustrating the graphs with relevant photos of the young and adult animals.
‘Adopt’ and name an individual joey from the generating your joey software.
Measure the adopted joey’s tail and leg lengths, and interpret the aforementioned graphs to determine the joey’s species and age.
Take on a veterinarian role, and use the identified species and age to determine the type and amount of milk formula from the feed chart for different kangaroos that the adopted joey needs to be fed in order to survive.
Create a poster, ‘How to Save a Baby Kangaroo’ for the species of the adopted joey, outlining the steps needed to identify the species and age of the joey, and hence, to determine the correct feeding formula. Groups within the class will develop the five information posters for each of the species.
Reflect at the end of each lesson, and again at the end of the whole activity, to identify the mathematical skills which have been developed and applied
:
This case has been prepared with these broad aims in mind:
A. To develop in the pupil:
1. A range of mathematical skills through their use in a practical scenario
2. An awareness of the practical nature of mathematics as a tool for everyday use
3. Confidence in the application of mathematics to everyday situations
B. To develop in the teacher the confidence and skills to use and manage open-ended problem-solving tasks in the learning of mathematics.
Suggested Assessment