Activity G12: Protecting the Skink

Great Barrier Island Activity

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Teacher Manual P 34

Technology Level 2

Materials, Structures and Mechanisms - Environmental Community

Created 15/09/2001

Strand B Technological Capability

(AO 5,6)
Within a range of technological areas and contexts, students should produce technological solutions


5. They will gather information, identify and discuss needs, opportunities, and preferences in their local environment.

6. They will with reference to identified needs and opportunities:

  1. discuss possible solutions and strategies and develop a suitable option
  2. identify and gather necessary resources, and model or make their preferred solution
  3. show and describe examples of their intentions, progress, and outcomes to others
  4. describe how satisfied they are with their progress and outcomes, and how well they are achieving the intended solution
  • Students consider the needs of some specific animal (skink) in terms of protection from predators or pests, access to foods, suitable habitats etc
  • Groups discuss possible solutions, and gather and collate details of the requirements, such as the development og suitable habitat, controlled access feeding system, feeding devices, predator or pest capture devices (cats or goats), predator or pest monitoring system etc
  • They show some plans and designs. Producing a model or a system, in consultation with the relevant information
  • They evaluate their progress and check their ideas against the specialised information available to them - web page
  • They prepare a pamphlet explaining how their device helps the animal

Read Skinks, Chevron Skink Facts, Conservation, Goats and Cats.

  1. List what skinks need

    1. to feed on


    2. to keep warm


    3. in their habitat


  2. Why are these animals dangerous to skinks?

    1. cats



    2. goats



  3. How could skinks be monitored or protected from the effects of these animals?

    1. cats


    2. goats


  4. Design a solution that protects or monitors skinks in their habitat. Note the following details of your solution

    • Design idea


    • Purpose


    • Construction features


    • draw a plan of your design here

       


  5. Produce a cardboard or similar material example of your device

  6. Use the list below to evaluate your progress

     

    List the food skinks need

    Describe how your device helps skinks get the food they need

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


    or

    List the habitats skinks need

    Describe how your device helps keep the habitat safe for skinks

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


  7. Design a brochure to explain how your device works and the benefits to skinks. Use 1 A4 sheet of paper folded in half. Look at some of the brochures in the Teacher Kit for ideas and examples.

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