TELEVISION SERIES
Freaks and Creeps
LEARNING TASK EPISODE
Devil Island
LEARNING LEVEL
Upper Primary, Junior Secondary
SUBJECTS
Science, Biology
UPPER PRIMARY
Task 1
Write definitions to explain the difference between the following terms:
• mammal
• marsupial
• monotreme
Task 2
Many animals appear in Devil Island, including the following: pademelon, wallaby, quoll, Tasmanian devil, echidna, wombat, cat, platypus, crayfish.
• Which of these animals is the odd one out and why?
• Which animals in the list above are monotremes?
• Which animals are marsupials?
• Which are mammals?
• Which animal is feral (not naturally occurring in Tasmania)?
Task 3
Choose two of the animals from Devil Island and compile a fact file about them including the following:
• What type of animals they are
• Average weight and height when fully grown
• Average lifespan
• Range or distribution
• Preferred habitat (where they like to live)
• Diet (what they like to eat)
• How young are born and raised
• Average size and weight of young when born
• Defence mechanisms
• Major threats (if any)
Task 4
Write a description of the Tasmanian tiger in about 50 words, including what type of animal it was, what it looked like and what happened to it. Accompany your description with a drawing of the tiger.
Task 5
The Tasmanian devil has a problem. Do some Internet research to help you write 100 words explaining what the problem is and what action has been taken to control it.
JUNIOR SECONDARY
Task 1
Do some Internet research to find answers to the following questions:
• What was Gondwana?
• What caused it to break up?
• How long ago did it break up?
• When did Tasmania become an island?
• What caused this to happen?
Task 2
Write a definition to explain the meaning of the term bio-geographic isolation. Give five examples from Tasmania to illustrate your definition.
Task 3
In about 100 words, explain the differences between mammals, marsupial and monotremes, giving two examples of each.
Task 4
Compare and contrast the Tasmanian Devil and Tasmanian Tiger. Write a 50-word description of each, and a further 50 words to explain what they have in common and how they differ.
Task 5
Do some Internet research to find out about biosecurity:
• What is it?
• Why is it important?
• What biosecurity rules do visitors to Tasmania have to observe?
• In your opinion, are the rules tough enough, or could they be improved? Explain why.
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