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Morning Starters: Autumn 2 - Urban Animals

Wednesday

Did You Know?

In Singapore, smooth-coated otters have made an extraordinary leap into city life. These clever creatures now navigate pavements and parks, sharing spaces with humans. Unlike their traditional riverside homes, the city presents new dangers, such as busy roads and pollution. Despite these challenges, the otters (like many other animal species) are determined to thrive. Their adaptability showcases how wildlife can and must adjust as urbanisation increasingly encroaches on natural habitats worldwide.

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Word Challenge

The word ‘urbanisation’ refers to the process by which towns and cities grow in size, often leading to the destruction of natural habitats.
Create a list of words, using letters found in the word ‘urbanisation’.
Example:
nation, rain, orbit, …

Grammar Challenge

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Use the ‘Power of Three’ to describe the actions of a smooth-coated otter moving through a city. 

Example:

The otter darted along the pavement, slipped through a narrow drain and emerged beside a glistening fountain.

Number Challenge

  • A smooth-coated otter is a quadruped. A quadruped is animal with four feet.

Calculate how many feet the following numbers of otters have:

1) 14 otters

2) 28 otters

3) 560 otters

Critical Thinking

If you were a smooth-coated otter, would you prefer to live in a city or the countryside? Why do you think this?