Morning Starters: Autumn 1 - Animal Athletes
Did You Know?
Found in the Australian outback, the red kangaroo is one of Australia’s most iconic animals and the largest marsupial in the world. It has powerful hind legs that enable it to jump great heights and incredible distances with a single leap. The tendons, which run down the back of its legs, act like a spring – compressing and decompressing to give the animal its characteristic hopping motion.
Where in the world is the Australian outback? Click the 🌍
Word Challenge
Just like a joey can be found inside its mother’s pouch, words can often be found hiding within a longer word.
List the words that can be found within the words underlined in the ‘Did you know?’ paragraph.
Example:
incredible – red
Grammar Challenge
Rewrite the sentence below, replacing the underlined adjectives with synonyms.
The crimson-coated kangaroo, with powerful hind legs, leapt across the barren wilderness.
Challenge: Write a follow-on sentence that includes a simile.
Number Challenge
Kangaroo A jumped 6.6 metres.
Kangaroo B jumped 7.4 metres.
What distance did kangaroo C jump if the mean average jump distance for the 3 kangaroos was 7 metres?
Critical Thinking
When kangaroos jump, do you think they feel happy or excited? Why do you think this?