Teacher Resource

Weedy Seadragon

1.  Explain the BTN Weedy Seadragon story to another student.

2.  Think of three adjectives to describe the weedy seadragon.

3.  Weedy seadragons are an introduced species. True or false?

4.  Where in Australia are they found?

5.  Why are scientists concerned about the seadragons?

6.  How are scientists identifying them?

7.  What do the scientists do when they identify a new weedy seadragon?

8.  Scientists think the species will be re-classified as ______.

9.  What are the threats to the weedy seadragon?

10.  What did you learn about the BTN story?

Class Discussion

After watching the BTN Weedy Seadragon story, respond to the following questions:

Discuss the BTN Weedy Seadragon story as a class. What questions were raised in the discussion (what are the gaps in their knowledge)? The KWLH organiser provides students with a framework to explore their knowledge on this topic and consider what they would like to know and learn.

What do I know? / What do I want to know? / What have I learnt? / How will I find out?

Creature Feature report

Students will research and write a Creature Feature about the Weedy Seadragon. Display your research around the classroom or make a book for the class library. Use this Creature Feature: The Weedy Seadragon worksheet to record your findings.

Information report

Students will create an information report about weedy seadragons. The following may help guide students’ research:

·  Description of a weedy seadragon

·  Diet, habitat

·  The life cycle of a seadragon

·  Adaptations

·  Threats

·  Interesting facts about seadragons

Structure and features of an information report

Information reports are factual texts written to inform and provide detailed facts about a topic. Discuss with students what they already know about the purpose, structure and features of an information report. Use the following as a guide to use with students.

·  Purpose – An information report provides information to the reader by stating facts.

·  Structure – see table below.

·  Language features – write in the present tense, use technical or scientific words and write in the third person.

Students can then use the following plan to help write their report. They can present their reports using publishing software or as a brochure.

Information report – structure
Title / States a topic
Introduction / The opening statement explains the subject of the report, and includes a definition or short description.
Body / Facts grouped into paragraphs. Starts with a topic sentence. Include subject specific language.
Text features such as sub-headings, labelled diagrams, charts and captioned photographs may be included.
Conclusion / A summary of what the topic is about and end with an interesting fact.

Create a Quiz

Use Kahoot! to test students’ knowledge about seadragons. Quizzes can be created to recap learning or test personal knowledge. There is also the option to connect with classrooms around the world and play kahoot in real time.

Port Phillip Bay – Common Seadragon
http://portphillipmarinelife.net.au/species/8007

Australian Museum – Common Seadragon
https://australianmuseum.net.au/weedy-seadragon-phyllopteryx-taeniolatus

ABC News – Scientists track threatened weedy seadragon population using marine `facial recognition’
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-14/seadragon-research-tracks-threatened-species-in-australia/8523924

©ABC 2017