NZ Animal Fossil Match
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NZ Animal Fossil Match
🦴 Part 1: Fossil and Animal Matching
Instructions: Match each fossil card (A-J) with the correct animal card (1-10). Draw a line to connect them in the matching activity below.
Fact: This bird was 3.6 metres tall!
Fact: Had tiny wings but couldn't fly
Fact: Had 15cm long claws
Fact: Nocturnal ground dweller
Fact: NZ's only native land mammal
Fact: Living fossil, unchanged for millions of years
Fact: No tadpole stage in development
Fact: Excellent swimmer and diver
Fact: Smallest dolphin in the world
Fact: Has yellow feathers on head
Brown flightless bird with long beak
Giant extinct flightless bird
Spiky reptile with third eye
Small flying mammal
Massive extinct bird of prey
Rare penguin with golden eyes
Small grey and white dolphin
Large marine mammal
Tiny native frog
Large blue flightless bird
🔍 Part 2: Extinct or Alive?
Moa:
Extinct Alive todayKiwi:
Extinct Alive todayHaast's eagle:
Extinct Alive todayTuatara:
Extinct Alive todayTakahe:
Extinct Alive todayShort-tailed bat:
Extinct Alive todayArchey's frog:
Extinct Alive todayHector's dolphin:
Extinct Alive today📝 Part 3: Fill in the Facts
Word Bank: 3.6 metres, nocturnal, flightless, claws, mammal, reptile, tadpoles, endangered
1. The Moa was a _____________ bird that grew up to _____________ tall.
2. The Kiwi is _____________ which means it is active at night.
3. Haast's eagle had massive _____________ for catching prey.
4. The short-tailed bat is New Zealand's only native land _____________.
5. The Tuatara is a _____________ that has barely changed in millions of years.
6. Archey's frog develops without _____________ stage.
7. Many of these native animals are now _____________ and need protection.
🎨 Part 4: Design Your Own Fossil
🧠 Part 5: Extension Activities
🌟 Differentiation Support
For students needing extra support:
• Work with a partner to complete the matching activity
• Use the word bank for all fill-in-the-blank questions
• Focus on just 5 animals instead of all 10
For advanced learners:
• Research the scientific names for each animal
• Explain the food chain relationships between these animals
• Compare NZ animals with similar animals from other countries
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