June 26-July 8, 2015 Current Events Lesson Plan
Current Event: Beware of Sinister Kangaroos
Scientists recently discovered that handedness (having one dominant hand) is a physical characteristic that kangaroos share with humans. However, unlike humans, kangaroos are nearly all left-handed. During months of observing different species of marsupials in Australia, scientists recorded information on hand preference as the animals groomed themselves, grabbed and held food, and leaned on their forearms while eating. What stood out among the data was that nearly all kangaroos used their left hand exclusively for the tasks. The scientists proposed that bipedal locomotion (two-legged walking) helps foster a hand preference. Humans are unique among living primates in that we make extensive use of walking on two legs. Among mammals, only kangaroos are known to move about primarily on their hind legs. Many human cultures have traditionally discouraged left-handedness. The word sinister comes from the Latin word for left. Many phrases in English demonstrate a traditionally unfavorable view of left-handedness. The scientists presume that kangaroos do not share this bias against southpaws.
Objective:
Kangaroos are mammals that live in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands. Kangaroos are marsupials—mammals that give birth to extremely underdeveloped offspring, which the mother then carries in a pouch until they are developed. In general, kangaroos rest during the day and search for food in the late evening and early morning. They sometimes gather at feeding sites in groups called mobs. Otherwise, the animals live alone or in small groups consisting of a mother and her young. Red kangaroos, which are the largest living marsupials, typically inhabit deserts and dry grasslands of central Australia. Eastern gray kangaroos live chiefly in forests and grasslands of southern and eastern Australia. Western gray kangaroos are found across the southern part of the country. Tree kangaroos live mostly in forests of Australia and New Guinea. They have smaller, furrier bodies than other kangaroos, and they sleep and eat mostly in trees. The Behind the Headlines news story and related World Book articles explore kangaroos and other animals.
Words to know:
Discussion Topics:
1. Ask your students to name some animals, besides kangaroos, that are native to Australia. (Students might name cassowaries, emus, koalas, platypuses, wallabies, wombats.)
2. Ask your students what they know about Australia. (Students might say that it is the only country that is also a continent; Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere; Sydney is the largest city and Canberra is the national capital; the Aboriginal people were the first humans to arrive in Australia.)
3. Ask your students to use World Book’s Timelines feature to view or add to the History of Australia timeline. (Students may wish to use World Book’s History of Australia article for help.)