Activity time: 10 minutes

Preparation for Activity

Gather books, pictures and information about the platypus. If you have access to a computer during the session, plan to share multimedia resources. Your local library may have Platypus! by Ginjer L. Clarke, illustrated by Paul Mirocha (New York: Random House, 2004), as well as other books.

• Here are some online sources:

  • A YouTube clip of real platypuses
  • Factual information and a simple, annotated line-drawing on the Enchanted Learning website
  • A comprehensive U.K. website, The Complete Platypus
  • On the B.B.C. website - information and images in its Mammals - Up Close

Description of Activity

Lead a learning session about the platypus based on information and materials you have gathered. The platypus is a mammal which mostly lives in the water, native only to the eastern Australian continent. Point out the animal's features and what they are used for.