Counting Kakahi answer sheet (draft)

This week in Te Ngahere we have been a given a reading called ‘Counting Kākahi’. We had to make a document and answer some questions that related to Kākahi (Kākahi are freshwater mussels) and the Whanganui River (were the reading was set). Our WALT was to summarise the main ideas we read. We also had to find the distance from Whanganui to our school. It takes 7h and 45m! And that’s when there is no traffic! Imagine what it’s like when there is a huge traffic jam!! One of our activities was to list 25 important words. I think I did a good job locating words and I think I could work on is try and pay attention to the questions. My Digital Learning Object (a google slide, drawing or doc to share your learning)  explains what the article was about. Hope you enjoy!

BEFORE READING

Find out where the Whanganui River is.

Write down what you know about kākahi

Kakahi are freshwater mussels.

DURING READING

Read page 2

Write down the 25 most important words in the tables
below

Kakahi	Worldwide	Freshwater mussels
Buttons	Plastic	Massively
Pollutants	Waterways	Reproduce
Research	Kaumatua	Disappeared
Algae	Bacteria	Siphon

Threatened	Animals
Reduced	Affected
Rare	Threatened
Remaining	Filter feeders
Whanganui	Stomach

Using these words summarise the main ideas from this page.
Kakahi or freshwater mussels
have reduced dramatically worldwide. People used to gather
Kakahi to use the shell for buttons before there was plastic
buttons. Some of the fish that help Kakahi in the
Whanganui River are now rare or threatened. Kakahi are
also affected by some  pollutants. Water scientists have
researched about Kakahi. Kaumatua have addressed the problem
about Kakahi disappearing from the Whanganui River.
Hannah has gone and registered the river to look for any
remaining Kakahi.

Read page 3

Explain why kākaki need fish to survive?

Kakahi need fish to survive because it helps replay the life
cycle. Female Kakahi release larvae named glochidia into the
water. Every glochidia must find a fish to latch onto
otherwise the baby Kakahi will die. If it finds the right fish
it will attach itself to the fish’s gills, mouth or fins and
parasites for a few weeks. During this period the
baby Kakahi will metamorphose (or develop) from larvae to
juvenile. It then leaves the fish and drops into the mud
at the bed of the river.

AFTER READING

Explain why you think there aren’t as many kākaki?

I think there isn’t there many Kakahi because people are
polluting the river and killing the fish. This is throws the
life cycle off and the ecosystem in the river has been
turned into a unhealthy ecosystem.

Do you have any more questions?

No

What else can you find out about kākahi?  Are there any
in Northland? Did there used to be? (This isn't a
googlable question)

You can tell the age of a Kakahi by counting the growth
rings on their shell. Same as you can the age of
tree.

DLO: