The animals' sports day
One day five small animals in my garden were going to have a sports day. They decided to have a swimming race, a running race, a high jump and a long jump.
Problem
One day five small animals in my garden decided to have a sports day.
They were a large, sleepy caterpillar, a busy little ladybug, a long-legged spider, a small, jumpy frog and a slow, slimy snail.
They decided to have a swimming race, a running race, a high jump and a long jump. Who do you think won each event?
Why do you think this?
The next day four of the animals wanted another sports day, but the caterpillar had gone to sleep and would not wake up!
"When he wakes up, we'll have another sports day!" said the frog. The three others agreed.
Some days later the caterpillar did wake up. He crawled out of his sleeping bag. He looked quite different!
What had happened?
Again they decided to have a swimming race, a running race, a high jump and a long jump.
Who do you think won each event this time?
Has the caterpillar's change made any difference?
Why do you think this?
Getting Started
Think of how each of these creatures moves.
These pictures might help you to sort out your ideas.
Student Solutions
There were lots of good ideas sent in for this challenge. Everyone had good reasons for their choice as to who won each race. Abubakr, who is home-schooled in the UK, offered the following thoughts:
The frog won all the challenges because he could run faster than them all and he could swim the best and the caterpillar, ladybird, spider and snail couldn't swim. The frog could also jump the highest and longest because his back legs are very large.
The caterpillar was in a pupa and he turned into a butterfly.
The frog would still win all of them because he could run faster than them all and he could swim the best and the butterfly, ladybird, spider and snail couldn't swim. The frog could also jump the highest and longest because his back legs are very large.
The caterpillar's change was different in a number of ways like he had fewer legs and wings.
Team Faulkner from St Stephen'sӬ School in the UK wrote:
The winner of the swimming race would be the frog because it has strong legs, is an expert swimmer and the largest creature.
The running race would be the spider because frogs and snails can't run and the others are slower.
Both jumping competitions would be won by the frog because it's the only one that can jump.
The caterpillar's change wouldn't make a difference because butterflies can't run, swim or jump.
Matilda from South Farnham Ӭin the UK sent in her thoughts;
It depends on the race so on the swimming race the frog because it is good at swimming.
In the running race, the spider because it has long legs high and in the long jump, the frog because he's good at jumping.
The caterpillar has turned into a butterfly. The caterpillar would win all the races and the ladybird behind because they can fly. The caterpillar has gone into a chrysalis and grown wings and become a butterfly.
Montana from the Sacred Heart SchoolӬ in AustraliaӬ had other thoughts:
I think the frog all the races. Turning into a butterfly did not help the caterpillar or change anything.
Thank you for all those comments on the animal races.
Teachers' Resources
The Animals' Sports Day
One day five small animals in my garden decided to have a sports day.
They were a large, sleepy caterpillar, a busy little ladybird, a long-legged spider, a small, jumpy frog and a slow, slimy snail.
They decided to have a swimming race, a running race, a high jump and a long jump. Who do you think won each event?
Why do you think this?
The next day four of the animals wanted another sports day, but the caterpillar had gone to sleep and would not wake up!
"When he wakes up, we'll have another sports day!" said the frog. The three others agreed.
Some days later the caterpillar did wake up. He crawled out of his sleeping bag. He looked quite different!
What had happened?
Again they decided to have a swimming race, a running race, a high jump and a long jump.
Who do you think won each event this time?
Has the caterpillar's change made any difference?
Why do you think this?
Why do this problem?
This problem links the general interest about sport with a story for young children about animals. Which animal might win each race?
Possible approach
This is a problem which would be best approached in pairs or small groups of young children along with an adult. The introductory "story line" could be enhanced in a retelling.
Key questions
How does this animal/creature move?
Possible extension
Children could think of zoo or farm animals which would do well in these events.
Possible support
Suggest using the pictures and discussing how the animals move. Which of the animals can swim/run (move quickly)/jump?