Quokka Quest Slides Quokka Quest
Grades K–3 Animal Safari
Meet the "World's Happiest Animal"
Say Hello to the Quokka!
Tiny, furry, and famous for their sweet smiles! Today we travel across the ocean to meet Australia's sunniest critter.
Smiling Face Friendly curiosity
Size of a Cat Plump and hopping
Island Native Western Australia
Get ready to observe and think like a wildlife scientist! Next: What kind of animal are they?
Animal Classification
Quokkas Are Marsupial Mammals!
Cousin to the Kangaroo!
Warm Mammal Fur
Quokkas have cozy brown fur and warm blood. Just like dogs, cats, and humans, they are mammals!
✓ Mammal Clue #1: Body Fur
A Pouch for Joey!
Mother quokkas have a belly pouch! Tiny babies, called joeys , drink milk and stay safe inside.
✓ Marsupial Clue #2: Cozy Pouch
Plant Munchers
They are herbivores ! They love chewing native grasses, tree leaves, succulents, and shrubs.
✓ Diet Clue #3: Only Plants!
Quick Think: Can you name another animal with a pouch? Kangaroo • Koala • Opossum
Habitat Connection
Life on Rottnest Island
Western Australia
Island Scrub & Shade
Where do they spend their time?
Sunny island surrounded by ocean with no foxes or dangerous predators.
Dense bushes & peppermint trees give shelter from the hot Australian sun.
They dig small sleeping hollows called runways in the tall grass!
Nocturnal Snoozers
Active when the stars come out!
Daytime: Resting comfortably in the shade and conserving water.
Evening & Night: Hopping around to forage for fresh succulent leaves!
They can survive long periods without fresh water by getting moisture from plants!
💡 Did You Know? The word Rottnest came from early Dutch explorers who thought quokkas looked like big "rats"!
Conservation & Kindness
Be a Quokka Protector!
Keep Wildlife Wild
1. Look With Eyes
Give them space! Stay at least two big steps back so they feel completely safe in their home.
Gentle Observers
2. Never Feed!
Human snacks like bread, fruit, or crackers can make quokkas very sick. They find all the food they need in nature.
No Human Snacks
3. Hands to Yourself
Even though quokkas look cuddly and smile, they are wild animals. Touching can frighten them!
Calm & Quiet
Our wildlife promise: We protect animals by respecting their wild homes! Wildlife Hero Pledge
Review & Move
Quokka Scientist Challenge!
15-Minute Finale
Movement Challenge
The Quokka Hop!
Stand up quietly! Tuck your front paws near your chest, flash your warmest quokka smile, and take 3 gentle hops in place!
Are you smiling like a happy quokka?
Brain Check
True or False?
"Quokkas are happy to eat human chips and crackers from tourists."
FALSE! Only native plants! Keeps them healthy
Next: Complete your Quokka Explorer Activity Sheet! Great job, Wildlife Scientists!
Quokka Quest Teacher Guide K–3 Life Science • Mini-Lesson Plan
Duration: 15 Minutes
Quokka Quest: Teacher Lesson Guide
Focus: Marsupial traits, island habitat connections, and respectful wildlife conservation.
15-Minute Timeline Breakdown
00:00 – 03:00
The Smiling Hook
Show Slide 1; mystery animal clues.
03:00 – 08:00
Read-Aloud & Slides
Slides 2–4; traits, pouch, habitat.
08:00 – 12:00
Explorer Worksheet
K-3 student activity sheet work.
12:00 – 15:00
Hop & Exit Ticket
Slide 5 movement + 2-min check slip.
Learning Targets
Identify 3 quokka body features (fur, pouch, hopping legs).
Classify quokkas as marsupials / mammals.
State 2 rules for respectful wildlife observation.
Essential Questions
What makes a quokka a marsupial and a mammal?
How does their island home give them what they need?
Why should we look at wild animals without feeding them?
Spoken Read-Aloud Script & Actions
Part 1: The Hook (Slides 1–2) Teacher tip: Flash a big grin!
Say: "Class, look at my face right now! Can you make the biggest, friendliest smile you can? Wonderful! Today we are meeting an animal famous all around the globe for its natural smile: the quokka! Put your thinking caps on. It has warm brown fur, hops like a bunny, and keeps its baby inside a pouch. Who knows what special group of mammals has a pouch?"
Expected Student Response: "A kangaroo!" or "Marsupials!"
Part 2: Island Life & Kindness (Slides 3–4) Teacher tip: Point to ocean/plants on slide
Say: "Quokkas live on Rottnest Island in Western Australia. It's warm, sunny, and covered in leafy shrubs. They nap in cool grass runways during hot sunny afternoons, and hop out at dusk to chew crunchy leaves. People love visiting them because quokkas are very curious! But what should we do if one hops near our feet? Do we offer it our lunch sandwich? No way! Human food makes their tummies sick. We look with gentle eyes and give them plenty of space."
Quokka Quest • Teacher Lesson Guide Page 1 of 2 • Flip for Discussion Prompts & Rubric
Instructional Toolkit & Discussion
Questioning stems, misconceptions, accommodations, and activity answers.
Facilitation Notes
Tiered Discussion Prompts
🌱 Kindergarten & Grade 1 (Concrete & Observational)
Quokka Explorer Activity Sheet Wildlife Scientist Field Sheet
Quokka Explorer Activity Sheet
Name:
Date:
1 Marsupial Trait Checkup: Circle the correct answer for each!
Science Clues
Body Covering:
Warm brown fur Shiny fish scales Feathers
Baby Joey's Home:
A cozy belly pouch A nest in a tree Under water
Healthy Meals:
Leaves & wild grasses Potato chips & bread Candy snacks
2 Habitat Designer: Rottnest Island Sanctuary
Add shrubs, trees, sunshine, and a smiling quokka!
Quokkas need shady bushes to stay cool and native plants to eat. Draw your quokka enjoying its island home below:
🌿 Sun & Shade 🏖️ Coastal Plants & Grasses 🐾 Safe Wild Home
Artist Space
3
Wildlife Hero Promise
Write one way you can be kind and respectful when observing wild animals like the quokka:
I can:
Official Wildlife Protector Color your badge!
Quokka Quest • Grade K–3 Science Activity Sheet Remember: Keep wildlife safe, peaceful, and wild!
Quokka Smile Exit Ticket Quokka Smile Exit Ticket
3-Minute Science Checkup
Name:
Date:
1. Where does a mother quokka carry her baby?
In her warm pouch
Under her wing
On a high branch
2. What do quokkas eat in the wild?
Green leaves & plants
Bread & crackers
Fish & crabs
3. How do we keep quokkas safe and wild?
Look with space & quiet
Pet them like kittens
Chase them for photos
Rate your quokka learning today:
⭐ Good ⭐⭐ Great ⭐⭐⭐ Super Scientist!
Cut Here (2 Slips Per Page)
Quokka Smile Exit Ticket
3-Minute Science Checkup
Name:
Date:
1. Where does a mother quokka carry her baby?
In her warm pouch
Under her wing
On a high branch
2. What do quokkas eat in the wild?
Green leaves & plants
Bread & crackers
Fish & crabs
3. How do we keep quokkas safe and wild?
Look with space & quiet
Pet them like kittens
Chase them for photos
Rate your quokka learning today:
⭐ Good ⭐⭐ Great ⭐⭐⭐ Super Scientist!