Questions / instructions: In this activity you will be talking to me about a bike accident. I am going to play a video clip of a bike accident which caused a boy to get very bad head injuries. I want you to watch the video carefully because at the end we will imagine that I am a reporter and I want you to tell me all about it.

Play the video clip.
This one and a half minute video clip is a dramatic presentation of the events leading up to an accident between a teenage boy on a bike and a motorcyclist.

Throughout the clip which is accompanied by dramatic music rather than script, there is a constant juxtaposing between the two key players. The boy is leaving school with his mates - who in contrast to him are both wearing helmets, while in a different location the motorcyclist is putting on leather gloves. After riding out to the school gate with his friends, the boy says good-bye and rides off alone - meanwhile the motor cyclist starts up his bike, adjusts his helmet and leaves the parking lot.

Both cyclists are riding down their respective roads when a GIVE WAY sign suddenly appears on the screen. The associated white lines are seen to be in front of the boy on the bike. As a car approaches and passes him from the right, the boy looks right, left and right again. After completing the road check the boy stops briefly to adjust the strap on his backpack - then rides out into the intersection without a further check for traffic. Meanwhile the motorcyclist is continuing along the road and reaches the intersection at the very moment the boy moves out. Just before the collision, the boy sees the motor cyclist but it is too late. Their front wheels touch, the boy is thrown off his bike and at the end of the clip is lying on the road.

Okay, now let's imagine I am a reporter, and you saw the road accident. Tell me all about the accident

Use the prompt questions for points that have not been given in the student's account of the accident.

Who was involved in the accident?
Can you describe them to me?
How did the accident happen?
What caused it?
Who do you think was responsible for the accident? Why?
What were the conditions like at the time of the accident?
How could accidents like this be prevented?

Sample response from year 4 student, high scoring range. (requires QuickTime plug-in)

Completeness of description

highly comprehensive
quite high
moderate
skimpy

y4

6
24
52
18

Accuracy of the description

high accuracy
quite high
moderate
poor

Organisation and sequencing of events

highly organised
quite high
moderate
poor

Clarity of comments

high clarity
quite high
moderate
poor

Confidence shown when giving information

high confidence
quite high
moderate
poor

Vocabulary for conveying information

excellent
very good
good
poor