Cheetahs
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Approach: One to one Level: Year 4 and year 8
Focus: Identify physical features that assist survival
Resources: Video recording on laptop computer
1.2Mb
Questions/instructions:  

This activity uses the computer.

You are going to watch a video of a cheetah. The video shows how different parts of the cheetah help it to hunt.

Click the Cheetahs button. No sound on video. When the video has finished, give student the picture.

Look carefully at the picture and think about the video. Tell me the parts of the body that help it to hunt. As you tell me the different parts of its body, I’ll write them down.

Now I’ll read out the things you have said, and if you want to change any of them you can tell me.

Make any changes offered by the student.

Now tell me how each of these parts of its body helps the cheetah to hunt.
Resource information in lieu of copyright:

Video resource: Discovery Channel (1997). Discovery Channel – The Ultimate Guide: Big Cats [video]. United States: Ilc Entertainment.
Description: No soundtrack; video of cheetah at rest then pursuing and catching its prey. Some sequences in slow motion; telescoped closeups of various body parts with graphic enhancements to highlight movement and function.
Picture: Grosnick, M.W. (photo.), Theodorou, R., (2001); Animals in Danger: Cheetah; Oxford: Heinemann Library.
Description: Still shot of lone cheetah, sitting upright and alert.
     
% responses
2007 ('03)
     
y4
y8
Eyes:
body part mentioned and value for hunting adequately explained
38 (36)
40 (49)
body part mentioned but value for hunting not adequately explained
23 (30)
15 (32)
body part not mentioned
39 (34)
45 (19)
Ears:

body part mentioned and value for hunting adequately explained
34 (42)
34 (44)
body part mentioned but value for hunting not adequately explained
17 (22)
11 (25)
body part not mentioned
49 (36)
55 (31)
Nose:
body part mentioned and value for hunting adequately explained
24 (25)
20 (40)
body part mentioned but value for hunting not adequately explained
13 (19)
8 (15)
body part not mentioned
63 (56)
72 (45)
Brain/nerves:
body part mentioned and value for hunting adequately explained
2 (3)
2 (1)
body part mentioned but value for hunting not adequately explained
1 (3)
1 (1)
body part not mentioned
97 (94)
97 (98)
Muscles:
body part mentioned and value for hunting adequately explained
2 (7)
7 (9)
body part mentioned but value for hunting not adequately explained
1 (2)
3 (3)
body part not mentioned
97 (91)
90 (88)
Legs:
body part mentioned and value for hunting adequately explained
47 (52)
54 (52)
body part mentioned but value for hunting not adequately explained
29 (30)
20 (30)
body part not mentioned
24 (18)
26 (18)
Spine:

body part mentioned and value for hunting adequately explained
54 (39)
80 (79)
body part mentioned but value for hunting not adequately explained
24 (26)
11 (5)
body part not mentioned
22 (35)
9 (16)
Pads on paws:
(traction/grip/cushioning)
body part mentioned and value for hunting adequately explained
18 (8)
46 (21)
body part mentioned but value for hunting not adequately explained
17 (5)
14 (11)
body part not mentioned
65 (87)
40 (68)
Tail:
(for steering/balance)
body part mentioned and value for hunting adequately explained
8 (9)
18 (27)
body part mentioned but value for hunting not adequately explained
14 (14)
5 (7)
body part not mentioned
78 (77)
77 (66)
Claws: (for gripping/tearing)
body part mentioned and value for hunting adequately explained
44 (61)
56 (65)
body part mentioned but value for hunting not adequately explained
14 (13)
11 (12)
body part not mentioned
42 (26)
33 (23)
Jaws/teeth:
body part mentioned and value for hunting adequately explained
33 (51)
48 (56)
body part mentioned but value for hunting not adequately explained
21 (25)
13 (20)
body part not mentioned
46 (24)
39 (24)
Colour/texture: (camouflage)
body part mentioned and value for hunting adequately explained
17 (25)
28 (39)
body part mentioned but value for hunting not adequately explained
4 (3)
1 (2)
body part not mentioned
79 (72)
71 (59)
Overall, mentions:
detection/tracking/guidance aspects (at least one: eyes, ears, nose, brain)
60 (60)
55 (73)
locomotion aspects (at least one: legs, muscles, spine)
81 (83)
93 (90)
weapons aspects (at least one: jaws, teeth, claws)
57 (76)
63 (80)
camouflage aspects (at least one: colour, texture)
20 (28)
29 (42)

Total score:
 18–28
5 (10)
14 (23)
14–17
20 (24)
21 (35)
10–13
31 (30)
34 (29)
6–9
29 (28)
23 (10)
0–5
15 (8)
8 (3)
Subgroup Analysis [Click on charts to enlarge] :
Year 4
Year 8
Commentary:
Year 4 and year 8 students performed quite similarly and, at both year levels, performance dropped markedly between 2003 and 2007. Year 8 boys performed noticeably better than girls. Year 4 Mäori students and year 8 Pasifika students performed quite similarly to their Pakeha counterparts.