Chapter Graphic
 : Mowers
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Approach: One to one Level: Year 4 and year 8
Focus:   Evaluating strategies, outcomes and consequences
Resources: Video recording on laptop computer, 2 pictures
1.1MB

Questions/instructions:
This activity uses the computer.
To begin this activity you’ll watch a video of someone mowing their lawn with two different mowers – a push mower and a motor mower. As you watch the video think about what is different about each mower.

Click the Mowers button. The video will start. [No voice over; audio of mowers only]
Hand out pictures of motor mower and push mower.


% responses
2004
y4
y8
1. How does the motor mower cut the grass?
motor turns, makes blades turn
32
52
blade swings parallel to grass (around vertical axis)
3
7
sharp edges of blade hit grass and cut it off
4
6
2. How does the push mower cut the grass?
person pushing mower makes wheel turn and blades spin
36
60
blades roll/spin/move around horizontal axis
5
11
grass is cut by scissor action between blade and cutting bar
1
0
Point to the picture of push mower.
Look at the picture of the push mower.
3. What are two or more things that are good about the push mower?
doesn’t need fuel, cheaper to run
27
50
no air pollution
1
11
provides more exercise for operator
6
6
less noisy
23
30
cuts more evenly, shorter, better, finer cut
2
3
smaller and lighter
17
26
4. What are two or more things that are not so good about the push mower?
hard work for operator
21
41
slower to cut same area
16
23
not suitable for long grass, much less adjustable
2
7
Point to the picture of motor mower.
Look at the picture of the motor mower.
5. What are two or more things that are good about the motor mower?		    
easier to push, does large area faster
51
67
adjustable to cut long grass
10
24
6. What are two or more things that are not so good about the motor mower?
noisy
22
27
causes air pollution
2
15
hard to start
16
22
needs fuel, more expensive to run
31
55
more dangerous
20
19
larger and heavier
13
25
Total score:
10–23
1
6
8–9
3
18
6–7
16
34
4–5
31
26
2–3
31
12
0–1
18
4

Commentary
Most students at both levels did not explain the cutting actions of either type of mower, and only 20 percent pointed out the dangers of motor mowers. Almost 40 percent more year 8 than year 4 students had a total score exceeding five.
 
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