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Feathers, Fur and Fins: Observing a shark

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Presenter Don Spencer stands beside models of sharks in a museum
Feathers, Fur and Fins: Observing a shark

SUBJECTS:  Science

YEARS:  F–2


Don Spencer shows us one of the world's most fearsome creatures, the white pointer shark.

Take a close look at the shark's teeth and jaws. Discover how the shark moves so quickly underwater.

Correction: Don Spencer says the white pointer shark can grow up to 11 metres. In fact, as of 2020, the largest measured and recorded white pointer shark was just over 6 metres.


Things to think about

  1. 1.What do you know about sharks? What do they look like? Where might you see a shark? What would you do if you saw one?
  2. 2.Look closely at the shark's teeth, mouth and jaws. How are they used to catch and eat their prey (food they catch)? How are the shark's teeth different from your teeth? Watch the shark move through the water. What body parts does it use to move? What are its gills for?
  3. 3.Draw a shark or find a shark image. Label the parts and what they are used for. Sharp teeth for ………….. . A tail for ………….. . Gills for …………… .
  4. 4.Find some images of sharks and other fish. Use the images to show how fish are suited to living in water. Find examples of different types of watery places, such as coral reefs, deep oceans or freshwater rivers. Show what types of fish live in each place.



Date of broadcast: 19 Sep 1986


Copyright

Metadata © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia Ltd 2012 (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). Video © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). All images copyright their respective owners. Text © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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