Source: Nature: "Unforgettable Elephants"
Funding for the VITAL/Ready to Teach collection was secured through the United States Department of Education under the Ready to Teach Program.
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For nearly two decades, Martyn Colbeck, an award-winning filmmaker, has documented the life of Echo, a matriarchal grassland elephant of Kenya. Echo and her closely knit family have grown to accept Colbeck into their world, allowing him to record the interactions among them that bond them together. This video segment from Nature shows a greeting ceremony and the introduction of a new calf to the family. Through Colbeck’s eyes the audience can begin to understand the family ties among elephants as well as their playfulness and means of communication. For more about elephants see two video segments in the series of three, "Forest Elephants" and "Desert Elephants."
Download and ShareThe following Frame, Focus and Follow-up suggestions are best suited for middle school students using this video in an English language arts or science lesson. Be sure to modify the questions to meet your students' instructional needs.
What is Frame, Focus and Follow-up?
Frame (ELA) How can a cinematographer, writer or reporter influence the perspective or opinion of an audience of readers, listeners or viewers on a topic?
Focus (ELA) Describe the way this video makes you feel about elephants.
Follow Up (ELA) How does the filmmaker influence the way you feel about elephants? How has what he says and selected to show you affect your perspective and opinion about elephants? How might he have changed the film and narration to cause you to feel a different way about elephants?
Frame (SCI) What characteristics have you inherited from your parents? What characteristics have you learned as a result of living day to day in your environment?
Focus (SCI) How would you characterize the elephants in this family?
Follow Up (SCI) Some characteristics of animals are inherited from their parents. Other characteristics are the result of an animal’s interaction with the environment. Describe characteristics of these elephants. Determine whether they are inherited characteristics or the result of interactions with the environment.
MARTYN COLBECK: I was now beginning to appreciate how wonderful Echo’s family was.
They were a joy to be with. And they seemed more playful than other families.
I was really getting to know them. I hoped they would share more secrets.
One unpredictable event I had never filmed was a greeting ceremony.
Occasionally, even after elephant families have been only briefly separated, they greet each other like long-lost friends.
One day the family split up.
Echo led a new calf onto the plain. The others stayed in the swamp, feeding.
Calls went back and forth. Echo sounded like a harassed mum trying to get the kids out of a swimming pool.
When at last, they arrived, they made a huge display of emotion.
Don’t tell me these elephants aren’t happy to see each other. This is sheer joy.
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