Understanding statement:  Cheetahs rely on their characteristics for survival in a variety of ways including their speed, physical makeup, diet, habitat, and behavior.

Introduction: Have you ever been outside near a highway and have seen cars pass by at very high speeds? Do you think it would be possible for an animal to travel this fast?  Cheetahs are the fastest land animal in the world. How are cheetahs able to travel this fast? Why do they need this ability to survive? What other characteristics do cheetahs rely on to live in their habitat? This Treasure Hunt will help you explore the life of a cheetah and how it uses its unique abilities to survive. Complete the Treasure Hunt by answering the following questions with pencil and paper. Also, complete the Putting It All Together task so you will be able to explain why cheetahs rely on their characteristics to survive.

Questions:

1. What is the top speed that cheetahs are able to travel?

2. How and when does a cheetah hunt down its prey?

3. Describe the typical diet of a cheetah.

4. What is the average size of a cheetah and how much do they weigh?

5. Describe what a cheetah's habitat (where it lives) is like.

6. How are cheetah cubs raised? 

7. Many people think of cheetahs as being close relatives of the other big cats, such as lions and tigers,  but they are actually quite different. How are cheetahs different?

8. Most often, people mistake leopards for cheetahs because their appearance is similar.

Take a look at the pictures of a cheetah here and pictures of a leopard here.

From looking at the pictures, what differences in appearance can you find between the two animals?

9. What kind of sounds do cheetahs make?

10. How long does a cheetah usually live?

11. How are the habits and lifestyles of male and female cheetahs different?

12. If you compared a cheetah to a top athlete, what sports would a cheetah excel at and why?

13. Look at the understanding statement. What questions might you still have about the life of cheetahs and the characteristics they use to survive?

Putting It All Together:

Pretend you are a cheetah living out in Sub-Saharan Africa. Write a brief journal entry explaining what a day in the life of a cheetah is like and how it is able to survive. Be sure to include details on how you were raised, what kind of habitat you live in, how a male cheetah's life is different from a female cheetah's life, and how and when you are able to hunt for food.