The Narrative
How Can We Help The World We Live In?
In July 2018, Year 5 and Year 6 began their learning exploration. The guided question was ‘How Can We Help The World We Live In?’
The Learning targets were:
- I can identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways.
- I can carry out fieldwork to record the features of the local area.
- I can describe the differences in life cycles of animals.
- I can identify that living things produce offspring and that offspring vary.
- I can relate knowledge of plants to studies of all living things.
- I can collect and analyse statistics from field studies.
- I can describe how locations around the world are changing and explain some of the reasons for change.
- Describe and understand key aspects of the water cycle.
- I can use maps to locate rainforests around the world.
- Collect and analyse statistics.
- Name and locate the counties of South America and identify their characteristics.
- I can describe how locations around the world are changing and explain some of the reasons for change.
- I can identify and describe how the physical features affect the human activity within a location.
- I can describe human geography, including economic activity, trade links and the distribution of natural resources.
Our Learning (Case Studies):
We studied the layers of the rainforest, climate and location and deforestation. Further to this we looked at life cycle of animals, food chains, adaptation to habitats and the links to fair trade around the world. We also produced art work linked to the learning that has taken place, the skill that was taught was printing using foam and ink. Throughout our learning, we read the novel Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo as well as having a range of non fiction books for the children to access.
Hooks / Learning Visits and Environments
We hooked the children and enhanced our classrooms by developing the learning environment to include a waterfall, layers of the rainforest which includes vines, trees, leaves and animals. We also included a hut and additional break out areas. The children visited Thorne Community Woods to immerse themselves in the trees and also Tropical World in Leeds. The children developed sketching and printing skills; Mr Mumby was our ‘in-house’ expert utilising his degree in art.
Assessment
Our significant assessment pieces for this exploration were writing based; writing an information text on different aspects of the rainforest including tropical animals, deforestation and endangered animals.
Final Product
The Learning Exploration culminated when we created a yearly calendar that has interactive information all about endangered animals and deforestation. We also used QR codes on the calendar to link with the school website to show the children’s work and art work in the build up to the final product.
Please click the link below to see pictures of the children’s work in the build up to our calendar.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/18lCfGaXDVY80w63t3orHF9PpYq_CwC26
