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Oceans and Seas
Fantasy Islands

Write a fantasy island poem inspired by a message in a bottle from a shipwrecked sailor. Develop map reading skills and knowledge of compass points. Learn how to talk like a pirate; design treasure maps; create treasure island models complete with characters, creatures and shelters. Celebrate the work achieved in this block with a pirate themed day.

Topic Block Outcomes

Session 1 Message in a bottle

Session plan Download all files

Objectives

Geography

  • Develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places, both terrestrial and marine.
  • Interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, globes and aerial photographs.
  • Name and locate the world’s seven continents and five oceans.

English

  • Recognise simple recurring literary language in stories and poetry.
  • Develop positive attitudes towards and stamina for writing by writing poetry.
  • Consider what they are going to write before beginning by planning or saying out loud what they are going to write about.
  • Write down ideas and/or key words, including new vocabulary.

Teaching and Activities

Write a ‘fantasy island’ poem inspired by a message in a bottle.

Teaching Outcomes
 To understand that an island is an area of land that is completely surrounded by water.
To plan, edit and write poetry with theme of a shipwrecked sailor.

Children will:

  • Use the theme of shipwrecks as a stimulus for writing poetry.
  • Plan, edit and write poetry on the theme of being shipwrecked.

You Will Need

  • An old bottle
  • Large sheets of sugar paper
  • Marker pens

Session 2 Fantasy Island survival

Session plan Download all files

Objectives

Geography

  • Develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places, both terrestrial and marine.
  • Interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, globes and aerial photographs.
  • Name and locate the world’s seven continents and five oceans.

PSHE

  • Have an awareness of how people live and work together.
  • Understand the difference between the things people want and the things people need for survival.

Teaching and Activities

Work as a team to win a desert-island survival game.

Teaching Outcomes
 To understand that an island is an area of land that is completely surrounded by water.
To work together as a group to solve tasks relating to surviving on a desert island.

Children will:

  • Understand key points for survival game and real-life scenarios.
  • Work together as a group to demonstrate good teamwork.

You Will Need

  • Large sheets of paper
  • Marker Pens
  • Stopwatches
  • Recording equipment

Session 3 We found treasure!

Session plan Download all files

Objectives

Geography

  • Develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places, both terrestrial and marine.
  • Interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, globes and aerial photographs.
  • Name and locate the world’s seven continents and five oceans.

Maths

  • Use mathematical vocabulary to describe position, direction and movement, including movement in a straight line.

Art

  • Experiment with different media to create an effect

Teaching and Activities

Develop map-reading skills and knowledge of compass points; Design and decorate treasure islands maps.

Teaching Outcomes
 To understand that an island is an area of land that is completely surrounded by water.
Use the 4 compass points to find a point within the school grounds. Develop knowledge of compass points; Develop map-reading skills.
To design a treasure map and to create an aged effect.

Children will:

  • Follow instructions for direction.
  • Design treasure maps with an aged appearance.

You Will Need

  • Chocolate coins or other ‘treasure’
  • A compass
  • White paper
  • Marker pens
  • Tea bags
  • Cooking oil
  • Paper towels
  • Ribbons

Session 4 Fantasy Island modelling

Session plan Download all files

Objectives

Geography

  • Develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places, both terrestrial and marine.
  • Interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, globes and aerial photographs.
  • Name and locate the world’s seven continents and five oceans.

Design and Technology

  • Design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria.
  • Make something using a wide range of materials.
  • Evaluate the finished product.

Teaching and Activities

Use ‘junk’ to create models of treasure islands, complete with characters, creatures and shelters. Celebrate the work achieved in this block with a pirate-themed day.

Teaching Outcomes
 To understand that an island is an area of land that is completely surrounded by water.
To design and make an island and its characters/buildings using junk-modelling techniques; To evaluate how the project went.

Children will:

  • Use Design and Technology techniques to design, make and evaluate a model island.
  • Work together in groups or pairs and listen well to each other.

Provided Resources

  • Re-used rubbish
  • Junk-modelling an island
  • Pirate party tips
  • Pirate party invitation

You Will Need

  • A large sheet of thick card
  • Re-usable rubbish
  • Masking tape
  • Newspapers

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