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Key Stage 1 Local Studies: Our School and Local Area
Our Playground

Learn about playgrounds with Dora the explorer. Gather information through field work, orienteering, measuring and map activities. Explore playgrounds in other parts of the world and learn a playground game. Draw pictures of your ideal playground and campaign for a playground improvement.

Session 1 Explore playgrounds with Dora

Objectives

Geography

  • Use world maps, atlases and globes to identify the United Kingdom and its countries as well as the countries, continents and oceans studied at this key stage.
  • Use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to: key physical/human features.

English

  • Give well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes, including for expressing feelings.

Lesson Planning

Children meet Dora the explorer. Dora has been learning all about playgrounds and has travelled the world collecting information. Children will travel the globe with Dora, they will examine playgrounds in other locations, show Dora their playground games and learn new ones along the way.

Teaching Outcomes
To describe playgrounds in contrasting locations, identify physical/human features.

Children will:

  • Locate landmarks and the 7 continents on a world map.
  • Describe geographical similarities and differences.
  • Identify human and physical features of contrasting locations.

You Will Need

  • Dora teddy
  • Atlases
  • National Geographic map printed and copied

Session 2 Learn about playgrounds with Dora

Objectives

Geography

  • Use simple compass directions, locational and directional language to describe the location of features and routes on a map, use aerial photographs and plan perspectives to recognise landmarks and basic human and physical features.
  • Devise a simple map; and use and construct basic symbols in a key.

Maths

  • Measure and begin to record the following: lengths and heights.

Lesson Planning

Dora wants to learn all about your school playground! Children will take part in a series of engaging playground activities and field work.

Teaching Outcomes
To understand the features of a good map, learn & use the compass points, follow & use directional language.

Children will:

  • Understand that maps, like aerial photos, are views from above, but that they can contain different types of information.
  • Understand key features of maps.
  • Describe and follow journeys using compass directions and directional language.
  • Measure and record lengths and width of the playground.

You Will Need

  • Measuring resources: skipping ropes, ribbon, metre sticks and trundle wheels
  • Chalk
  • Compasses
  • Clip boards and pencils
  • Copies of maps of the school grounds

Session 3 Draw playgrounds with Dora

Objectives

Design and Technology

  • Generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through drawing.

PSHE

  • Identify different influences on health and wellbeing.

English

  • Give well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes, including for expressing feelings.

Lesson Planning

Dora asks children what their ideal playground would look like. Children will think about creating an outside space with places to think, learn and exercise. They will draw pictures of their ideal playground and present their work to the School Council for a simple change to be made.

Teaching Outcomes
Express opinions and draw their ideal playground, understand the purpose of the playground.

Children will:

  • Communicate design ideas bearing in mind uses and purposes of the playground.
  • Discuss the positive aspects of the playground on physical and mental health.
  • Express opinions about the school playground.

You Will Need

  • Clipboard
  • Pencil crayons
  • Felt tips
  • A3 paper