Lower Key Stage 2 Mountains, Rivers and Coasts

Coasts - Where Land Meets Sea

Investigate the fascinating world of coastlines and discover what a coast actually is!

Teaching Outcomes:

• To understand what the coast is and to begin know why it is so varied.
• To begin to label key features of a coast.

Children will:

• Know what the coast is and begin to use some geographical language to describe some key features of a coastline.
• Work in groups to discuss what they already know and what they want to know about coasts.
• Begin to understand why coastlines are so varied and why they are always changing.

• Coast vocabulary list
• Mind-map; coast sentences

• A3 paper, 1 sheet per group

Images of coastlines from 3dgeography.co.uk
Geography games from crickweb.co.uk

Visit the beach and take part in a fieldwork exercise measuring and recording plants, animals and other features.

Teaching Outcomes:

• To see some of the key features of a coastline and begin to consider how they might have formed.
• To use fieldwork to observe, measure and record some features of the coastline.
• To identify what difficulties coastal plants and animals may need to overcome and to begin to identify how they have adapted to their environment.

Children will:

• Use fieldwork to observe, measure and record some of the features of the coastline.
• Begin to consider how and why the coastline might have changed over time.
• Identify what difficulties coastal plants and animals may need to overcome and to begin to identify how they have adapted to their environment.
• Begin to identify the impact of humans on the coastal landscape.

• Worksheets for recording

• Clipboards and pencils
• Magnifying glass
• Bucket and net
• Camera or flipcam
• Plain paper for sketching

The Wildlife Trusts - Where to see rock pool wildlife from wildlifetrusts.org

Research coastal animals and plants and their adaptations to their environment.

Teaching Outcomes:

• To understand how some coastal plants and animals have adapted to their environment and to begin to understand how these adaptations have evolved.
• To continue to develop their ability to effectively use the internet as a tool for gathering information.

Children will:

• Consider how to effectively and efficiently use an internet search engine.
• Identify how and why animals and plants have adapted to their coastal environment.
• Begin to understand that animal and plant adaptations have evolved.

• Coastal animals and plants adaptations sheet

• Internet access
• A4 paper

Life in a rockpool - YouTube clip

Discover the complex world of coastal food chains and food webs.

Teaching Outcomes:

• To understand what a food chain is and to begin to consider the impact on a chain if a food source is no longer being available.

Children will:

• Use scientific language to describe a coastal food chain.
• Begin to consider the impact on a food web if a food source is no longer available.

• Coastal wildlife names
• Food web worksheet
• Food chain vocab
• Wildlife name notes for teacher

You do not need any particular resources for this session.

Food chains in woodlands from bbc.co.uk
Beach food chains from nature.scot
Teaching and learning materials from www.msc.org

Create an engaging and informative wildlife documentary about a coastal scene.

Teaching Outcomes:

• To narrate a wildlife documentary about a coastal food chain using scientific language about the animals, their position in the chain, and their environment.
• To consider the audience when writing a narrative for a wildlife documentary.

Children will:

• Use scientific language to narrate a coastal wildlife scene.
• Consider the audience when writing a narration and add personification to their writing.
• Begin to consider the impact of well made, and well researched documentaries on peoples understanding of issues in nature.

• Food chain diagram
• Extra links to video clips of coastal wildlife

• Stop watch

Wildlife programme about the Australian mangroves from thekidshouldseethis.com
Bottom of the food chain from bbc.co.uk

Use the IT programme Scratch to create a simple stop-motion animation about a coastal food chain; add titles, credits and an audio narration to create a mini movie.

Teaching Outcomes:

• To use (insert name of animation software) to create a stop motion animation for an audience.
• To explore Scratch animation and use it to create their own animation creation.
• To show an understanding of a coastal food chain using animation.

Children will:

• Work together to create animals, plants and a background to form a coastal food chain.
• Explore Scratch and create a simple animation by entering instructions for a character into Scratch animation.
• Spend time filming a stop-motion animation about their food chain for an audience.
• Experiment using an animation software program to play their mini movie, including adding a title and credits.
• Add their own audio narration to the animation.

• Coastal food chain animation planning sheet.

• A small cardboard box with one side removed
• Digital camera
• Tripod
• Chicken Run or similar DVD

Instructions on creating a stop motion animation from wikihow.com
Scratch animation site, create, edit and share stop animation from scratch.mit.edu

Use the IT programme Scratch to create a simple stop-motion animation about a coastal food chain; add titles, credits and an audio narration to create a mini movie.

Teaching Outcomes:

• To use (insert name of animation software) to create a stop motion animation for an audience.
• To explore Scratch animation and use it to create their own animation creation.
• To show an understanding of a coastal food chain using animation.

Children will:

• Work together to create animals, plants and a background to form a coastal food chain.
• Explore Scratch and create a simple animation by entering instructions for a character into Scratch animation.
• Spend time filming a stop-motion animation about their food chain for an audience.
• Experiment using an animation software program to play their mini movie, including adding a title and credits.
• Add their own audio narration to the animation.

• Coastal food chain animation planning sheet.

• A small cardboard box with one side removed
• Digital camera
• Tripod
• Chicken Run or similar DVD

Creating a stop motion animation from wikihow.com
Scratch animation site, create, edit and share stop animation from scratch.mit.edu