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Rainforests
The Rainforest under Threat

Learn about the destruction of the rainforest. Research the arguments for and against deforestation and make an interactive wall display to show your learning, showcase this in a class debate. Reflect on the learning and write a final poem.

Block Overview

Session 1 The vanishing rainforest

Session plan Download all files

Objectives

Geography

  • Understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of human geography of a region of the United Kingdom and a region within a rainforest.

Music

  • Appreciate and understand a wide range of high-quality recorded music.

Teaching and Activities

Learn about the destruction of the rainforest; research the arguments for and against deforestation; make an interactive wall display to show your learning.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To investigate the destruction of the rainforest and share facts about deforestation.
  • To learn a song together as a group.

Children will:

  • Understand the meaning of deforestation.
  • Investigate the positive and negative points of deforestation.
  • Create interactive tree trunk display of deforestation facts.
  • Learn rainforest facts through song.

You Will Need

  • Where the Forest Meets the Sea by Jeannie Baker
  • Window by Jeannie Baker
  • The Vanishing Rainforest by Richard Platt

Session 2 The big decision

Session plan Download all files

Objectives

Geography

  • Understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of human geography of a region of the UK and a region within a rainforest.

English

  • Adopt, create and sustain a range of roles, responding appropriately to others in role.
  • Become more familiar with and confident in using language in a variety of situations and for a variety of role play situations.
  • Sequence a story through words and pictures.

Teaching and Activities

In role, debate the arguments for and against the deforestation of the rainforest; capture the Vanishing Rainforest story in a comic strip.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To analyse the effects of deforestation on all groups of people involved.
  • To debate issues about the Rainforest, in role
  • To write a comic retelling of The Vanishing Rainforest.

Children will:

  • Investigate the positive and negative points of deforestation.
  • Show empathy with each of the groups involved in deforestation.
  • Understand the role of environmental researchers.

You Will Need

  • Window by Jeannie Baker
  • The Vanishing Rainforest by Richard Platt

Session 3 Portraits of the people

Session plan Download all files

Objectives

Geography

  • Understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of human geography of a region of the UK and a region within a rainforest.

Art

  • Develop art techniques, including their control and their use of materials.

PSHE

  • Develop feelings of empathy towards others and to explore world concerns.

Teaching and Activities

Look carefully at portraits of Kavapo people; empathise with them; learn about the way they dress; create your own oil pastel portraits.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To analyse the effect of deforestation on all groups of people involved.
  • To carefully observe the faces of the Kayapo tribe and create their own portraits of the people for a wall display.
  • To discuss the photo of the tribal leader and show empathy for his cause.

Children will:

  • Analyse the facial expressions of various people.
  • Experiment with drawing portraits and techniques in using oil pastels.

You Will Need

  • Window by Jeannie Baker
  • The Vanishing Rainforest by Richard Platt
  • 2B or 4B pencils
  • Oil pastels

Session 4 Endangered and extinct

Session plan Download all files

Objectives

Geography

  • Understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of human geography of a region of the UK and a region within a rainforest.
  • Explore the effect humans can have on their environment.

Science

  • Recognise that environments can change and that this can sometimes pose dangers to living things.

Computing

  • Use search technologies for locating information relevant to suggested themes.

Teaching and Activities

Research fact files about the endangered species of the rainforest.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To investigate the destruction of the rainforest and its effect on animal species of the rainforest.
  • To investigate why and how some species are threatened.
  • To use relevant websites to locate factual information about endangered species of the rainforest.

Children will:

  • Understand the concept of endangered and extinct.
  • Research information about endangered animals of the rainforest.
  • Record relevant information as a fact file card.

You Will Need

  • Window by Jeannie Baker
  • The Vanishing Rainforest by Richard Platt

Session 5 The endangered rainforest game

Session plan Download all files

Objectives

Geography

  • Understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of human geography of a region of the UK and a region within a rainforest.
  • Explore the effect humans can have on their environment.

Science

  • Recognise that environments can change and that this can sometimes pose dangers to living things.

Design and Technology

  • Use research and develop design criteria to functional products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups.

Teaching and Activities

Design and make a board game using your knowledge of the endangered creatures of the rainforest.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • Investigate the destruction of the rainforest and its effect on animal species of the rainforest.
  • Analyse the factors that can lead to animals becoming endangered.
  • To appreciate that animals need the habitat to remain the same in order to survive and investigate how some species are threatened.
  • Design and make a board game of The Endangered Rainforest.

Children will:

  • Understand the concept of endangered and extinct.
  • Design and make a board game based on this concept.

You Will Need

  • Window by Jeannie Baker
  • The Vanishing Rainforest by Richard Platt
  • Card
  • Markers and other drawing tools
  • Ruler
  • Counters
  • Dice

Session 6 Through the window - collage

Session plan Download all files

Objectives

Geography

  • Understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of human geography of a region of the United Kingdom and a region within a rainforest
  • Explore the effect humans can have on their environment.

Science

  • Recognise that environments can change and that this can sometimes pose dangers to living things.

Art

  • Develop art techniques, including their control and their use of materials, with creativity, experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design.

Teaching and Activities

Using the knowledge you have gained about the deforestation of the rainforest, create a ‘Through the Window’ art piece.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To investigate the destruction of the rainforest and its effect on animal species of the rainforest.
  • To appreciate that animals need the habitat to remain the same in order to survive and investigate how some species are threatened.
  • To create Through the Window art based on the view they would want to see.

Children will:

  • Understand the concept of deforestation.
  • Create a collage based on the rainforest.
  • Experiment with tissue paper to create various colours.

You Will Need

  • Window by Jeannie Baker
  • The Vanishing Rainforest by Richard Platt
  • Tissue paper
  • White glue 50/50 with water
  • Soft medium sized paintbrush
  • Black A4 card
  • A4 Transparency or Laminates

Session 7 Through the window - poetry

Session plan Download all files

Objectives

Geography

  • Understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of human geography of a region of the UK and a region within a rainforest.
  • Explore the effect humans can have on their environment.

Science

  • Recognise that environments can change and that this can sometimes pose dangers to living things.

English

  • Write in poetic style.

Teaching and Activities

Reflect on all you have learnt in this block and especially your ‘Through the Window’ art piece to write a final poem.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To investigate the destruction of the rainforest and how places can change over time.
  • To appreciate that animals need the habitat to remain the same in order to survive and investigate how some species are threatened.
  • To explore poetry with a repeated pattern and write poetry based on the rainforest.

Children will:

  • Use the concept of deforestation to stimulate writing ideas.
  • Write poetry based on the rainforest.
  • Use a repeated pattern to write poetry.

You Will Need

  • Window by Jeannie Baker
  • The Vanishing Rainforest by Richard Platt

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