Dino debate

Topics Year 4/5

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Objectives

Science

Recognise that fossils provide information about living things that inhabited the Earth millions of years ago.
Recognise that living things produce offspring of the same kind, but normally offspring vary and are not identical to their parent.
Identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways and that adaptation may lead to evolution.

English

Develop wider skills in spoken language; Pupils’ confidence, enjoyment and mastery of language should be extended though public speaking, performance and debate.

Lesson Planning

Plan and argue the case for each extinction theory in a class debate before voting for the most plausible.

Teaching Outcomes:

To refine the arguments (‘for’ and ‘against’) for each extinction theory.
To plan and engage in a debate, each group arguing the case for their extinction theory.

Children will:

Refine and analyse the arguments (‘for’ and ‘against’) for each extinction theory.
Plan and engage in a debate, each group arguing the case for their extinction theory; they can vote for the most plausible theory.

Planning

Provided Resources

Extinction pictures
Dino-Debate tips

Unit Resources

You Will Need

Large sheets of paper
Thick pens

Weblinks

Tips on how to create debate in the classroom from noisyclassroom.com
The value of debate in the classroom from theguardian.com
Dinosaur extinction events - YouTube clip