This lesson is designed for KS2 students. It can be taught as a stand alone lesson but is also available as part of three wider units, all of which are available on TES:
-Volcanoes
-Earthquakes
-Volcanoes & Earthquakes
The presentation introduces the idea that the world’s crust is split into tectonic plates and looks at how these are related to volcanoes and earthquakes.
The activity challenges students to identify tectonic plates using a map. It is differentiated two ways:
Easier – Students identify the world’s tectonic plates using a colour-coordinated map.
Harder – Students identify the world’s tectonic plates using a plain map.
Extension – Students use an atlas to find out which tectonic plate countries of the world are located on.
If you like this resource, we would appreciate a review! We will happily send you a free resource in return for a review or useful suggestions/feedback. Contact us at ed@teachitforward.co.uk.
EYFS Understanding the World Progress Model
This UTW progress model lists the small steps of skills and knowledge to be taught in F1 and F2, linked to Science, Geography, History, RE and Computing as well as how this links to KS1.
It was a really useful document for both EYFS practitioners and subject leaders to have during our recent Ofsted in October 2022, where we were rated Outstanding in all areas, to be able to show how our UTW curriculum in EYFS ensures children are gaining the skills they need to be successful beyond EYFS.
Our EYFS curriculum was designed by using Development Matters as a starting point, which we then added to in order to create an ambitious and engaging curriculum.
Understanding the World audit for Reception and EYFS provisions. Understanding the World audit only.
The comprehensive EYFS deep dive and audit pack can be found on our website Honeyguide SLS for £17.50.
Complete lesson
All resources required for lesson attached, including video links in PowerPoint notes section.
PowerPoint self explanatory.
LOs
Define key population terminology.
Identity sparse and dense populated places.
Explain why population follows a pattern of distribution.
This pack contains a PowerPoint used in a network training session with loads of ideas for activities linked to Understanding the World. There is wealth of pictures, resource ideas, links to useful websites and some activity sheets.
More resources @ https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/Whitley01
EYFS Understanding of the World objectives and Early Learning Goals, split by strand and age. Includes 30-50 months and 40-60+ months. Great for display!
30+ question quiz is played in pairs - 1 partner reads the clue words and the partner has to give the answer.
Alternative remove the answers from each slide and use as a whole class exercise.
This has excellent pictures/images to motivate students and provoke discussion.
I have found these activities work brilliantly!!
This lesson is part of Mountain Environments, a Geography unit designed for students in upper KS2 (Y4-6).
First the presentation recaps the structure of the Earth and how its crust is split into tectonic plates. It then investigates the different ways tectonic plates can move and how two tectonic plates colliding can form fold mountains (e.g. the Himalayas).
The differentiated activity challenges students to work out which tectonic plates formed different fold mountain ranges around the world.
Easier – Students have to find one tectonic plate.
Medium – Students have to find two tectonic plates.
Harder – Students find the name of each mountain range and two tectonic plates.
Extension – Students complete a cloze procedure paragraph about fold mountains.
If you like this resource, we would appreciate a review! We will happily send you a free resource in return for a review or useful suggestions/feedback. Contact us at ed@teachitforward.co.uk.
Understanding the world progression of skills from birth to 5 years old
Do you know that developmental milestones children reach at each stage lay the foundation for progress in school?
This comprehensive progression map outlines how children develop the understanding of the world from birth to school age.
You can follow this chart to assess your child’s progress and readiness for school, as well as plan activities for homeschooling.
The school expectations at age 4-5 are taken from the National Curriculum in the UK.
Please note that all children develop at a different pace and this progression map is designed to give you a brief overview of what you can expect at each stage.
It includes 8 areas of understanding the world development:
• People and communities
• The world
• Technology and tools
• Materials
• History
• Living things
• Forces
• Geography
If you find this progression map useful, you can find Mathematical skills, Communication & Language, Literacy, Physical development and Personal, Social and Emotional Development progression maps in our shop.
A colorful template for your learning journal for documenting children's learning. Understanding the World- simply click and begin typing your story. Click and insert images required. These documents display as a lovely keepsake for families in children's Learning Journey and are quick and easy to use.
A huge bundle of fun science investigations, activities, emergent readers and more! Ideal for Pre-School and Reception. Everything you need to teach the following seven themes: Floating and Sinking, Five Senses, Pushes and Pulls, Plants, Minibeasts and Creepy Crawlies, Farm Animals and Zoo Animals. Perfect for your whole class introductions, adult led activities or independent work in the continuous provision. Included are the following:
FLOATING AND SINKING
8 pages of awesome activity ideas.
Floating and sinking word mat (in colour and B&W): use this delightful word mat with writing activities.
Recording sheets: 5 recording sheets with differentiated versions = 10 in total! Perfect for children of all abilities and different ages.
Design a rubber ring sheet.
‘Floating and Sinking’ emergent reading book: provided in colour and B&W. You could print the pages back to back and use the book for guided/independent reading. Alternatively, the pages could be printed out separately and used for a display.
FIVE SENSES
Senses book: provided in colour and B&W. You could print the pages back to back and use the book for guided/independent reading. Alternatively, the pages could be printed out separately and used for a display.
Senses activities: a page of activity ideas (1 activity for each sense) and 5 recording sheets (B&W only).
Senses game, playing pieces, die and instructions (game in colour and B&W)
Senses spinners and activity prompt sheet: 1 colour spinner and 1 B&W. Ideas for how to use the spinners provided.
Senses writing paper, both in colour and B&W: senses themed paper to use for writing activities.
Senses word mat (in colour and B&W): use this delightful word mat with writing activities.
PUSHES AND PULLS
Introduction to theme and objectives/aims.
Pushes and Pulls Around the Classroom: activity and 2 differentiated recording sheets included.
2 Push or Pull Activity Sheets: to use as homework/extension work.
Push or Pull Different Speeds: playground activity ideas.
Push or Pull Different Directions: outdoor activity ideas and 2 differentiated recording sheets.
How Far: ramp investigation with 2 differentiated recording sheets.
Marble Run: marble run investigation with 2 differentiated recording sheets.
Push and Pull word mat (in colour and B&W): use this word mat with writing activities.
‘Push or Pull’ emergent reading book: provided in colour and B&W.
PLANTS
13 engaging hands on activities and investigations: full details of what you will need and instructions for how to carry them out.
Plant hunt sheets: take these differentiated sheets on your hunt and tick which flowers you find.
Plants emergent reader: in colour and b/w.
Seed packet template: design your own packet and fold and glue the tabs.
Sunflower diary sheet: this sheet accompanies the sunflowers activity. Draw, label and measure your sunflower each week.
Plant game (colour and B&W) and instructions: a fun game to help children learn all about what plants need to grow.
Plant word mat (colour and B&W): use this delightful word mat to help children with writing activities.
Plant jigsaw (colour and B&W): 2 of the same jigsaw provided on one page. Just print out on card, laminate and cut up. Learn the parts of a plant while playing!
MINIBEASTS AND CREEPY CRAWLIES
Activity Plans:
Big Bug Hunt & 2 differentiated recording sheets
Luxury Bug Hotel
Bug Investigation Lab
Wiggly Jiggly Wormery
Beastly Bug Pebbles
Make Your Own Bugs!
Paper Plate Spider Webs
Bug Box: Habitat Test
Slithery Snail Collage
It’s a Bug’s Life Cycles
Also included…
Bug game (in colour and B&W) and instructions: a fun game to help children learn about the needs of bugs.
Bug word mat (in colour and B&W): use this delightful word mat with writing activities.
Bug jigsaws: 6 bug jigsaws. Just print out on card, laminate and cut up. Learn about the different parts of bugs with these adorable jigsaws!
Bug cards: 1 colour card and 1 B&W card each containing 9 bugs. You could print out 2 copies and use the bug cards to play snap/pairs.
Butterfly and spider life cycle posters, both in colour and B&W.
FARM ANIMALS
Farm animal emergent reading book: provided in colour and B&W. You could print the pages back to back and use the book for guided/independent reading. Alternatively, the pages could be printed out separately and used for a display.
Farm animal hunt printable (in colour and B&W): to use on a visit to a farm. Children should hunt for the animals shown and tick when they find them.
Farm animal jigsaws: 6 jigsaws in colour only. Just print out, laminate and cut up. Learn about the different parts of animals with these adorable jigsaws!
Farm animal spinners and activity prompt sheet: 1 colour spinner and 1 B&W spinner, each containing 6 animals. Ideas for how to use the spinners provided.
Farm animal word mat (in colour and B&W): use this delightful word mat with writing activities.
Farm animal writing paper, both in colour and B&W: farm themed paper to use for writing activities.
Farm animal board game (in colour and B&W), playing pieces, die and instructions: who will be first to reach the farm?
Animals included: goat, cow, sheep, pig, hen and rabbit.
ZOO ANIMALS
Zoo animal hunt printable (in colour and B&W): to use on a visit to the zoo. Children should hunt for the animals shown and tick when they find them.
Zoo animal jigsaws: 6 jigsaws in colour and B&W. Just print out, laminate and cut up. Learn about the different parts of animals with these adorable jigsaws!
Zoo animal spinners and activity prompt sheet: 1 colour spinner and 1 B&W spinner each containing 6 animals. Ideas for how to use the spinners provided.
Zoo animal word mat (in colour and B&W): use this delightful word mat with writing activities.
Zoo animal writing paper, both in colour and B&W: zoo themed paper to use for writing activities.
Zoo animal board game, playing pieces, die and instructions: who will be first to reach the zoo?
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World War II
This lesson sets out to explains how Hitler set Germany on the road to war in 5 steps.
Students are challenged to find out how and why was he able to defy the Treaty of Versailles so easily with little or no consequences (shown through a causal spider’s web).
Students analyse video footage and a number of sources, using the COP technique (modelled for student understanding) which has proved invaluable for evaluating sources at GCSE.
A final chronological recap of the events and evaluation of the most and least important of the events that led to war, will give students an in depth understanding of why World War II started.
This lesson is ideal as preparation for GCSE if you are embedding source skills or teaching the interwar years or WWII at Key stage 4.
It is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout to show the progress of learning.
The resource includes retrieval practice activities, suggested teaching strategies and differentiated materials and comes in Powerpoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change.
Understanding the World Themed Sea Creature Lesson Plan for Reception
Includes:
1 Teacher Lead Focus Activity (LO and SC included)
1 NN Lead Focus Activity (LO and SC included)
6 Independent Activities
Book Link Ideas
Taken from our PSHE EYFS/KS1 Resource file
One lesson with activities to get the children thinking about key questions.
About the unit in general:
The material in this unit contains ideas on how PSHE and Citizenship can be introduced in the early years. Many of the skills and values that fall within this area of the curriculum are taught throughout each day in an Early Years classroom. The qualities they encourage are illustrated on the following page. Three themes: • Fairness • Relationships • Choices have been covered in depth. Many of the qualities that are developed in PSHE and Citizenship are embraced within these particular subjects. They are fundamental to the Early Years curriculum. Timing In this unit most of the activities would take 10-15 minutes. However, some of the ideas presented are not full activities but suggestions of how to incorporate the topic into the everyday classroom
Find the full unit on TES: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/eyfs-pshe-understanding-the-world-back-to-school-unit-of-work-6-lessons-unit-12319666
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This is a unit of work I have planned, resourced and used from the Understanding Christianity scheme of work. This is ‘Gospel’ and it is aimed at Years 3 and 4.
This is a Powerpoint download of the following lessons:
Lesson 1: Engage with the idea of Gospel through parables
A focus on understanding what a parable is and this looks at The Thankful Leper and The Good Samaritan. This has a fill in the gaps task about The Good Samaritan.
Lesson 2: Enquire into the idea of Gospel
This focuses on understanding why Jesus told the story of The Good Samaritan and what it means to Christians to be a good samaritan. This has a diary entry writing task about The Good Samaritan.
Lesson 3: Explore ways in which Christians practice Gospel
This focuses on what Christians might do to be a good samaritan and live life how God and Jesus wanted. This looks directly into the charity Christian Aid and what some Christians dedicate their life to. This contains a drawing task.
Lesson 4: Evaluate how Christians can share God’s message
This lesson focuses on rich discussion and writing to answer questions about what kind of world God wants and what kind of world the children want and why. This then goes into an art focus of creating a piece of artwork to encourage others to be kind.
The last slide of this Powerpoint contains ways in which children can express their learning about kindness by suggesting activities they can do to show kindness.
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