Key Stage 1 We Are Britain

Rivers and Canals

Children will be introduced to Ratty and Moley from Wind in the Willows. Moley and Ratty help children learn more about rivers and how they begin, by investigating the answers to two important questions.

Teaching Outcomes
To know that a river flows downwards from high ground to the sea/lakes and that it shapes the landscape.
To begin to learn some geographical vocabulary associated with rivers.

Children will:

• Learn how rivers begin on high ground and that they move in one direction.
• Learn how rivers change shape.
• Begin to notice features of a river.

• Extract from Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
• River images

• Puppet of a rat and mole
• Sand
• Different sized stones
• Container for your river
• Watering cans.

Water safety story,solutions and activity from canalrivertrust.org.uk

Ratty and Moley will take children on a river journey. They will find out more facts about the river Thames and other important rivers in the UK. They will make their own weaving looms and class picnic basket in which to place facts they learn along the way.

Teaching Outcomes
To describe the physical features of a river, name and locate rivers in the UK.
To experiment with weaving using different materials.
To make a loom using simple joining techniques.

Children will:

• Describe the physical features of a river.
• Name and locate rivers in the UK.
• Experiment with weaving using different materials.
• Make a loom using simple joining techniques such as glue, wool or string

• Information sheet on Wonderful weaving

• Atlases for the class
• Lolly sticks to make a loom
• Ribbons
• Wool
• Crepe paper and other materials to weave.

The river Thames from primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk
Facts and information about rivers in the UK from primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk
Hurley lock on the river Thames from bbc.co.uk
River inspired music -YouTube clip
Weaving for kids from buggyandbuddy.com

Children will create their own canals and journey down a canal in a narrow boat. They will discuss the differences between canals and rivers and create their own boats using different materials. 

Teaching Outcomes
To understand the importance and differences between rivers and canals and name some different ways that they are used.
To build boats from a variety of materials using different joining techniques.

Children will:

• Know the key differences between rivers and canals.
• Understand different purposes of rivers/canals.
• Make a boat out of a variety of materials using simple joining techniques such as glue and string

• Information sheet on making boats

• Hand drill
• Scalpel
• Hammer and nails
• Boat-making materials
• Plastic boats
• Lego and Lego people
• Sugar cubes.

River and Canal facts and images from canalrivertrust.org.uk
Living and travelling on a canal boat from bbc.co.uk
Pictures of a narrow boat from canalrivertrust.org.uk
How to make an origami narrow boat -YouTube clip
Acoustic guitar music - YouTube clip

Ratty and Moley take children animal tracking where they will learn to recognise animal tracks and signs. They will play an animal matching game where they will learn about animal scat- don´t forget to hold your nose! Finally, they will create their own scat in their scientific laboratory.

Teaching Outcomes
To learn about animals that live by the canal/river and their tracks/signs.

Children will:

• Play a game which applies knowledge of animals signs/tracks.
• Identify animals that live by the canal and rivers.
• Make an animal scat out of oats.

• Information sheet on Identifying animals
• Animal scat identification worksheet

• Clipboards
• Animal clues: feathers, acorns, leaves, sticks, fur
• A container filled with piles of mud
• Scat mixture ingredients: measuring cup, oats, cocoa powder, teaspoon, water.

Information about animals found by rivers or canal from canalrivertrust.org.uk
Information about animal tracks and signs from gloustershirewildlifetrust.co.uk
Animal footprints tracking resource from woodlandtrust.org.uk

Mole, Ratty and the class go on a fact picnic. Children will visit a local river/canal, groups will take turns to play pooh sticks, do some wildlife spotting, launch their boats, make leaf rubbings and finally they will enjoy a fact picnic where they will share everything that they have learnt.

Teaching Outcomes
To know and review the key features of rivers and use the correct geographical vocabulary.

Children will:

• Use knowledge gained to describe river features and use river related vocabulary.
• Consolidate knowledge during the past sessions and recall key facts in a fact picnic.
• Take their model boats and launch at the local river/canal.

• Information sheets covering: How to prepare a waste-free picnic
• Recording wildlife
• Nature art ideas

• The boats made in session 3
• First aid kit
• Mobile phone
• Camera
• Picnic basket with facts
• Clipboards

Guide to canal and river wildlife from canalrivertrust.org.uk