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Key Stage 1 Local Studies: Our School and Local Area
Contrasting Country: Kenya

Country Mouse and City Mouse encourage children to learn about Kenya. Learn key geographical vocabulary and carry out map work. Build a picture of Kenya through a series of activities such as role play and hot seating, wellington gardens & making clay furniture. Gather research for an informative brochure and take part in `The City & Countryside Debate´.

Session 1 City mouse and country mouse

Objectives

Geography

  • Understand geographical similarities and differences through studying the human and physical geography of a small area of the United Kingdom, and of a small area in a contrasting non -European country.
  • Use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to key human & physical features.
  • Use world maps, atlases and globes to identify the countries, continents and oceans studied at this key stage.

English

  • Give well- structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes, including for expressing feelings.
  • Listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers.
  • Speak audibly and fluently with an increasing command of Standard English.
  • Participate in presentations and performances.

Lesson Planning

Children will listen to the story `City Mouse and Country Mouse´ by John Wallner. They will look at images of Kenya´s cities and countryside then use websites to start a class brochure about Kenya.

Teaching Support
To find out about Kenya and its geography, cities & countryside.
To report research to peers and contribute to a class brochure.

Children will:

  • Use brochures, websites and information books to research Kenya.
  • Contribute information and images to large class brochure.
  • Present their findings to their class.
  • Begin to understand the physical geography of Kenya.

Provided Resources

  • Fiction and non-fiction book list
  • Helpful weblinks
  • Research questions

You Will Need

  • Two mice hand puppets or teddies
  • Atlases and maps
  • Information books, brochures and leaflets (from local travel agencies)
  • Large sheet sugar paper or similar for brochure page

Session 2 Country mouse and city mouse learn about the city

Objectives

Geography

  • Understand geographical similarities and differences through studying the human and physical geography of a small area of the United Kingdom, and of a small area in a contrasting non -European country.
  • Use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to key human & physical features.
  • Use world maps, atlases and globes to identify the countries, continents and oceans studied at this key stage.

English

  • Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, improvisations and debates.
  • Give well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes, including for expressing feelings.

Lesson Planning

Children will watch a clip about Nana, a child in urban Kenya, then through drama explore the similarities and differences between Nana's life and their own.

Teaching Support
To compare life in Kenya with life in the UK and imagine living in a Kenya.
To create role play scenes, using information from video clip and photographs.

Children will:

  • Investigate and identify the human/physical geography of Kenya.
  • Use atlases and maps to find Kenya, Nairobi and other cities, mountains and rivers.
  • Learn about life in Kenya and through role play develop greater understanding of similarities/differences to their own lives.

Provided Resources

  • Drama - Living in Kenya
  • Key questions
  • Wow facts
  • Word mat

You Will Need

  • Atlases and session maps
  • Physical and human feature word mats
  • Stickers and flags
  • Painted tissue box

Session 3 City mouse and country mouse learn about the country

Objectives

Geography

  • Use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to key human & physical features.
  • Understand geographical similarities and differences through studying the human and physical geography of a small area of the United Kingdom, and of a small area in a contrasting non-European country.
  • Use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to key human & physical features.

English

  • Give well- structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes, including for expressing feelings.

Art

  • Learn about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work.
  • To develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space.

Lesson Planning

Learn what daily life is like in the countryside of Kenya by meeting Evangeline, a child living on a farm in Naro Maru. Participate in `The City and Countryside Debate´ - it´s time to vote, but will children prefer?

Teaching Support
To compare rural and city locations in Kenya.
To use drama to explore the similarities/differences between life in Kenya and the UK.
To begin to learn about different Kenyan landscapes.

Children will:

  • Discuss aspects of life in Kenya and vote for their preferred lifestyle.
  • Use hot seating to appreciate similarities and differences between life in Kenya and in the UK.
  • Use an assortment of sources to research topic: Kenya.
  • Explore a range of Kenyan landscapes and contribute images to the class brochure: Kenya.

Provided Resources

  • Kenyan landscapes
  • Wellington boot planting
  • How to make clay furniture

You Will Need

  • Atlases
  • Old Wellington boots
  • Plants
  • Clay