Lesson Planning
Lower Key Stage 2 Modern Europe - NEW LOOK
Italy - NEW LOOK
Travel to Italy to take in the alpine scenery and enjoy a mountain trek through the many mountain ranges that Italy boasts. Take a trip back in time to CE 79 and the fateful day that Mt Vesuvius blew her top. Investigate the mysterious draw of the volcanoes of southern Italy for settlement - would you take the risk and live in the shadow of a live volcano?
Session 1 The Mountain Medleys of Italy
Objectives
Geography
- To understand the difference between human and physical geographical features.
- To describe some geographical features of Italy’s mountain ranges.
English
- To retrieve information from texts, discussing their understanding and identifying the key ideas being presented.
Enquiry question
Where are Italy’s mountain ranges and what are they like?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Distinguish between human and physical geographical features.
- Read and sort information about Italy’s mountain ranges.
- Locate Italy’s mountain ranges on a map and describe some geographical features of these regions.
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
Printed or online copies of maps of Europe and Italy and/or atlases
Glue and pairs of scissors
Weblinks
Tourist information about some of the mountain destinations in Italy.
Information about the places of interest and things to do in the Dolomites.
Session 2 Experiencing Pompeii
Objectives
Geography
- To understand what a volcano is and recognise some geographical features of a volcanic eruption.
English
- To use drama and a news report to describe the historical events and geography of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE.
History
- To distinguish between primary and secondary sources of information and understand that our knowledge of the past is constructed from a range of sources.
Enquiry question
What happened when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 CE?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Use video and written sources of information to explore the geography behind volcanoes.
- Experience the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE through drama and videos.
- Create a ‘Newsround’ report explaining the events and geography of the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE.
- Identify primary and secondary sources of historical information.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
Children to have access to pillows (or school jumpers).
Musical instruments, video recording equipment (optional).
Weblinks
Information from BBC Bitesize about volcanoes and what happens when they erupt.
A short video describing the last days of Pompeii.
This BBC video clip provides a reconstruction of the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE.
NB: Check suitability of videos for your class.
Session 3 The Geography and History of the Mount Vesuvius Region
Objectives
Geography
- To recall facts about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE and be able to categorise these as geographical or historical information.
- To select and organise geographical and historical information to create a labelled diorama of Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii.
History
- To distinguish between primary and secondary sources of information and understand that our knowledge of the past is constructed from a range of sources.
Enquiry question
What do we know about the geography and history of the Mount Vesuvius region?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Recall what we know about Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii, and sort this information into geographical or historical.
- Make a diorama Mt Vesuvius and Pompeii that includes flag labels to show historical and geographical information.
- Identify ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ sources of historical information.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
Coloured ‘flag label’ paper;
Large quantity of Lego/Duplo
A range of extra diorama materials such as lolly sticks, straws, foil and cotton wool
Weblinks
Short video describing the last days of Pompeii.
BBC video clip showing a reconstruction of the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE.
NB: Check suitability of videos for your class.
Session 4 The Human Geography of Volcanic Regions
Objectives
Geography
- To describe some key geographical features of a volcano and its surrounding area.
- To identify reasons for and against living near a volcano.
English
- To articulate and justify answers, arguments and opinions by participating in a debate about whether to live by a volcano.
Enquiry question
Why do people live near volcanoes?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Describe some of the ways in which the people of Pompeii tried to escape after Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 CE.
- Research one of the world’s active volcanos and record some facts about it.
- List arguments for and against living near a volcano and take part in a debate about this issue.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
Access to the internet
Information books about volcanoes (optional)
Weblinks
This TED-Ed video follows some citizens of Pompeii as they attempt to survive the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE.
Some information, diagrams and videos about volcanoes from 3D Geography.
An interactive map showing the location of some of the world’s volcanoes.
NB: Check suitability of videos for your class.