Lesson Planning
Lower Key Stage 2 Rainforests - NEW LOOK
Life in the Rainforest
Explore the life of tribal families who live in the rainforest and compare the way they live to your own family life. Celebrate the life of tribal people by sharing a feast of food and drink from the rainforest, and by teaching others what has been learnt about tribal designs and shelter building.
Session 1 The people of the rainforest
Objectives
Geography
- To retrieve and record information from a non-fiction text.
- To identify similarities and differences between my life and the life of a Kayapo child living in the Amazon rainforest.
- To write a comparative ‘day in the life of…’ extract, using paragraphs to structure writing effectively.
Enquiry question
What is it like to live in the rainforest?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Read an information text to learn more about the lives of the Kayapo people.
- Write a ‘day in the life of…’ extract to describe what our life is like and compare this with a day in the life of a Kayapo child.
- Identify similarities and differences between our lives and the life of a Kayapo child living in the Amazon rainforest.
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
Weblinks
Some background information and videos from Survival International about the challenges faced by indigenous groups living in the Amazon rainforest. This may be useful for teachers to read and watch prior to the session.
Facts for children about the Kayapo people.
Session 2 Homes of the rainforest
Objectives
Geography
- To describe similarities and differences between our homes and homes of indigenous people living in the rainforest.
DT
- To use research to design and plan a model of a rainforest home.
- To select from and use a range of materials, tools and equipment to construct a model of a rainforest home.
Enquiry question
To describe similarities and differences between our homes and homes of indigenous people living in the rainforest.
Outcomes
Children will:
- Describe features of different types of homes.
- Identify similarities and differences between our homes and homes of indigenous people living in the rainforest.
- Design, build and evaluate a model of a rainforest home.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
Twigs, grass, moss, leaves, soil, string, hessian, straw, raffia, clay, wooden craft sticks, rulers, cutting and shaping tools.
Optional: Access to the internet and non-fiction books about the rainforest.
Optional: PVA glue, paper, cardboard, paint
Session 3 Exploring the art of the Kayapo people
Objectives
Geography
- To describe aspects of the culture of the Kayapo people.
Art
- To develop drawing techniques using different types of pencils.
- To create a design inspired by the colours and patterns used in Kayapo beading and body paint.
Enquiry question
What can I learn about the art and designs of the Kayapo people?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Investigate and describe patterns and colours used in Kayapo body paint and beading.
- Experiment with different types of pencils and drawing techniques.
- Create monochrome and coloured patterns inspired by designs of the Kayapo people.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
You Will Need
Art pencils ranging from 2H to 4B or range of soft to hard pencils
Sketch paper (10cm x 25cm strips, at least 2 per child)
Coloured pencils
Black fine tip felt pens for outlining colour (optional)
Weblink
This video clip provides a simple demonstration of the tones you can get using different sketching pencils.
Session 4 Art and identity
Objectives
Geography
- To describe the design and purpose of headdresses and masks worn by different groups of indigenous people.
- To understand that personal identity is made up of different, overlapping characteristics that contribute to who we are.
Art
- To design a headband to express aspects of my identity.
Enquiry question
How do the Kayapo people use art to express their identity?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Investigate and describe the design and purpose of headdresses and masks worn by different groups of indigenous people.
- Give examples of some of the characteristics that make up someone’s identity.
- Design headbands to express our identity.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
You Will Need
A4 sheets or white card or paper
Access to the internet
Non-fiction books about different indigenous groups (optional)
Strips of white card
Coloured pencils and pens
Weblinks
This video provides some useful information about the design and purpose of the Kayapo headdress.
Some facts for children about some of the different types of Native American headdresses.
Session 5 The Vanishing Rainforest
Objectives
Geography
- To identify ways in which the lives of the Kayapo people depend on the rainforest.
- To analyse and discuss the effects of deforestation on indigenous people living in the rainforest.
- To adopt, create and sustain a range of roles, responding appropriately to others in role.
Enquiry question
How is deforestation affecting indigenous people and their way of life?
Outcomes
Children will:
- List ways in which the Kayapo people depend on the rainforest.
- Read a story, The Vanishing Rainforest, and discuss the impacts of deforestation on indigenous people living in the rainforest.
- Act in role as different characters in the story, responding appropriately to others in role.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
You Will Need
Copy of The Vanishing Rainforest by Richard Platt
Weblinks
Some background information and videos from Survival International about the challenges faced by indigenous groups living in the Amazon rainforest. This may be useful for teachers to read and watch prior to the session.
Further information about the use of a Conscience Alley in the classroom.
In this video clip, Mauricio Yukuana, director of the Hutukara Yanomami Association in the Brazilan Amazon, speaks about the need for the rest of the world to listen to the voices of indigenous people to help protect the rainforest