Teach-Primary-Issue-19.1

WEEK 1 Learning objective l What’s inside planet Earth? Find key vocab for this week in the downloadable resources (link above). Begin by introducing the idea that Earth has a hard outer layer called the crust. Explain that it is split into several sections called plates, or tectonic plates. Share both the key vocabulary and the diagrams that exemplify this concept ( available in downloadable resources ). Show the children a leather netball (or similar) and liken the separate pieces of leather that are stitched together to the tectonic plates. M E D I U M T E R M P L A N KS2 GEOGRAPHY Download your FREE PowerPoint and worksheets at tinyurl.com/tp-Earth DOWNLOAD RESOURCES AT W hen we think of natural disasters, we think of bright orange eruptions of magma, vast plumes of black ash, collapsing buildings and tidal waves washing over everything in sight. We imagine danger, damage and destruction. But what causes volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis, and how do they affect people’s lives? During this unit, children will learn about how the movement of tectonic plates causes volcanic activity, earthquakes and tsunamis. They will study the structure of the Earth’s interior and how the different layers contribute to volcanic activity and earthquakes. Although children will take a deeper dive into this topic in secondary school, they will learn about significant areas of such activity, with a particular focus on how it affects human life. Ask pupils to respond to a multiple- choice question about what they think is beneath the crust ( slide 79 in the downloadable PowerPoint ) and then proceed to show the cross-section diagram of Earth’s structure, showing the crust, mantle, outer core and inner core ( slides 8 & 9 ). Show children a pre-made plasticine (or similar) model of the Earth – cut into it, or peel away the layers, to reveal the different parts of Earth’s structure. Use the table ( slide 10 ) to describe the materials that these layers are made of, their temperatures, their size and their viscosity and state of either being a liquid, solid or gas, and relate this to prior learning in science (Year 5, properties and changes of materials), where possible. Spend more time on the crust and mantle, particularly that temperature and viscosity in the mantle can greatly vary and that magma forms when rock in the crust or mantle melts. Pose the question: What might happen to the crust and tectonic plates if the mantle beneath it melts? ( Slide 15 ) Once the children have discussed it, introduce the theory that a tectonic plate moves when part of the plate sinks into the mantle ( slide 16 ). In order to provide a lead into future lessons, briefly state that this movement causes volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis ( slide 16 ). Assessment Can children label a blank version of the cross section of Earth diagram? Can children use the new vocabulary in a sentence? ( Both in L1 download .) WEEK 2 Learning objective l What is a volcano? Find key vocab for this week in the downloadable resources. Begin by showing the cross-section diagram ( slides 8 & 9 ), and pose the question: What might happen if there were an opening in the crust? ( Slide 20 ) After some discussion, share the definition of a volcano ( slide 21 ) before showing children a pre-made 3Dmodel that represents a cross section of a volcano. Show children a diagram of the same ( slide 27 ). Watch footage of various volcanoes erupting (like this one from BBC Earth Science, from about 0:50: tinyurl.com/ WHAT ON EARTH? A I DAN SEVERS 22 | www.teachwire.net