Overview of Intended Learning

Enquiry 1: Alive or Not?

Pupils to learn how to identify whether something is living (e.g. it can move, feed, grow, reproduce and use its senses).  Children to explore whether something was part of a living thing or a living thing that has died. Pupils to also understand that some things have never been alive because they have never shown the characteristics of life.  Children to identify and classify living and non-living things according to whether they are alive or dead or have never been alive, using a range of resources from plants to dried leaves from trees. 

Enquiry 2: Exploring Habitats and Microhabitats

Children to know that a habitat is an environment where an animal lives and contains all the things that animal needs to survive (shelter, water and food).  Children to explore some minibeast habitats in the school grounds, understanding that a microhabitat is a small habitat that also contains everything certain animals need to survive.  Children to understand that different microhabitats provide different conditions.

Children to use simple equipment (magnifying glasses) to observe closely the animals we find in local microhabitats. Children to observe the conditions in different microhabitats and draw conclusions about what minibeasts need to survive. 

Enquiry 3: Habitats are Different!

Children to understand that, just like animals, different plans are suited to different habitats. Children to explore a range of different local habitats (e.g. ponds and wooded areas) to understand how these habitats provide plants with what they need to survive.  Children to observe the light, plants and dryness of the soil in different habitats, drawing conclusions about what different plants need to survive. 

Enquiry 4: Oceans to Rainforests

Pupils will know that there are a range of different habitats around the world and that different animals and plants are suited to different habitats.  They will research a range of different habitats around the world, from deserts, oceans and rainforests. 

Children to use books and the internet to learn about different, unfamiliar habitats around the world and the animals that live there.  They will gather information from a range of sources and record the most useful and appropriate information for future reference.

Enquiry 5: Food Chains!

Children to know that living things depend on each other.  They will know that a simple food chain is made up of a producer (plant), an animal who eats that plant (prey) and the predator that hunts and eats that prey.  Children to know that energy is transferred between living things in a food chain.   Children to sort animals and plants in to food chains. 

Enquiry 6: Children to recap their learning by creating a food chain of their choice, sorting and classifying information.