Year 6

In our writing sessions, the classroom has been thick with tension as students have been busy retelling their own versions of ‘The Reaping’ from The Hunger Games. We have been focusing on building “atmosphere” through the power of precise vocabulary—choosing just the right word to convey dread, hope, or suspense. The children are also mastering complex punctuation to control the pace of their writing, ensuring their readers feel every moment of the story.

Our Inquiry took a wild turn as we investigated the history of Yellowstone National Park. We explored how past governance led to the total extermination of wolves, and the surprising ways the ecosystem suffered without them. However, the most stunning discovery was what happened when the wolves were reintroduced in the 1990s. This "keystone species" didn't just hunt; they triggered a trophic cascade. By controlling the elk population and changing their grazing habits, the wolves allowed forests to regenerate. This new vegetation stabilized the riverbanks, preventing erosion and—incredibly—causing the rivers to narrow, create more pools, and actually change their physical paths. It was a powerful lesson in how every part of nature is interconnected, and the impact that human intervention can have.

The excitement continues next week as we bring our focus closer to home. We were thrilled to learn about planned campaigns to reintroduce the Eurasian Lynx to parts of the UK. This will be our central inquiry as we step into the shoes of different stakeholders—from environmentalists and tourists to local farmers and landowners. Our goal is to analyze these diverse perspectives to understand the complexity of conservation and try to find a balanced, sustainable path forward.