Chiff-Chaffs: Amazing African Adventures

Amazing African Adventures

Autumn, 2024

Scroll to the end of the page to see the most recent project update

"What are we doing for project?"

The Chiff-Chaffs eagerly asked on the first day of school. By now, the process is clear in their mind, they choose an area of interest, and we do all we can to learn about it. This term, they were tasked with deciding on a humanities-based project, specifically geography, with a core focus on a Continent. They collaborated and decided they wanted to learn about Africa, its amazing landscapes, diverse wildlife, abundant culture and marvellous gemstones. Through studying Africa’s geology, the chiff-chaffs also learn about how the land shapes the lives of people. Africa has a wide variety of landscapes, from the towering Mount Kilimanjaro to the vast Sahara Desert. The Chiff-Chaffs will learn how people in Africa have adapted to live in different environments, whether it’s building homes near rivers like the Nile or surviving in dry desert regions. This encourages them to think carefully about how geography affects culture and lifestyle, and how people in different parts of the world have their own unique ways of living. Join us as we learn about human and physical geography, geographical skills and fieldwork to uncover all that amazing Africa has to offer and encouraging a deeper appreciation for the continent's rich cultural diversity.

The Key Areas of Competence (KAOC)

The Key Areas of Competence (KAoC)

This term's cross-curricular project will develop the children's skills in the following curriculum areas:

ROOTS: PSED

TRUNK: Communication and Language, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Working Scientifically, Environmentalism and Sustainability, Creative Tech and Digital Communication

CROWN: Creative Arts & Design, Understanding the World- Science Skills

Steps to Success

We will explore Africa’s landscape and why it is important
We will discover the traditions of different African nations
We will investigate Africa’s wildlife and conservation
We will learn about the connection between wildlife and Indigenous communities
We will prepare and showcase our learning to inform others

Project End Goal: To understand and celebrate the link between African culture and the land

Update 1. 20.09.2024

Wow! We have already learnt so much since starting our project this week. We are fast on our way to becoming knowledgeable learners about the amazing continent of Africa. To begin, we brainstormed various areas of interest that we would like to learn more about across this topic. Some of the areas chosen specifically by the Chiif-Chaffs have been wildlife, sealife, rainforests, and gemstones.

Once these areas had been decided, it was time to create our posters around our area of interest. The chiff-chaffs worked well in their small teams to design, collaborate and then produce their posters. You can view these on our project working wall inside the den.

We are having a wonderful time working together on this project. We are being great role models to each other and building our class culture of respect, focus, and joy as we go!

Questions to discuss at home

What is the name of the longest river in Africa (and the world)?
What is the name of highest mountain in Africa?
Can you name 6 animals/living things that call Africa their home?
What do the following terms mean: safari, conservation and endangered?

We used BBC Bitesize to help research and learn about the amazing continent of Africa. First, we noted the landmarks on the image opposite and plotted these on our maps. Next week, we will add more details, facts, and locations to our maps, building our knowledge and understanding of this vast continent.

*Click on the embedded link to learn more about Africa at home (the link is attached to the picture of Africa)*

Here are some examples of our maps of Africa. We plotted the following landmarks; Sahara Desert, River Nile, The Great Pyramids, and The Congo Rainforest.

We are excited to share our new fact files with you soon. They are filled with lots of fantastic and interesting information.

Update - Friday, 11th October 2024

Since our last update, we have been busy learning more about some of Africa's people and their associated tribes or cultures. Given this is such a vast topic with so many amazing different languages, traditions and tribes, we chose to focus on the Masai tribe, located in Kenya. We have compared the similarities and differences between our own day here in London, and at LWS, versus that of a child within the Massai tribe.

If you have time, you can watch this short video of a child's daily routine within a tribe in Uganda and answer the following questions.

What similarities can you notice between your life/routine and this person?
What difference can you notice between your life/routine and this person?
If you lived here, what do you think you would enjoy the most?
If you lived here, what would be challenging?

African Masks — Step 1:

We first examined some African masks, their designs, inspiration (human and animal features), meaning, and various uses within African traditions. Once we understood these masks, it was time to sketch our own version. We spoke about the symmetry and geometrical designs within African masks to aid us with our creations.

African Masks — Step 2:

We finished the designs and sketches, and it was time to turn our 2D pictures into 3D masks. We each chose a mask outline we liked and transferred it to cardboard before cutting it out. We then gave our masks features (eyes, nose, mouth, decorative patterns) using recycled paper and masking tape.

African Masks — Step 3:

Next, it was time to toughen our masks with paper-mâché. We covered our cardboard masks with a PVA glue and water mixture before building up layers of newspaper. We are excited for the next step in this process, where we can give our masks their distinct designs and bring them to life with vibrant colours.

Unfortunately, our planned online workshop with the Horniman Museum has been delayed until Monday, 14th October. Opposite is an overview of our learning session. It would also be great to continue the discussion at home; please use the slides below as a guide.

Update - Friday 15th November

Since our last update before the half-term break in October, we have been busy with a mini project focused on Black History Month before casting our eyes back on our geographical project. To kickstart our learning within 'Step 3', the main highlight over the past week or so, has undoubtedly been our trip to the Port Lympne Reserve in Kent. Although it was quite a voyage to get there, it certainly did not disappoint, and it was amazing to see the Chiff-Chaff's witness and some of Africa's most famous animals up close. We saw lions, giraffes, baboons, lemurs, elands, and black and white rhinos, to name a few. Alongside seeing this wonderful creature in person, it was also insightful to hear more about conservation and, in particular, to listen to the fantastic role conservation parks like Port Lympne play in the broader world. This trip has inspired us to learn more about conservation and its positive impact on animal populations, endangerment and much more.

Preparing for our exhibition

Following our trip, we have begun gathering ideas on how we would like to share our learning and experiences with our families. We have decided to focus on five areas during our exhibition, which we will keep as a surprise for now. Over the coming weeks, we will be busy preparing various crafts, items, props, and movements to showcase all we've learned from this project, 'Amazing African Adventures'.

The school's exhibitions will take place on Wednesday 11th December.

Update - Friday 6th December

Shadow puppets

We have been busy crafting various shadow puppets in preparation for our exhibition. We will use the shadow puppets to help us convey the story of two Maasai children who learn valuable lessons from their grandparents.

As we have been learning more about the Maasai tribespeople of Kenya and Tanzania, we have discovered their powerful connection to the natural world, particularly the animals. We aim to illustrate this message through our shadow puppet show, and we hope you enjoy it, too!

World Wildlife Fund & Red Tribe

Red Tribe Charity works with the Maasai community, a group of people in East Africa known for their unique culture and traditional way of life. The charity helps them with education, healthcare, and preserving their traditions while improving their quality of life. This support empowers the Maasai to thrive while protecting their heritage.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) allows people to "adopt" a rhino as a way to raise funds for rhino conservation. The money helps protect rhinos from threats like poaching and habitat loss. By adopting, we are supporting efforts to save these endangered animals and their environment.

Maasai Warriors

We have been learning in more depth about the traditions and rituals of the Maasai warriors and dancers

Red Tribe Charity

We have chosen to support the Red Tribe charity this festive season. We will raise funds through our Malva pudding cake sale at the end of term exhibition

World Wildlife Fund

We have also decided to adopt a rhino through the World Wildlife Fund. We have been sent additional information regarding our donation and also a new soft cuddly rhino toy too

Update - 12.12.2024

Rhino Adoption

We are proud to have sponsored a white rhino through the World Wildlife Fund, and we are hopeful that our donation can make a small difference to the conservation efforts in place to improve their population numbers.

Could you identify all of the spices?

The Chiff-Chaffs wanted to create an interactive and engaging exhibition for their audience. They made a tagine spice challenge and a Maasai warrior dance jumping challenge to achieve this. They created QR codes to improve links to our key charities alongside selling some delicious malva pudding.

Red Tribe Charity

Through learning about Kenya and the Maasai tribespeople, we decided to raise money through our cake sale for 'Red Tworks with the Maasai community, a group of people in East Africa known for their unique culture and traditional way of life. The charity helps them with education, healthcare, and preserving their traditions while improving their quality of life. This support empowers the Maasai to thrive while protecting their heritage. ribe'. This charity helps

Thank you!

To everyone who came to our Chiff Chaff Winter Exhibition, we hope you enjoyed it, including the shadow puppet show, malva pudding, the Maasai warrior jumping challenge, and the tagine spice challenge. The Chiff-Chaffs worked incredibly hard to create another awesome exhibition (I know, I'm biased, but they did!) to exhibit their learning and keen interests from across this project.

If you have any feedback for the Chiff-Chaffs about their exhibition, please send it to me via SeeSaw. It can be positive or constructive, as we can use any feedback to improve our next exhibition.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and safe festive season. See you in the New Year!

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