The Power of One
Learning Sequence 1
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Introduction With Gavin
Watch the Video with Daniel and Gavin and discuss the elements of the content explored. You may wish to allow the children to take notes and make any jottings they require as the video is being played.
Once the video is finished, allow your class to ask questions and make a note of these so they can be addressed as the lesson progresses.
In this learning sequence, we will delve into the geography of Antarctica and gain a deeper understanding of its unique features and challenges.
From exploring its past to understanding its present and envisioning its future, this learning sequence will provide a comprehensive look at the frozen continent at the southernmost point on the planet.
We will learn about the deep ice sheet that covers the landmass, its isolated location, and the impact it has on the surrounding environment and ecosystem.
Weekly Navigation - Where Are We?
Each week, we will help the children understand exactly where we are as we encounter the amazing sights and sounds of Antarctica. Your children may like to make a copy of the map and track the journey as we progress through the course.
Hopefully we can all enjoy the journey together and your children may like to conduct further research as they move from place to place.
Each week we will update you on where we are on this epic voyage to the Antarctic and back. Over the next ten weeks, we will visit some extraordinary places and we would love you to keep track of where we are and maybe conduct your very own research on some of the places we are located.
Take a look at the map opposite and create your very own map. Each week, keep your eye on the Aurora ship and track exactly where we are in this amazing part of the world.
Weekly Keywords
Introduce the spelling word list and choose from this list of tasks that can be repeated and expanded upon if necessary.
Copy the words into a spelling list/Vocabulary book for later reference.
Put each of the new words into a sentence and underline the new vocabulary in red pencil.
Place the words in alphabetical order in a list.
Use a dictionary to define each of the words and place them into a vocabulary book.
Try to represent each of the words using a picture or a symbol and play the guessing game. (which image is matched to which word)
Write a paragraph containing all of the new vocabulary.
Make a vocabulary wall containing all of the new words.
Use a thesaurus to find synonyms for the words and create
a synonym list.
These words will help you during this week’s lesson. You may already know some of these words however practice makes perfect!
First, read the words and then try to define them as simply as possible.
An example has been completed for you. You can write these into your books, and draw a picture to match or simply complete the task card.
Quote of the Week - Frank Wild
This week, we’ll draw inspiration from Socrates and his profound teachings on trust and honesty. Students will explore one of his key quotes, interpreting its significance from their own perspectives, perhaps through art or a multimedia presentation.
The core of this activity is deep reflection and meaningful conversation. It encourages students to connect with Socrates’ wisdom, considering how it influences their personal choices and impacts broader societal interactions.
This approach fosters critical thinking and open discussion, helping students understand how powerful ideas can shape their views and actions. It promotes a commitment to ethical living and community building, aligning with Socrates’ enduring legacy of philosophical inquiry.
Read this week’s quote and think about what it means and what we can learn from it to make the world a better place!
You may want to note it down in your notebook and draw a nice picture next to it!
Weekly Comprehension Activity - The Geology of Antarctica
Each week, we will provide you and your class with a reading comprehension activity. This can be done independently or tackled as a guided reading activity with your students.
Once the children have read the relevant information, they can then work through the comprehension questions until they become too hard, The four levels of questions allow for your students to push themselves until they become too difficult. They may wish to use classroom resources to solve the questions they find too hard or they can be used as extension activities to be completed in free time or at home.
Read the information opposite on the geology of Antarctica and use the information gained from the video above and attempt to answer as many of the comprehension questions as possible.
You may talk to the people in the classroom and use any resources available in the classroom to get the answers. You may even wish to continue your research at home on the questions that you could not solve.
Remember to answer the questions in full sentences and make notes of any diagrams that may help you remember the facts at a later date
Continent Geology - How Was It Formed?
As a class, read the information regarding the tectonic movement which resulted in the creation of Antarctica. Once the children have understood, they may wish to take notes before researching the creation of their very own continent using the same six time intervals of 200, 160, 120, 100, 30 million years ago, until today.
Some children may wish to continue this geological research and study more about how plate tectonics work around the world.
This week, we’ll be exploring how Antarctica was formed. Over millions of years, this massive icy continent has shifted positions on the globe, changing its shape and location due to tectonic pressures.
Take a look at the diagram provided and begin to learn about how the Antarctic continent has evolved over time. Once you’ve gained a better understanding, take some time to research your own continent and explore how we were all once connected and are all on a slow geological journey together.
Who knows? We may be re-connected again one day in the future!
Bringing Mathematics to Life - Numbers Under 1
Each week, we will be linking our research on Antarctica to mathematics. Each week we will grow the numbers until we get to numbers in the trillions in week 10. Our aim is to allow your children to use numbers and allocate them to real world statistics in the natural world. This week, we will be investigating numbers lower than 1.
Encourage your class to write their numbers in decimal notations using mm.
The Wingless Midge is the largest land animal on the Antarctic Continent. It measures only 0.6cm (6mm) in length.
Can you find six more creatures from the remaining 6 continents that measure under 1cm in length. Find out an interesting fact about each one.
Each week, we will link our research in Antarctica to mathematical numbers and by the time we reach week 10, we will be talking about numbers so big that you won’t be able to fit them on your page!!!
Real World Learning - Perspective is Everything
Allow your children to read the information provided on the task card. Then, ask your class to discuss how the warming of the Earth can affect every living organism on the planet.
Once they have fully grasped the seriousness of this issue, explain to them that over the next ten weeks, we will work together to help put an end to climate change, ocean pollution, and protect the Earth for future generations.
This course is designed to encourage people all around the world to work together and protect the planet’s oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams. A significant part of this effort is understanding the impact of global warming on the ice in the Antarctic region.
Take some time to read the information provided and discuss with your class how the melting ice could affect the animals in the oceans, on the land, and even the human race. Once you’ve gained a better understanding of these effects, it’s time to use this knowledge to write a powerful letter to your prime minister. There’s no time to waste – let’s get started!
Writing a Letter to the Prime Minister
This week, we want your children to use the power of their voice and expression to communicate with the highest authorities in the land. We want them to know that, even as young citizens of the world, they have the ability to use the power of the pen to speak to anyone.
To help get them started, we’ll provide an example letter from the Upschool team, where we’ll highlight powerful verbs and discuss the structure of a letter. Once your children have analyzed and discussed the example letter, they can write their own letters. They can decorate them and, once complete, send them to your prime minister or head of state to express their views on issues that concern them.
Who knows? The Prime Minister might even turn up at your school for a discussion on the topic!
This course is designed to encourage people all around the world to work together and protect the planet’s oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams. A significant part of this effort is understanding the impact of global warming on the ice in the Antarctic region.
Take some time to read the information provided and discuss with your class how the melting ice could affect the animals in the oceans, on the land, and even the human race. Once you’ve gained a better understanding of these effects, it’s time to use this knowledge to write a powerful letter to your prime minister. There’s no time to waste – let’s get started!
Let's Sketch With Jordan
Every week, we will explore a fascinating animal from the Antarctic, and your class will get the chance to draw it using simple sketching techniques and just a pencil and paper.
We’re incredibly fortunate to have Jordan Brun from Young Art USA as our guide throughout this process.
Let your students take a look at the task card with Jordan’s example, and then they can use the video below as a guide to attempt to draw the same thing using Jordan’s techniques.
Once your students have mastered the technique, you might want to let them make a final version on special art paper, which could be used as a portfolio piece or framed and given as a present.
Every week, we will be exploring some amazing pictures taken in Antarctica. We want you to try and recreate them using simple sketching techniques and shading. Our friend Jordan will be helping you along the way, so don’t worry!
After 10 weeks, you will have a great collection of images that you can share with others. Maybe you can even frame them and give them as gifts to someone who could use a smile.
To help you get better at drawing, we have a task card that you can use. Once you become an expert at sketching, you can transfer your drawings onto nice paper and give them away as presents.
Remember, you don’t have to make your drawings look exactly like Jordan’s. Make them special and be proud of what you create!
Sketch With Jordan - Video
Let your students watch the video as a visual aid to help them create fantastic sketches. It’s also a good idea for you to watch the video and learn from Jordan alongside the students.
For this sketch, talk to your students about beginning with basic shapes that they recognize to create the simple overall form of the goose. Have them create the larger areas before focusing on the smaller ones to get proportion down.
Details and differences between dark and light portions should be the last things they focus on.
If the students see that you’re invested in the project too, they’ll be even more excited to complete these tasks as a team.
Jordan has created a brief video to aid you in your drawing and shading. Watch the video to improve your drawing abilities, and remember that you can continue practicing your sketching outside of class to become a skilled artist like Jordan.
Best of luck!
Create With Jordan - Ice Flow Landscapes (Short Video)
Through this project, students will understand the size, overlap, detail, and placement aspects to create the illusion of depth. They will also be able to create realistic forms using appropriate changes in values.
Goal: Students will be able to create an accurate depth of field with foreground, middleground, and background.
Elemental Foci: Color, Space, Texture
Principle Foci: Unity, Contrast, Movement
Criteria:
– Establish a horizon line in the vertical center of the composition.
– Create organic shapes for clouds above your horizon line, growing smaller as they move closer to the center of your piece.
– Create geometric shapes beneath your horizon line, growing smaller as they move closer to the center of your piece.
– Use simple cool colors as well as white and black to color and add value to your composition.
– Use smooth value transitions for your clouds, and direct value transitions for your ice flow.
Every week, we’ll provide you with an art activity related to what we’ve been learning about in class. It’s an opportunity for you to enhance your artistic abilities and learn more about the amazing things that exist in the Antarctic region.
Jordan will be joining us every week to brainstorm creative ways to showcase what we’ve learned about Antarctica while also doing some good for the world.
We may challenge you to use recycled materials for your artwork, encourage you to teach someone else using what you create, or simply give it away as a gift to brighten someone’s day.
Take a look at the video on the other side and then do your best to follow Jordan’s guidance to make the world a better place with your creative skills.
To fully understand what we will be creating this week, you may wish to watch the full video below before starting.
Let’s get creative!
Create With Jordan - Full Video
Watch the video with your class and support them as they use the skills demonstrated in the video in their own work tasks.
Watch Jordan’s full video here before starting your creative art project and remember that your work does not need to match Jordan’s exactly. Use it as a guide and try to make your work unique and be as creative as you