The Power Of One
Learning Sequence 9
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Introduction With Gavin
During this captivating week, students will delve into the world of humpback whales, exploring their majestic migrations as a metaphor for personal learning journeys. They’ll map migration routes, investigating the reasons behind species extinction and their roles in prevention.
Emphasizing the importance of climate activism, they’ll draw inspiration from humpbacks to understand global temperature challenges. The week culminates in an art project with Jordan from Young Art USA, synthesizing their insights into a visual masterpiece.
Welcome to a captivating week. This week, we’ll delve into the enchanting world of humpback whales and discover how their majestic migrations can inspire us to embark on our own journeys of learning. Our goal is to harness these insights by undertaking a project that maps the migration routes of these gentle giants.
We will then investigate and research why certain species face extinction and understand how we can play a role in their protection. The humpback whale’s story will guide us on becoming climate activists, emphasizing collaboration in our quest to prevent Earth’s temperatures from rising.
Finally, we will create a stunning piece of art with Jordan from Young Art USA!
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 - Douglas Adams
Each week we will start by reading a quote, talking about what it means to further understand how we can use these words as lessons to learn from.
Read the following quote and discuss it with your class. You may even want to print it out and collate the quotes over the weeks to create a wall of discussion for future research projects.
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 - Humpback Whales
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 humpback whales 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!
SDG 14 - The Final Hurdle
As the course approaches its end with just 1 week left, the students will choose one last objective from the list to focus on.
While their journey as marine activists will continue, we encourage them to concentrate on this final objective for the remaining time. It’s essential to make a plan and stay focused on their goal. Although the course concludes soon, their commitment to marine conservation persists. Let’s motivate them to embrace this challenge with enthusiasm and determination!
With only 1 week remaining, it’s time to select one final objective from the list and concentrate on it for the remainder of the course. Your role as a marine activist will continue beyond these two weeks, but for now, let’s find our focus and create a plan for achieving your last objective! You can do this! Keep up the great work!
Animal Migration - The Humpback
Students will embark on a journey exploring the fascinating world of animal migration. They will focus on understanding and presenting the intricate routes traveled by various animals across the globe.
The Humpback whale, with its record-breaking migration, will serve as a starting inspiration. The ultimate goal for each student is to craft an information report about an animal of their choice, supported by accurate research and enhanced with creative graphic design elements.
The Humpback has the longest migration of any mammal on earth, but there are several other animals and insects that also migrate vast distances.
Your task is to create a simple information report based on an animal of your choice. This could be an animal found in your local country or just your favorite creature.
Once you have decided which animal you are going to report on, you must use the template provided and produce a four-paragraph piece of writing giving the main points and an illustrated diagram of the world, showing exactly where your animal migrates to and from.
Good luck, and remember to make your information accurate and beautiful.
Endangered Species Research
This lesson aims to cultivate global citizenship and research skills among students. By investigating endangered animals and categorizing them, students engage deeply with global biodiversity issues. Collaboratively filling out charts enhances research skills, while disseminating infographics locally instills a sense of responsibility towards global concerns.
Utilising tools like Canva or manual drawing fosters creativity. The overarching goal is raising awareness and prompting actions to counteract species extinction.
With so many animals around the world in danger, it is very important to understand which ones are left and what category they are found in.
Take a look at the chart opposite, and with your friends, try to complete it by including 6 animals in each section. Your task is to then display these infographics around your local area to allow people to understand which animals need their help. You can use Canva to insert these animals, or print the document and draw them on yourself.
The next task will hopefully help us save some of these endangered species before they become extinct forever!
Becoming a Climate Activist - Let's Save the Planet
In this lesson, students emulate the humpback whale’s symbolic role as a climate activist. They’ll engage in hands-on learning by following a 7-day climate action checklist, applying real-world actions to combat climate change. By attempting diverse goals on this checklist, students experience firsthand the challenges and rewards of environmental stewardship. The collaborative nature of the exercise also instills a communal spirit, encouraging them to inspire peers globally and recognize collective impact.
We have learned that the humpback whale is a huge climate activist, and this week we are going to try and be just like them.
Download the 7-day climate action checklist, and this week, try to achieve all of the goals on the chart. Some of them may be impossible, but try to achieve as many as you can. If many children around the world follow in your footsteps, then we can surely help the world become cooler and have fewer animals on the endangered list going into the future.
This week is all about action!
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 leopard seal.
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.
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!
Bring Maths to Life - Nature's Big Numbers
In this lesson, students explore the vastness of nature by examining extraordinarily large numbers representing various creatures’ populations. Central to this exploration is the concept of place value, which aids in comprehending and writing these immense numbers.
By comparing quantities like trillions, quadrillions, and septillions, students grasp the hierarchy of big number systems. Collaborative research encourages hands-on learning, fostering a deeper understanding of the real-world application of place value.
Big numbers can sometimes be hard to imagine. But in nature, we find that the numbers can get extremely large and very exciting.
Take a look at the table opposite and research the number of each creature that lives on Earth. Remember that these numbers are only estimates and can never really be exact.
The real skill is being able to use place value to help you write the numbers. For example, a trillion has 12 zeros. That’s a lot. But it is nothing compared to a quadrillion or a septillion.
Find a friend, conduct your research, and have fun writing down these REALLY BIG numbers.
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!
Create With Jordan - Humpback Evolution Diagram
Activity: Humpback Detail in Action
Core Curriculum Connection: Science
Elemental Foci: Color, Value, Texture
Principle Foci: Contrast, Unity, Rhythm
Goal: Students will be able to create a textured drawing that shows their subject in action of an activity they understand.
Criteria:
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Think of an activity you know of that a Humpback whale does (like bubble netting or diving).
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Find a reference image to help you see the textures and colors of the Humpback whale.
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Sketch your Humpback whale with pencils and colored pencils to show at least 3 textures (smooth blending, hatching, cross hatching, stippling, scumbling, blending).
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Finish your sketch(es) by having your humpback engaging in an activity of its life you know it participates in (like bubble netting or diving).
Relevance: Through this project, students will understand the concepts of contrast and camouflage, and create and decide comparisons while relating it to animals they understand.
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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!
Let's 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.