Flotsam
Learning Hook
In this topic, the children arrive at school to the intriguing discovery of dead fish in the builders tray. They will explore and investigate with magnifying glasses, tweezers and other scientific equipment.
They will be introduced to a variety of different cross-curricular vocabulary including dorsal & cordal fins and develop their descriptive language with words including luminous, iridescent and rancid. This topic has been inspired by the formidable David Attenborough and his concern for the quantity of plastic in the world’s oceans. The children will be introduced to this issue through the beautiful picture book ‘Flotsam’ by David Wiesner. ‘While collecting flotsam (anything floating that has been washed ashore) a young boy stumbles across a barnacle-encrusted underwater camera, with its own secrets to share…and to keep’. We will explore the life of David Attenborough and his contributions to national achievements.
The children learn the five major oceans of the world whilst becoming natural scientists themselves, observing the different structures of fish and amphibians. To conclude this topic, children will discuss the camera found in ‘Flotsam’ and how we could use this idea to spread David Attenborough’s concerns for our world’s oceans. Is there a way that we could record his message and send it to others? Let’s do it!
