Explorers

Short Film: The Pyramids

This is a short film showing an archaeologist trying to uncover some of the sacred Egyptian artefacts.

It is important that children understand, people are exploring all over the world today for new things, but also for old or ancient things.

Discussion Points:

• What is the archaeologist using at the beginning of this clip and why?
• What would be tricky when exploring a place like this? Extreme weather… extremely hot during the day and extremely cold at night. How do you know where to start when you’ve sand everywhere?
• Why has this explorer chosen to travel on a camel? They store water and can go 15 days without water. Well adapted to walking in sand.
• Did anyone notice equipment he had? Pickaxe, magnifying glass, bucket, trowel, tent to sleep in, ladder, teapot and cup.

Main Focus: What is an explorer?

What is an explorer?

To start off this topic, I thought this was an important question to address. We have simplified the term ‘explorer’ and tried to encompass different aspects – exploring places and new things, information.

The next aspect of this resource focuses on explorers of the past and modern exploration. Obviously, there is a massive difference and it is important that children recognise that.

We look at how we are now exploring different planets using robots and deep underwater with submarines.

Your class will then answer multiple choice questions to show their understanding.

Main Focus: Exploring animals with drones

Again, trying to expand the perception that exploring is more than going to new places, we have decided to look at drones and how they observe animals in the wild. This is a KS1 resource and can be completed as a whole class, group or independently.

Obviously, it is hard to cover exploration without touching on major advances in robotics and drones. Drones are used for many exploration purposes, but we decided to focus on how drones are used to observe wild animals safely and without disruption.

Your Year 1 / Year 2 (Age 5-7) class will watch an amazing drone footage of wild animals, read the information and then answer the multiple choice questions. Please remind your class that some questions may have more than one correct answer.

Once your class have completed the questions, they will then design and create their own drone using junk materials. Although this is a model, it will have moving propellors and follow some guidelines we have suggested.

Main Focus: Mary Anning and Fossils

This is a lovely resource that introduces your KS1 class to the life and works of Mary Anning.

Mary was an explorer who made fascinating discoveries along the beaches in Dorset.

Your class will read the information and then complete the sentences below.

Experiment

They will then watch a fantastic video, demonstrating how to complete the experiment, then create their own fossils using the following materials.

Main Focus: Amelia Earhart & Model Plane

Your class will learn about Amelia Earhart’s flight across the Atlantic Ocean, from Canada to Northern Ireland in this resource. Your kids will also learn a bit about her ‘Little Red Bus’ too! Once Your Year 1 | Year 2 class have read the information, they will complete the sentences or choose the correct answer. This has been differentiated.

Once completed your age 5-7 kids will then follow the instructions to make a model plane.

Make a model plane

In this STEM activity, your class will create their own mini model plane as shown in the picture. Scroll across to see how we did it.

Equipment

1 clothes peg           3 lollipop sticks   4 matchsticks.      1 glue gun or super glue         scissors

Main Focus: Neil Armstrong & Straw Rockets

In this resource, your class are going to learn about Neil Armstrong and his achievements.

First, your class will learn about where Neil’s love for flying came from, his role in the Navy and finally when he joined NASA.

Your class will scan the link to watch the video clip showing Apollo 11’s mission to the moon. Your kids will then match the pictures to the sentences to show their understanding of what they saw.

Once you have completed that activity with your class, you will then show a video clip of how to create a straw rocket, sequence the instructions and ask the children to create their own rockets.

Main Focus: Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay

Main Focus: Christopher Columbus and Foil Boat

Christopher Columbus is both a famous and infamous explorer. Many people around the world regard him as a hero and discoverer of new lands, whilst other feel he brought misery and death to the new lands he discovered.

In this resource pack, your KS1 class will learn about Columbus, who he was and where he sailed. They will then watch a video clip and write captions showing the main points of the adventure. This has been differentiated to cater for Year 1 and Year 2 children. The Year 2 children can write captions, and the Year 1 children can add in the words to complete the captions.

This resource explores Columbus acquiring three ships from the King of Spain, sailing across the Atlantic Ocean to find the ‘new lands’ known as the Americas.