Resource #V119022

Précis

At the park, students will read and select information on rainforests and their importance. Students will record relevant information for an explanatory leaflet that will be completed back at school. This will inform and persuade the reader about what they can do to help the rainforest.

Contextual Summary

This English resource covers several stages to a finished product, starting on site at Amazon World Zoo Park, and finishing in the classroom at school. It is intended to focus students on the selection and recording of information for an explanatory leaflet that will be completed back at school. The end product could easily be changed, for example, to a flier, web page or email. Activities are designed to appeal to students of all abilities in key stage 3 (years 7-9).

Curriculum Relevance

English → Writing (Composition) → General Writing for Purpose and Audience

Implementation

The students will be guided to select and record relevant information whilst on the visit. It would be helpful if students were given the task sheets prior to the visit, and audience and purpose were discussed and decided at this point. The leaflet will be drafted and produced when back at school after the information has been collected. Although there are suggested focus points for the writing of the leaflet, there are no specific lesson plans for this post-visit task.

Key Skills Practised

• Selecting relevant information for purpose
• Note taking/recording
• Summarising and organising written material
• Supporting ideas and arguments with necessary factual detail
• Considering audience and purpose
• Drawing on knowledge of literary devices.

Learning Opportunities

Pre-Visit

Some research on understanding of where the tropical rainforests are situated and the scale of the mass destruction of certain areas would be of some benefit.

On Site

There are a variety of ways that students will be finding and selecting information: from their own observations to identifying displays and information boards with relevant details. They will also be making their own connections and judgments.

Post-Visit

Students complete their leaflet back in the classroom.

Learning Outcomes

Students will learn to consider audience and purpose. They will be taking a particular viewpoint and will select appropriate factual detail to support this, presenting it in an appropriate format.