Savanna Animal Adaptations

Animals in the Savanna - Lion King Remake of animals - Students well engaged and excited
Learning objectives - command words - meanings
Map of Savanna (students to add to their maps from previous lesson - Physical Geography of Africa). If you don’t have this, the maps (6 to a page) are also included if you wish to make this into an activity to shade in the biome and label the latitudes.
Video about the Savanna - Notes about the biome
Animal adaptation - I do (Lion), We do (Elephant), You do (Giraffe and Warthog). Challenges included.
All students are able to complete giraffe, lower ability may struggle with warthog so I had them think more about the giraffe. Remind them of Pumba from Lion King.
Answers on board - Students to add 3 more to their animals. Handouts available for students who can’t read, lower ability/ SEND to assist them. My students did not stick them in, they used it as help.

YOU ARE A GEOGRAPHER (Science advanced and you create your own animal!)
Choose 3 characteristics (timer them). Explain why those three and how they adapt to the Savanna.

Criteria and levels (on the board I have 5 and 6). On paper (handouts or printouts or you can adapt depending on your class/ student) I have level 3-7 success criteria.

Key words on the board, connectives on the board, challenges on the board, examples (sentences and images) on the board.

Sentence builders (shared between students) allows every student able to complete the task. Higher abilities will not use it but have it as a reference.

Students will be working at different paces due to ability. My higher ability asked to do more characteristics but only because they completed it. My lower ability/ SEND I expected at least 3 sentences (this is because this is in their assessment so they need to have this). Students who finished are able to sketch their animal. Higher rewards given as motivation.

Peer assessing. Students peer assess the presenter (visualiser if you have). We used fingers due to time, but if you have longer lessons or extend another class they can use the peer assessment handouts where students assess themselves, and then peer assess. They can then improve upon feedback.

Many students loved the task, wanted to share and spend their 15 minutes break continuing.