Lost and Found - Learning Sequence

The 'Lost and Found' learning sequence is a detailed unit overview spread across six weeks, designed to enhance literacy skills through the exploration of a story about a boy and a lost penguin. In the first week, students begin by discussing unfamiliar vocabulary and recording it for reference, while also hypothesising about the origins of a mysterious suitcase depicted in a picture. As they read the initial pages of the story, they delve into the penguin's arrival and speculate on its backstory. The sequence encourages students to articulate their thoughts through activities like creating thought bubbles for the boy, discussing his assumptions about the penguin being lost, and exploring the penguin's emotions.

As the weeks progress, the learning sequence becomes more interactive and explorative. Students research penguins and use their findings to create informative fact files, while also learning about geographical locations like the South Pole and the Equator, discussing travel possibilities and the practicalities of such an adventure. They further engage with the text by listing items for a polar expedition, choosing stories to share with the penguin, and expressing the characters' feelings through writing. The curriculum incorporates grammar exercises, such as practising conjunctions and time adverbials, and culminates in the creation of a story map to visually summarise the narrative. The unit also includes a comparative study of meerkats, allowing students to draw contrasts between different habitats, and concludes with a festive touch by linking Christmas poems and songs to school events.