Darwin's Dragons - Session 1 - Chapters 1 - 3 - Worksheet

The initial session of 'Darwin's Dragons' covers chapters one to three and includes a variety of engaging activities for KS2 students. Discussion questions encourage critical thinking, such as exploring the reasons behind Covington's formal address of Mr Darwin as 'sir', and the ethical considerations of Darwin and Covington's interactions with the tortoises. Italics in chapter three are also examined to enhance reading comprehension. Students are invited to begin a timeline to track significant events and start a list of flora and fauna mentioned in the narrative, enhancing their understanding of the natural world depicted in the story.

Writing opportunities are plentiful, ranging from creating a diary entry from Mr Darwin's perspective to scripting a weather report on the storm. Students can also research and write about topics such as Giant Tortoises, Darwin's Voyage, and the Galapagos Islands. Poetry composition about Giant Tortoises offers a creative outlet, while grammar and punctuation exercises such as Grammar Hunt reinforce technical skills. A 'Words to Workshop' section provides vocabulary enrichment. Cross-curricular links are extensively mapped out, incorporating science, computing, history, geography, art, music, physical education, religious education, and personal, social, health, and economic (PSHE) education, providing a holistic educational experience that ties in with the themes of the book.