Link it! Prior knowledge - Grouping Living Things - Year 6

The 'Link it! Prior Knowledge' section of a Year 6 lesson plan on 'Grouping Living Things' serves as a foundation for students to connect new information with what they have already learned in previous years. From Year 1, pupils have been introduced to the basic classification of animals into categories such as amphibians, mammals, and reptiles. This early exposure to biological taxonomy provides a crucial stepping stone for more complex concepts in biodiversity and ecosystem interrelationships. Additionally, their experiences in food technology have acquainted them with various plants that form part of our diets, further broadening their understanding of living organisms and their significance.

Teachers are encouraged to actively engage students by exploring their existing knowledge on the subject. This can be done by prompting students to record what they already know about the classification of living things in the 'Prior Knowledge' section of the Knowledge Organiser. This exercise not only helps to consolidate their previous learning but also aids in making connections within the same subject, across different subjects, and from personal experiences. By doing so, students can better appreciate the relevance of the topic and how it relates to the wider world, thereby enhancing their learning experience and retention of the subject matter.