Link it! Prior knowledge - Grouping Living Things - Year 4

The 'Link it! Prior Knowledge' section is a crucial starting point for Year 4 students as they delve into the unit on 'Grouping Living Things'. This unit builds upon the foundations laid in earlier years, specifically the Year 1 unit on animal classification and the Year 2 exploration of habitats. To activate their existing understanding, students are encouraged to discuss what comes to mind when they think of categories such as 'birds' or 'fish', considering which creatures fit into these groups and which do not. This discussion helps to highlight the nuances and complexities of biological classification.

Recognising that some children may have a keen interest in animals, the lesson plan suggests leveraging this enthusiasm to explore preconceived notions of how animals are grouped. Students are invited to document what they already know in the 'Prior Knowledge' section of their Knowledge Organiser. This activity not only serves to consolidate their current understanding but also to create connections between their learning within the subject of science, other academic subjects, and their personal experiences with the natural world. By doing so, the lesson aims to provide a comprehensive and engaging approach to learning about the classification of living things.