Paula Richardson and Emma Till
SuperSchemes Unit 9
Village settlers
General Suggestions
Collect resources of the following types:
- A range of different maps – not only Ordnance Survey (OS) maps but a selection from brochures, newspapers, leisure and theme parks – so children have a chance to compare the way in which maps are used to show different things.
- Card games such as Map Symbol Flashcards available from the Ordnance Survey.
- A range of fiction books linked to settlements and places where people live (see below).
- Pictures from around the world showing how people use local materials to build their houses.
- Local newspapers which show examples of different types of houses for sale in the local area. What sells a house? How persuasive is the language?
Examples of related fiction (Year 3/4)
The Sandal by Tony Bradman (Andersen Press 1989/Picture Puffin 1990)
This stimulating book is divided into three parts and tells the story of a lost sandal. The past, present and future are linked by a series of detailed pictures which allow discussion to flow. The story begins in 77 BCE at the time of the Roman occupation. It continues with the description of a family day out to a local museum in the present day, where one of the exhibits on display is a Roman sandal. The story concludes in 2250 CE where once again the sandal is the focus. An excellent example of a book which deals with the past, present and the future.
The Village of Round and Square Houses by Ann Grifalconi (Little Brown and Co. 1986/Macmillan Children’s Books 1989)
The story, told by a grandmother, is about a village in the Cameroon where all the men live in square houses and all the women in round houses. This all came about after the eruption of the volcano, Naka Mountain. The story not only deals with life in the village and the culture of the people who live there, but also recognises the importance of storytelling and the oral traditions handed down through the generations of people.
When Africa Was Home by Karen L. Williams (Orchard Books 1991/Scholastic Paperbacks 1991)
Peter, a white American boy, lived a happy life in a Malawian village. He goes to America with his parents but finds it very hard to fit into life there. Eventually he returns home to Africa and is overjoyed to be back in the culture and environment he came to know so well.
If the World Were a Village: A Book about the World’s People by David J. Smith (Kids Can Press 2002/A & C Black 2004)
More than 6 billion people inhabit the Earth. In this book, this number is compressed into a more understandable figure for younger children to work with – 100 people. So of this 100, 22 speak Chinese, 10 are under 5 years old and 76 have electricity. In this global village there are 189 chickens and 45 pigs. This book provides a real chance to help children understand more about world statistical data and what they all mean.
The Big Picture: Settlements: from Village to City by A and P Richardson (BBC publications 2005)
The Big Picture is a visually stimulating tool to help with the teaching of the topic of settlement with examples of settlements drawn from around the world.
Websites
BBC Two Cities
Child-friendly site making comparisons between Belfast & Mexico City. Includes a city tour (maps and children’s perceptions of landmarks), city life (Q & A by pupils) and a fact file (information on transport, weather, events, past & future and maps). Teacher’s section includes suggested lesson plans, activities and extension work.
Keywords: Belfast, Mexico City
GeographyShop - the online shop of the Geographical Association
BBC Schools - Romans - information about the Roman way of life for KS2 pupils
BBC Schools - Anglo Saxons - information about Anglo Saxon life for KS2 pupils
BBC Kent - this page explains the origins of place names in Kent
Streetmap - a map generating website, searchable by a variety of criteria including postcode, street and place name.
Ordnance Survey - information about maps, games and where to buy them
Get-a-map - provides OS maps that can be printed or copied
MapZone - the OS kids’ site featuring games, quizzes, homework help and more!
The AA - includes a section on route-planning
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