Lesson by Jo Hinds
Learning Intentions:
- To create your own version of a story
- To use capital letters and full stops correctly
Step 1: Activity overview for parent, carers and pupils
In this activity there is a short video story to watch online (approximately four minutes long).The main activity can be completed offline.
The extension activity requires the following resources:
- A small clear plastic bottle
- Glitter
- Vegetable oil
- Water
- Tape/glue to secure the lid
Step 2: Introduction to the activity and additional information
This is a bright and colourful story that introduces the world’s oceans. Encourage your child to look at the creatures on each page and to join in with the story if they can.
- Click on the link below to watch this mermaid adventure.
After watching the story together talk to your child about the story. You might want to watch the story through again pausing to talk about some of the creatures they can see and some of the unfamiliar words in the story.
- Can they remember any of the names of the oceans?
- Can they remember any of the creatures the mermaids met?
- What does a ‘school’ of fish mean? Explain to your child that it is not like the school they go to; it is how we describe a group of fish swimming together in the same direction.
- Why do they think the mermaid swam away from the giant squid?
To help you with your discussions, below is the list of oceans and the creatures each mermaid met.
- Atlantic Ocean – School of fish
- Indian Ocean – Turtle
- Southern Ocean – Penguin
- Pacific Ocean – Giant squid
- Arctic Ocean – Jelly fish
Step 3: Tasks to carry out for this activity
Activity 1 – Story
Think about the oceans that the mermaids visited and who they met. You are going to write your own story based on the five little mermaids.
You might like to write your story like the one you listened to with each mermaid meeting a different creature
Or
You could choose one of the mermaids from the story and make up your own story about what they did with the creature that they met.
- Where did the mermaid go with the creature they met?
- What did they do when they got there?
- Did they meet any other sea creatures?
Once you have decided on your story tell your story to an adult.
Now you are ready to start writing your story.
- Start by drawing a few pictures. Remember to draw them in the right order for your story.
- Writing one or two sentences for each picture to tell your story. Remember your capital letters and full stops.
Once you have completed the task you can email anything you create (photos, documents, screenshots etc.) directly to your teacher or directly upload it to any of the available places in Step 6.
Step 4: Look over the success criteria for this activity:
Success criteria #1: I can write a story.
Success criteria #2: I can use capital letters and full stops correctly.
Look at the learning intentions ‘how well do you think you have done?’
Step 5: Extension and follow on activities/challenges (optional)
Activity 2 – Create a mermaid scales sensory bottle.
Adult support will be needed with this activity.
You will need:
- A small clear plastic bottle
- Glitter
- Vegetable oil
- Water
- Tape/glue to secure the lid (grown-ups – we will need you to help us here please)
To make your mermaid scales bottle:
- Fill the bottle ¾ full with water
- Add your glitter (as little or much as you want)
- Add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
- Fill up with water
- Secure the lid
- Shake and watch the mermaid scales sparkle
Step 6: Upload your work
Click on the relevant link below if you have any work to upload to your online areas