Y6 > English > Humanities > Geography > Information text based on the Great Barrier Reef

Lesson by Nicole White

Learning Intentions:

  • To understand what the Great Barrier Reef is.
  • To understand how we can look after the Great Barrier Reef
Step 1: Activity overview for parent, carers and pupils

This activity will require you to use the Internet and / or an encyclopaedia to find out about the Great Barrier Reef and why parts of the reef have died.  There is a video about the Great Barrier Reef which is approximately four minutes. The main activity can be completed on or offline.

Step 2: Introduction to the activity and additional information

The Great Barrier Reef stretches 2300km off the coast of Queensland, Australia and is home to over 400 types of coral and 1500 species of fish.

It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World but it has been slowly dying due to a number of reasons.

Watch the video below about the Great Barrier Reef and make notes while you are watching on:

  • Key facts about the Great Barrier Reef
  • The importance of the Great Barrier Reef to the planet
  • Why the reef is slowly disappearing

 

Step 3: Tasks to carry out for this activity

Activity 1 – Writing an information text

Look at your notes and create an information text about the Great Barrier Reef.

With an information text, make sure you organise it in an appropriate way by including these features:

  • A suitable title
  • An introduction about the Great Barrier Reef, such as the key facts
  • Sub headings such as: ‘What is the Great Barrier Reef made up of’. The Importance of the Great Barrier Reef’. ‘Why is it dispappearing?’ and ‘How can we help save the Great Barrier Reef?’.
  • Present tense.
  • Third person.
  • Relevant pictures.

The link below has some additional information about the Great Barrier Reef.

Great Barrier Reef

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 make notes as part of my research about the Great Barrier Reef.

Success criteria #2:  I can write an information text using the features above.

Success criteria #3:  I Know some ways in which I can help protect the environment.

 

Step 5: Extension and follow on activities/challenges (optional)

Activity 2: Create a piece of art based on the Great Barrier Reef.

Step 6: Click on the relevant link below if you have any work to upload to your online areas

J2e   Google Drive   OneDrive   Seesaw