This unit of work is based on the article ‘How To Talk To Pets!’ from issue 14 of Animal Planet magazine (included). Pupils will learn how pets communicate with their owners and will explore the responsibilities of pet ownership, including how to care for their animals.
The article is used to develop comprehension skills to check pupils’ understanding of the text and to encourage them to retrieve and record information from non-fiction. It is also presented as a prompt to inspire writing, with opportunities to write a discussion text about which animals make suitable pets, an explanation of how to look after pets and writing diary entries from a pet's point of view.
Teachers’ notes are included for each of the activities, with suggested activities to develop the unit further.
This resource pack includes:
Copy of the Animal Planet article ‘Ho To Talk To Pets!’
Comprehension question cards (with answer sheet)
Animal image cards
How to care for a pet sheet
Diary planning sheet
Themed writing paper
What is Animal Planet Magazine?
This pack has been created in association with Animal Planet magazine, which fuels curious minds, helps children make sense of the world and sparks joy on every page.
To find out more, and register your interest in a school subscription, visit https://www.animalplanetmagazine.com/schools
National Curriculum Programme of Study Links
Reading
Pupils should develop positive attitudes to reading and understanding of what they read by listening to and discussing a wide range of … non-fiction
Pupils should understand what they read by
- checking that the text makes sense to them, discussing their understanding and explaining the meaning of words in context.
- asking questions to improve their understanding of the text.
Pupils should be taught how to retrieve, record and present information from non-fiction.
Writing
Year 3 / 4
Pupils should plan their writing by
- discussing and recording ideas
Pupils should draft and write by
- organising paragraphs around a theme
- in non-narrative material, using simple organisational devices [for example headings and subheadings].
Year 5/6
Pupils should plan their writing by
- noting and developing initial ideas, drawing on reading research where necessary
Pupils should draft and write by
- composing and rehearsing sentences orally (including dialogue) progressively building a varied and rich vocabulary and an increasing range of sentence structures
- selecting appropriate grammar and vocabulary, understanding how such changes can change and enhance meaning.
- using further organisational and presentational devices to structure text and to guide the reader [for example, headings, bullet points, underling]
Science
Year 3
Pupils should be taught to identify that animals, including humans, need the right types and amount of nutrition, and that they cannot make their own food; they get nutrition form what they eat