Spring

Spring Term

Spring One:

In Spring one, we will be learning all about the Normans.  We will be learning about the Battle of Hastings, exploring why and what happened.  To support our topic work, we will be having a debate in English to decide who we think should have been made king when Prince Edward died.  

Our PE days will stay the same this term (Monday and Thursday). 

Useful links

Spring Two:

During Spring two, we will be learning about rainforests.  Exploring where they are in the world and what they are like.  In Science, we will be learning about humans and animals, looking at different lifecycles.

Interesting Fact:
More than 20 percent of the world oxygen is produced in the Amazon Rainforest.

What is a Rainforest?

Rainforests are very dense, warm and wet forests.

Why is it called a Rainforest?

The reason it is called a "rain" forest is because of the high amount of rainfall it gets per year. Rainforests have an annual rainfall of at least 100 inches (254 centimeters) and often much more.

Why are Rainforests important to us?

They are very important as the plants of the rainforest generate much of the Earth’s oxygen,

How many different types of Rainforests are there?

There are two types of Rainforest:

1. Temperate Rainforests
2. Tropical Rainforests

Where in the world are Rainforests found?

Tropical rainforests are found close to the equator where temperatures and rainfall are very high all year round. The major areas of tropical rainforests are in South East Asia, West Africa and South and Central America. The best known rain forests are found in tropical regions between the Tropics of cancer and Capricorn.

Temperate rainforests are found along coasts in the temperate zone.
The largest temperate rainforests are found on North America's Pacific Coast and stretch from Northern California up into Canada. Temperate rainforests have one long wet winter/spring season, and a dry foggy summer.

What are the different layers of a Rainforest Called?

There are four main parts of a Rainforest. They are:

Emergent Layer - very sunny because it is the very top. Only the tallest trees reach this level.
Who lives here? birds, butterflies and small monkeys live with bats, snakes and bugs.

Canopy Layer - much of the rain is stopped by the thick foliage. Most trees in the forest grow to this height. There are plants that grow in the canopy layer. Their roots don't reach the ground. These are called air plants.
Who lives here? birds, monkeys, frogs, and sloths, as well as lizards, snakes and many insects.
 

Understory Layer - many vines, dense vegetation, not much light.
Who lives here? birds, butterflies, frogs and snakes
 

Forest Floor - dark, damp, full of many dead leaves, twigs and dead plants. The forest floor is dark due to the trees above stopping the sunlight from entering the forest. It is estimated that only 2% of the sunlight actually reaches the floor.
Who lives here? jaguars in South America, gorillas and leopards in Africa and tapirs and tigers and elephants in Asia.