Overview and Outcomes:

This is a 12-session Literary Leaf for Earth Shattering Events by Robin Jacobs and Sophie Williams which looks specifically at the vocabulary associated with natural disasters. The book is perfect for complete coverage of the content domain and curriculum objectives for LKS2 given the inclusion of myths, idioms and other information to support the core subject-matter.  Children will be able to match information and sequence events.

Synopsis of Text:

We chose this book for a Literary Leaf as it explores the scientific and geographical background of the subject of natural disasters in a format which is accessible for children and befitting of the subject. The cartoon-feel of this book will appeal to many and will support understanding of the subject and the knowledge that underpins it. 

This brilliant book around natural phenomena - sometimes causing natural disasters on mass-scale - is fascinating and slightly sobering in equal measures: the geography and physics of tsunamis, volcanoes, blizzards, earthquakes and a whole plethora of other ways that mother nature will, from time-to-time, show who’s boss are all covered. The fascination comes from the magnitude of events over history and the power that they have to destroy and devastate all that lies in their wake. But in this equation, humans are neither completely powerless nor completely innocent...

Each section explores what each phenomenon is, the causes and the related scientific and geographical facts. Then what to do to keep oneself safe in each particular scenario is included as a step-by-step guide to having the biggest chance of surviving the event.

Links to Curriculum areas, other Literary Leaves and Planning Sequences:

Escape From Pompeii (Y3 planning sequence in the Literary Curriculum) is an ideal place to teach this alongside.