a feature of an animal or plant that allows it to function well in its normal habitat

a sentence starter that tells the reader the cause and effect of something

when we are saying our work out loud to an audience

Presenting information about evolution

English

In this unit, pupils write a biography based on research about a scientific theory of a famous scientist. In 'Climate Emergency: Journalistic Report Writing', pupils will use a scientific, environmental speech to write a journalistic report from.

In 'Harriet Tubman: Biographical Writing', pupils learnt to research an inspirational figure's life to write a celebratory biography. In this unit, pupils will write a biography based on research about a scientific theory of a famous scientist.

In this unit, pupils research Charles Darwin's life and evolution theory in order to write a biography. The biography is written chronologically, from his early life to university, his trip to the Galapagos and his theory of evolution. Finally, pupils present information about evolution to a group.

Charles Darwin: biographical writing

Some animals in a species have a helpful variation. 

This variation makes those animals more successful.

These successful animals pass on their variation to more offspring. 

Over many generations, the variation becomes normal. 

Put the steps of natural selection in order. 

Variations will become more common if they are {{}} to a species in a particular habitat. 

Match each habitat to a helpful adaptation an animal living there might have. 

Which of the following fronted adverbials are fronted adverbials of cause? 

say your work to the whole class straight away

think about how you will use language features like fronted adverbials

Which of the following are useful to do before presenting your work aloud? 

The ship (called HMS Beagle) was away for five years. 

His father was a doctor and his mother was from a wealthy family.

Darwin is remembered today because his theory was ground-breaking.

Match the cohesive devices to the examples. 

The Galapagos (a small archipelago close to South America) had many new species.

The Galapagos (a small archipelago close) to South America had many new species.

The Galapagos a small (archipelago close to South America) had many new species.

Which sentence has brackets in the correct position to show parenthesis? 

The voyage, which lasted 5 years took the Beagle all around the globe.

The voyage, which lasted 5 years, took the Beagle all around the globe.

The voyage which lasted 5 years took the Beagle all around the globe.

Which relative complex sentence is punctuated correctly? 

Which relative clause could complete this sentence? 'They visited the Galapagos Islands, {{}}.'

Why do we use subject-specific vocabulary? 

Those clever finches had changed their beaks!

It was clear that the beaks had evolved over thousands of years. 

Somehow - miraculously - the beaks had changed!

Which sentence has the appropriate formal tone for a biography? 

Starter Quiz