The Great Kapok Tree

The Great Kapok Tree

In the Amazon Rainforest, a man is chopping down a great Kapok tree. Exhausted from his labours, he puts down his axe and rests. As he sleeps, the animals who live in the tree plead with him not to destroy their world.

Main Focus: Comprehension

This resource pack includes five different question sheets that helps cater for all abilities in your class. Your Lower KS2 class will be challenged to think more about the terminology used by the author and the impact this has on the reader. Have a read at the questions linked to the book.

Main Focus: Editing and Improving

This is a recount from the perspective of the man in the story. It recalls the events leading up to the man’s arrival at the Kapok tree and also provides an insight into the mindset of the man. Your children will reflect on the man’s reasons for chopping down the trees as well as gaining an insight on the man’s mindset. This is a brilliant recount that encourages your Lower KS2 children to consider the circumstances of people before making judgements, whilst reflecting on ways to improve the words used in the text to become more independent writers and editors.

Main Focus: Who said it?

This is a quick activity to see how well your class are paying attention to the story.

Your class will read the sentences and decide who said it.

Main Focus: Noun Phrases

In this pack your class will explore different vocabulary (nouns and adjectives) used in the text to create noun phrases. There are a range of activities to complete to cater for all abilities and these learning activities will help your class improve and become more aware of their sentence construction.

Main Focus: Expanded Noun Phrases

This pack teaches your lower KS2 children what expanded noun phrases are and gives them opportunities to create a few linked to the story. Additionally, your class can add in prepositional phrases to include more information.

Main Focus: Vocabulary Extension

This resource helps your KS2 class look at more of the vocabulary used in the recount or the book. Your class will study the words used, research the definitions and write the word in another context. As with all of our teaching resources, there is differentiation to cater for all abilities in your class.

Main Focus: Inverted Commas

Your class will be learning to use inverted commas in this activity and recognise the difference between direct and indirect speech. Direct and indirect speech has been taken from the story. Your class will explore the words from: the boa constrictor, bee, monkey, toucan and tree frog. The activity sheets are differentiated and you can choose the level to suit your abilities.

Main Focus: Apostrophes

This pack encourages your children to be able to spot apostrophes that have been used ion context. Your class also have the opportunity to change the structure of sentences to add in an apostrophe to show possession. Example: The axe that belongs to the man is heavy. The man’s axe is heavy.

Main Focus: Alphabetical Order

This resource pack for lower KS2 helps your children put words into alphabetical order. The resources are differentiated to focus on the first, second and third letters in the words. The passage has been taken from The Great Kapok Tree story.

Main Focus: Persuasive Writing

This is a template that highlights the different things your children should consider when writing a persuasive letter to the man from the story. It is important that each of the skills mentioned should be taught discretely to your class before writing the letter. Things to explore with your class: – State the argument and where you stand from the offset – State the facts and relate them to your point of view – Present alternative viewpoints to balance the argument – Use connectives, emotive words, quotations, repeat words/phrases, rule of three & rhetorical questions

Main Focus: Power of Three

The power of three suggests that when words, phrases and sentences are written in threes they are funnier, more satisfying and are more persuasive than any other amount of words. This is a fun activity that encourages your class to recognise how the power of three is used in products they eat and companies they know. They are challenged to find out the companies behind the slogans.

Main Focus: Inference

This activity based on the book the Great Kapok tree for Year 3 and Year 4 classes focuses on Inference.

Your class will read the sentences and decide what is being inferred. We have also included a multiple choice resource as well as a blank resource just incase your class need some ideas because a few statements in this inference activity can be quite challenging.

Main Focus: Homophones

In this resource your class will identify the correct words to use whilst reading the text. The resource covers: it’s and its wear / were / where to / too / two won / one their / they’re / there off / of

Amazon Information

The Amazon rainforest stretches across South America and is the largest tropical rainforest in the world. Your class will have fun exploring this interactive resource and learning key information about animals and features of the rainforest.

Amazon Deforestation

This resource explores the reasons behind the deforestation on the Amazon Rainforest. Your class will look at the different regions and research the reasons behind the deforestation. This is a brilliant resource to help gather information as well as recognising the main causes for the rainforest being destroyed bit by bit.

Animation

Toki’s tribe expects him to bring home the head of the biggest animal possible. In return, he will receive honor and respect. However, this rite of passage does not turn out as planned. With the help of a colourful new friend, he achieves something much bigger. Teaching Ideas: – Recount of Toki’s daily routine. – Explanation of how the forest in important for Toki and his tribe. – Create a map of the tribe’s camp. – Create a tribe with different roles. – Non-Fiction – research existing tribes, although do your research first.