Do You Know? Level 4 - BBC Earth Fast and Slow
Do You Know? Series
What’s inside...
This engaging book offers a delightful exploration of the natural world, capturing the fastest and slowest creatures and phenomena on Earth. From cheetahs sprinting to sloths meandering, the book is a fascinating journey through extremes. These BBC Earth titles focus on the core subject of biology, with themes mapped to the Cambridge Primary Science curriculum framework, and are illustrated with stills from the iconic BBC Earth TV series. These readers are a fun supplementary resource for teachers and parents to use in the classroom or at home, with questions, facts, and additional activities to encourage exploration and curiosity. The Ladybird Do You Know? graded readers series comprises a range of nonfiction STEM titles for young learners of English. Covering a variety of topics, Do You Know? adopts an inquiry-based approach, and includes motivating video content, project work, and critical thinking activities to develop students’ linguistic and 21st century skills.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-8
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What are some differences between animals that move quickly and those that move slowly? Why do you think they move at different speeds?
Can you think of a time when being fast is helpful? What about a time when being slow might be better?
How do the animals' habitats affect their speed? Can you give examples from the book?
What have you learned about why some animals are fast and some are slow? How does it help them survive?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start by asking your child what they already know about fast and slow animals to build on their existing knowledge.
Use expressive reading to mimic the fast and slow movements of the creatures discussed in the book. This can make the reading experience more interactive and fun.
After reading, encourage your child to draw their favorite fast or slow animal from the book, discussing the characteristics as they draw.
Compare the animals in the book to those in your local environment. Ask your child if they think those animals are fast or slow and why.
Revisit the book after engaging in outside activities, like visiting a zoo or watching a nature documentary, to reinforce the information learned and relate it to real-world observations.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding the concept of speed and time
Explanation: The book showcases various animals and natural phenomena, illustrating how different speeds impact the natural world.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to appreciate and measure time and speed in everyday activities, whether it’s observing how fast a pet dog runs or noticing the speed of changing weather patterns.
Example Lesson: Importance of patience
Explanation: Through observing slow-moving creatures and processes, children learn that not everything has to be fast-paced and that being slow has its own advantages.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children develop patience when dealing with tasks, learning new skills, or interacting with others who may not be as quick as they are.
Example Lesson: Diversity in nature
Explanation: The book explores a range of animals and ecosystems, showing how each creature and habitat is uniquely adapted to its own pace of life.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this understanding by appreciating the diversity among people and their environments, promoting empathy and inclusiveness.
Example Lesson: Observation skills
Explanation: By contrasting the fast and slow aspects of the natural world, the book encourages keen observation and attention to detail.
Real-World Application: This skill can be applied in a child’s life by encouraging them to observe differences in their surroundings, enhancing their focus and cognitive abilities.
Example Lesson: Respecting natural processes
Explanation: The book highlights how certain ecological processes take time and cannot be rushed, teaching respect for nature’s timing.
Real-World Application: Children learn to respect nature and understand that some things, like growth and change, take time, which is a valuable lesson in instant-gratification dominated world.