Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Thematic Unit
Where in the World
Learning for Life and Work (SLD)
Writers’ Group
Associate Writer
Grainne Dunn
www.nicurriculum.org.uk
Curriculum Objective: To develop the young person as a contributor to the economy and the environment
Key Elements: Personal understanding, mutual understanding, moral character, citizenship, personal health, cultural understanding, ethical
awareness, employability, economic awareness, education for sustainable development
Attitudes and Dispositions: Personal responsibility, concern for others, openness to new ideas, community spirit, flexibility, respect, tolerance
Learning Experiences: Investigating and problem-solving, linked to other curriculum areas, relevant and enjoyable, media-rich, skills
integrated, active and hands on, offers choice, challenging and engaging, supportive environment, positive reinforcement, varied to suit
learning style, ongoing reflection
The Thematic Units connect the Learning for Life and Work subject strands of Personal Development, Local and Global Citizenship, Home
Economics and Employability and demonstrate how they contribute to the understanding of a central theme. They provide a number of
learning, teaching and assessment activities (and are accompanied by supporting resources) to help you address, interpret and develop the
Northern Ireland Curriculum’s key elements and Statements of Minimum Requirement.
Each Thematic Unit contributes to the statutory requirement for Learning for Life and Work and also links to other Areas of Learning. In
addition, there are opportunities to develop learners’ Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities, incorporate Assessment for Learning principles
and make connections to the Cross Curricular Skills.
The units are not intended to be prescriptive and are not the only way to approach the Northern Ireland Curriculum. You do not have to follow
them rigidly. Instead, we encourage you to choose from the wide range of learning, teaching and assessment activities in the units and adapt
and extend them as appropriate for your classes.
Justify methods,
Where in the ... investigate the world Show the learners a map of their country in an atlas and locate their town together.
opinions and
they live in. Have them mark the town on the map of Ireland in Resource 1.
world do I live? conclusions
Resource 1: Where’s My Town?
Communication -
Select and use
Use Resource 2 to highlight and develop awareness of the wider geographical
information from a
context of the learners’ hometown. Discuss their county, country and continent
range of sources
together, and find these areas on a map.
Skills tabs printed in red are Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities
Key Question Learning Intention Possible Learning, Teaching and Assessment Activities Skills and
Learners will have Capabilities
opportunities to …
Where in the ... investigate the world Broaden the theme to include other areas of the world that the learners or people
they live in. they know have visited. Use photographs and the map in Resource 4 to stimulate
world do I live? discussion. Ask if the learners have any relatives or friends who live in other parts
of the world, or talk about your own experiences.
Provide a map or use the internet to complete Resource 5 together, deciding which
of the countries listed are nearest and furthest away from Northern Ireland. Offer
support by suggesting that two countries belong in the ‘near’ category, three in the
‘further away’ and three in the ‘furthest away’ categories.
Discuss methods that we can use to communicate with people in other parts of the
world. Focus on four: talking on the telephone, and sending emails, text messages
and letters. After they complete Resources 6 and 7, encourage the learners to
express their opinions about the best ways to communicate.
Where in the ... investigate the world Investigate together what life is like in another part of the world. Consider,
they live in. for example, the food people eat, school days, hobbies and transport. Identify
world do I live? things that are the same in other countries and things that are different. Use TV
programmes (such as ‘Neighbours’ and ‘Home and Away’) or films to help raise the
learners’ awareness of similarities and differences.
Allow the learners to play the PowerPoint game based on aspects of life in other
areas of the world.
Key Question Learning Intention Possible Learning, Teaching and Assessment Activities Skills and
Learners will have Capabilities
opportunities to …
Sequence, order,
How do we get to ... classify and describe modes Discuss different ways of travelling to other places, both near and far away.
classify and make
of transport. Together list and compare different means of transport, for example faster/slower,
other places? more comfortable/less comfortable.
comparisons
Create charts to show the types of transport that the learners have travelled in or Using Mathematics -
their favourite ways to travel (such as car, bus, train, aeroplane or boat). Organise and
present information
Discuss why we need different types of transport and how we can decide which in mathematical
is most suitable for travelling to a particular place. Use the matching activity in formats
Resource 10 to show how we sometimes have more than one option.
Communication -
Resource 10: How Could I Get There?
Contribute
comments, ask
To develop the theme, make a set of transport cards from Resource 11 and have the questions and
learners match the six means of transport to the six destinations. This time, they respond to others’
should only use each form of transport once. points of view
Resource 11: Transport Cards
Using ICT -
Research,
Encourage the learners to select an area of the world they would like to visit, either select, process
individually or as a group. Decide how they could get there and what they would and interpret
need to take with them (currency, type of clothes, etc). information
Resource 12: Globe Trotter!
If possible, establish links with a school in another country. Use a virtual classroom
system to extend learning opportunities by enabling the learners to ask questions
to their peers in another country.
Examine evidence
What goods ... locate information for a At several points in this and subsequent key questions you will find suggestions
particular purpose. for interviews, visits and trips. Where possible, choose one or more of these – Make links
are imported to whichever best suit your group’s location and circumstances – to help reinforce the between cause and
Northern Ireland? topics of imports, local produce and exports for your learners. effect
Using the fruit and vegetables pictured in Resource 13 as a focus, discuss which Communication -
foods are grown in Northern Ireland and which we have to import from other Communicate
countries. information, ideas
and opinions
Resource 13: Home Or Away?
Using Mathematics -
Ask the learners to bring in empty food packaging from home, or obtain a selection Read, interpret and
of supermarket flyers. Use these to classify items into those which are imported organise
and those which are produced locally. Create a histogram to display the results. information in
Discuss how much or, more probably, how little is produced locally. mathematical
Have the learners complete Resource 14 by cutting out the labels of six imported formats
items and sticking them onto the worksheet. Alternatively, they could draw
pictures. Communication -
Read a range
Resource 14: Northern Ireland Imports of texts for
information, ideas
Visit a supermarket together, use a supermarket website or take a variety of foods and enjoyment
into class to identify countries of origin for the items pictured in Resource 15. Use a
wall map or an atlas to show how far away these countries are.
Key Question Learning Intention Possible Learning, Teaching and Assessment Activities Skills and
Learners will have Capabilities
opportunities to …
What goods ... locate information for a Together find the brand names of imported products in the categories listed on
particular purpose. Resource 16.
are imported to
Northern Ireland? Resource 16: Supermarket Imports
Where appropriate, focus on how we sometimes have a choice: we can buy a local
or an imported brand of the same product. During your supermarket visit, or using
a website, search for the items listed in Resource 17. Where possible, identify a
Northern Irish brand and an imported brand, and note the names and prices. Guide
the learners to products of a similar size or weight for the price comparison to be
useful.
If possible, ask in a local supermarket if you can interview a member of staff about
the products that they import and local produce that they sell.
Choose an imported product, for example a banana, and investigate together its
journey ‘from tree to tummy’. Begin by visiting a local fruit shop and asking where
they source their bananas. Contact or visit the supplier and ask the same question.
Continue until you reach the banana plant. Where personal contact or visits are not
possible, search appropriate internet sites (for example www.fyffes.com/products/
bananas.htm) to gain the necessary information. Then have the learners order the
steps in Resource 18.
Create a class display depicting the journey of the food you have investigated. Each
learner or small group of learners could be responsible for one part of the display
focusing on one step of the journey.
What goods ... locate information for a You may also wish to access the following Oxfam resources and lesson plans about
particular purpose. bananas, cotton and sugar:
are imported to www.oxfam.org.uk/education/resources/go_bananas/ (bananas)
Northern Ireland? www.oxfam.org.uk/education/resources/clothes_line/?30 (cotton)
www.oxfam.org.uk/education/resources/find_your_way_through_trade/?30 (sugar).
Use Resource 19 to highlight and discuss items other than food which are imported
into Northern Ireland (such as clothes, cars and electrical items).
The gap-fill activity in Resource 20 allows you to explore further some major
reasons for importing products.
Considering all the evidence, decide together if we could live without imported
products. Ask the learners if they think there are any items grown or made in
another country that we could not live without.
Hold a ‘local produce’ break time, and encourage the learners only to eat products
made in Northern Ireland.
Key Question Learning Intention Possible Learning, Teaching and Assessment Activities Skills and
Learners will have Capabilities
opportunities to …
Justify methods
Why should we buy … develop an awareness of Investigate local producers in the school area to find out what products they make.
and conclusions
helping others. Display the learners’ findings through artwork.
local produce?
You may wish to explore some company websites together, such as: Examine options
www.dalefarm.co.uk and weigh up pros
www.moypark.com and cons
www.genesisbreads.com
www.irwinsbakery.co.uk Communication -
www.tayto.com Develop, express
and present ideas
Choose a locally produced food (for example yoghurt) and investigate its ‘journey’, in a variety of
from its origin to the consumer. Where possible, take the group to watch how the formats
food is produced. Collect photographs and insert them into the ‘Talking Book’
frame on PowerPoint. Communication -
Speak clearly and
PP: The Journey Of A Yoghurt structure talk so
that ideas can be
Talk about the people and the different jobs involved in producing goods locally. understood by
Estimate together how many people work in local industry, and find out if any of the others
learners’ family members work for local producers.
Using ICT -
Research and
select information
Why should we buy … develop an awareness of Find out about jobs associated with industry in the locality, and talk together about
helping others. jobs associated with transporting goods (for example docker or lorry driver). Have
local produce? the learners match the statements in Resource 21 to the job cards.
Where possible, visit the airport, train station or docks, etc, and interview people
who work there to find out what their jobs entail. Ask the learners to suggest
suitable interview questions.
Explore the importance of supporting local industry. Have the learners complete
the matching activity in Resource 22 to highlight some possible differences between
local and imported products. Give them an opportunity to design and display a ‘Buy
Local’ poster or leaflet.
Key Question Learning Intention Possible Learning, Teaching and Assessment Activities Skills and
Learners will have Capabilities
opportunities to …
Make links
What products do ... investigate local produce. Where possible, contact a local producer that exports products (for example Moy
between cause
Park or Dale Farm) and arrange a group visit, or ask if a representative can come
we export? to the school. Use the questions in Resource 23 to interview one of the workers and
and effect
introduce the concept of exports to the learners. Encourage the learners to think of
Communication -
further questions to ask.
Contribute
Resource 23: Interview Sheet: Local Producers comments, ask
questions and
Mark on a map the places your chosen company exports to, and find out how their respond to others’
produce gets to each destination. If appropriate, visit the docks, airport or train points of view
station together to see the product on its way.
Investigate a wider variety of products that are grown or made locally and then
exported to other countries. Create wall displays of local businesses which export
goods abroad. Use InfoMapper/uLearn to identify where locally produced goods are
exported to, and find out how they get there.
The British Council has free European resources that you can use to investigate
some of these countries, for example booklets about countries in the EU, maps,
and stickers of flags of EU countries. See www.britishcouncil.org/nireland or email
the European Resource Centre at ERCNI@britishcouncil.org
Give the learners an opportunity to complete the online activities. These include
exercises on selecting local and imported goods, filling in the missing words,
selecting jobs involved in the import/export market, and a wordsearch.
Make connections
Which companies ... explore differences Use the internet or a telephone directory to identify companies which are local (in
between learning
between local, national and the local area only), national (have stores throughout Northern Ireland) or global
in my town have multi-national companies. (have stores across the world).
in different
stores elsewhere? contexts
Resource 25: Local, National Or Global?
Communication -
Find, select and
Use the internet to research national and multi-national companies, such as use information
McDonald’s, Spar, B&Q, Marks & Spencer, and Tesco. from a range of
Identify the countries where these companies operate and their associated flags. sources
Visit one or more national or multi-national companies. Identify ways in which they Using ICT -
differ from local companies (for example the size of their buildings or number of Investigate and
employees). solve problems
through interaction
Take photographs or a video during your visit(s). Use these in conjunction with
with electronic
information from the internet to compile a booklet or PowerPoint presentation
tools
about the company or companies.
Key Question Learning Intention Possible Learning, Teaching and Assessment Activities Skills and
Learners will have Capabilities
opportunities to …
Generate possible
Why are there ... develop an awareness of Focus on what people should get when they have a job. Discuss, for example, fair
solutions, try
fairness and unfairness in the pay, working conditions, hours of work and uniforms.
problems with workplace.
out alternative
some industries in approaches and
Have the learners classify the sentences in Resource 26, to raise their awareness
evaluate outcomes
other countries? that some workers in the developing world do not get the same fair treatment as
local workers. Compare the unfair working conditions described with the working
Communication -
conditions of people that the learners know.
Communicate
Resource 26: Fair Or Unfair? information, ideas,
opinions, feelings
and imaginings,
Use Resource 27 to explore how workers in sweatshops are treated compared to
using an expanding
those working in fair conditions.
vocabulary
Resource 27: Spot The Differences!
Communication -
Find, select and use
See the following websites for further information and resources:
information from a
www.oxfam.org.uk/education/resources/looking_behind_the_logo/?30 includes a range of sources
PowerPoint presentation about a woman who works in a sweatshop.
www.simsweatshop.com/game is a game which demonstrates how people who Using ICT -
work in sweatshops do not get paid fairly. Investigate and
www.waronwant.org includes photographs and information about sweatshops. solve problems
www.maketradefair.com/en/index.htm gives up-to-date information on the trade through interaction
campaign. with electronic
tools
As a group, investigate ways that you could get involved in helping to make
trade fair.
Use an atlas to locate the town that your school is in. Mark its location on the map of Ireland below.
Imagine that an alien has just landed in your town. Can you help him by answering his questions?
Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England are part of the United Kingdom. Can you find them on this
map of the British Isles? Use an atlas or the internet to help you. Colour each country a different colour,
and complete the key.
England
Scotland
Wales
Mark the countries that people in your class have visited on the map.
Use a map to help you decide how near or far away the countries listed are from Northern Ireland.
Cut and paste the flags into the correct area: near, further away or furthest away.
Northern Ireland
near
further away
furthest away
USA England
Italy Japan
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Spain France
Australia Wales
What do these pictures tell you about how we can communicate with people in different parts of the world?
Write the correct words below the pictures.
Answers
send an email
write a letter
How would you describe these ways of communicating with the world (speaking on the telephone, sending
emails, writing letters and text messaging)? Use the pictures to help you, and add your own ideas.
How are these countries similar or different to the country we live in? Record the language and money that
people use, the food they eat and what the weather is usually like.
USA
Scotland
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France
Australia
Spain
Africa
Compare these countries with your country. Put a a if things are similar or an r if they’re different.
USA
Scotland
France
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Australia
Spain
Africa
Imagine you had to travel to these places. Which types of transport might you decide to use?
You can use each type of transport more than once.
USA train
Dublin
car
Scotland
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bus
France
boat
Australia
aeroplane
Imagine you could visit any place in the world! Where would you go? Fill in the blanks to help you ‘plan’
your trip.
I would visit
Some items that we can buy in shops and supermarkets can be grown here, and some items are
grown in other countries. Are these items which are grown here, at HOME, or AWAY in another
country? Write ‘H’ for those grown here and ‘A’ for those grown in another country.
Find six products that are IMPORTED into Northern Ireland, and draw or cut and paste a picture into the
boxes.
Visit a supermarket and look for the items in the trolley. What country did they come from?
Write the name of the country on their label.
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Find products in these categories which are imported. Write the types of product and/or brand names
beside each category.
fruits
vegetables
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meats
dairy
bread
other
Find these products in the supermarket. Can you find brands made in Northern Ireland and brands made
in another country? Write their names and how much they cost.
butter
cheese
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yoghurt
������
crisps
bread
milk
How do bananas get to us? Cut and paste these cards in the correct order.
The boxes are put in an They are taken to a Banana plants are Then they are taken
aeroplane. factory and put into planted. to the supermarket
boxes. warehouse.
They are transported to After growing, the We buy and eat them! The banana trees grow.
the supermarkets and bunches are cut from
put on the shelves. the trees.
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
Every day we use things which are made or grown in other countries. Find out which countries helped you
to do these things. Use the internet to help you, or check the labels!
Use the pictures to help you understand why we need to import some goods to Northern Ireland.
Word Bank
people
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weather
machinery
These need to have special skills Some products are made with the
to make some products. help of resources we do not have
enough of.
I sell the
goods in my
shop!
I grow the
goods!
I work at the
docks, loading
the goods onto
the ship.
I pack the
goods into
boxes!
These apples look the same, but one was grown in the United States of America (USA) and one was grown
in Northern Ireland. Draw a line from each statement to the apple it describes.
5. Why should I buy your product and not one from another country?
Find six products that are EXPORTED from Northern Ireland, and draw or cut and paste a picture into
the boxes.
Find the names of shops or companies that are either LOCAL (can only be found in your area), NATIONAL
(can be found across Northern Ireland) or GLOBAL (can be found in many countries of the world).
You must start very early and finish when the boss says.
You can work here full time when you are 12.
The shirt you are making will cost £40 to buy, but you will get paid 50p per day.
If you do not make 100 shirts each day you will not get paid.
Both these T-shirts look the same, but the people who made them were treated differently. Enlarge each
T-shirt to an A3 page. Then cut and stick the pictures on the next page on the correct T-shirt.
Stick pictures showing how workers in sweatshops are treated onto this T-shirt. Stick pictures of fair working conditions onto this T-shirt.
made in a
sweatshop made in a
good factory
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dangerous workers belong low pay child workers long working day
conditions to a union
12
9
car
3
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no unions allowed fair working hours no support from unfair rules for holidays
the government working