La Tierra: Paisajes increíbles (The Earth: Amazing Landscapes)

This half term, our Spanish learning will connect with our Tremors topic by exploring the natural world and some of the incredible landscapes found across Spanish-speaking countries. Children will learn about places shaped by the movement of the Earth, including volcanoes, mountain ranges, islands and other dramatic landscapes, while developing their understanding of the wider Spanish-speaking world.

Children will build a bank of key vocabulary linked to landscapes and geographical features, including words such as el volcán (volcano), la montaña (mountain), el río (river) and la isla (island). They will practise accurate pronunciation, recognise important Spanish sounds, and use their vocabulary confidently through speaking, listening, reading and writing activities.

As the unit develops, children will learn how to create their own sentences using structures such as Hay… (There is/There are). They will also begin to describe landscapes using a range of adjectives, including grande (big), pequeño/a (small), bonito/a (beautiful), peligroso/a (dangerous) and caliente (hot). Children will explore how adjectives work in Spanish, including their position in a sentence and how some adjectives change depending on whether a noun is masculine or feminine.

Throughout the unit, children will explore cultural links with Spanish-speaking countries, discovering examples such as volcanic landscapes in the Canary Islands, the Andes mountains in South America and other remarkable places created or influenced by natural forces.

To bring their learning together, children will create and present their own imaginary island, applying their vocabulary and grammar knowledge to write and share simple Spanish descriptions of the landscapes they have designed.