Study Hub

Study Guides

This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.

Back to Study HubBrowse Year 6 English Guides

Year 6 - English

Presenting information about evolution

Charles Darwin: biographical writing

Unit Summary

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.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to present your ideas orally to a group, giving a clear explanation of evolution by natural selection.

Key Notes

  • Presenting our ideas orally is a way of showing our understanding of a subject.
  • Speaking to a group can be stressful; making notes and rehearsing first makes it easier.
  • We can use fronted adverbials of cause to show causal relationships between steps in an explanation.
  • When we present, we use clear diction, appropriate volume, positive body language and eye contact to engage an audience.
  • Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection can be applied to any animal adaptation.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • adaptation: a feature of an animal or plant that allows it to function well in its normal habitat
  • fronted adverbial of cause: a sentence starter that tells the reader the cause and effect of something
  • presentation: when we are saying our work out loud to an audience

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils may struggle to speak sufficiently loudly or clearly when presenting.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

Presenting our ideas orally is a way of showing our understanding of a subject. Speaking to a group can be stressful; making notes and rehearsing first makes it easier.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'adaptation'

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

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Pupils may struggle to speak sufficiently loudly or clearly when presenting. Correction: Model the volume, stance and eye contact you expect. You may want to have children present to smaller groups if possible.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 6 English guide library.