A new rule has been passed that will protect more than 50 of the world’s shark species, many of which are endangered (at risk of going extinct). The deal was signed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which manages how plants and animals are traded. This resources pack includes an article from The Week Junior magazine, along with a sheet of activities designed to get children thinking, talking and writing about what the story means to them.
Oracy
It’s all very well getting nations to agree to protect sharks’ lives but shouldn’t we also be doing more to protect their reputations? Shouldn’t we be celebrating the amazing characteristics they have evolved rather than creating an excessive fear of them? Or is it just harmless fun to watch movies about killer sharks and other ‘dangerous’ animals? After all, no one really takes them seriously and it’s not as if we can hurt their feelings. What do you think?
Writing skills
Write a character discription of a shark in a manner that emphasises its positive qualities. You can do this in a serious, scientific way or a humorous, gushing style if you prefer but remember to use the best descriptive vocabulary you can.
OR
Imagine you have heard that a restaurant near you has started serving shark fin soup. Write a letter of complaint to the manager, politely but firmly urging them to take that item off the menu.
Investigate
Research which members of the shark family can be found in UK waters. List five of them, giving a brief description of each one.
Find the entire series of Topical Tuesday resources to download in our Topical Tuesdays collection.
What is The Week Junior?
The Week Junior magazine looks at current affairs and helps children make sense of the world, provides context and clarity to complex issues, improves general knowledge and encourages discussion and debate.
To find out more about The Week Junior and to download its free resources, please go to The Week Junior website.