Handa's Surprise- Needs of living things, diet, animals
This story is about a little girl, Handa, who lives in an African village carrying a basket of fruit on her head to her friend Akeyo who lives in a neighbouring village. She does not notice the succession of animals who, one by one, take a piece of fruit from her basket until there is nothing left! Fortunately there is a last minute twist in the plot which means that Akeyo is not disappointed.
The story would make a great starting point for learning about the needs of living things linked to diet and the specific needs of humans. This could be compared to the diets of the other animals in the book and would be a relevant context for secondary research. Children could also find out which African animals are carnivores to compare with the ones in the story. A lot of the resources suggested here are specifically linked to human dietary needs, specifically the need to eat plenty of plant based foods.
Children could also be supported to write a different version of the story set in another continent. What animals could feature in a UK based story? What fruit and vegetables might be found in the basket?
A word of warning; It is a common misconception among adults as well as children that most people in Africa live in rural locations such as the village described in this story. In fact the vast majority of people in Africa live in modern cities such as Nairobi, Lagos and Johannasburg. Be sure to make sure that children are given the full picture of modern African life.
Unit 1C Eat More Fruit and Vegetables
This resource links closely with the DT curriculum as children are supported to design a fruit salad based upon their favourite fruits. It describes how the children in one school were invited to make a table to show which fruit they liked most and then to draw the fruit salad that they made. It is particularly useful as it evaluates the children's response to the various activities; this would support teachers to plan the lesson effectively.
Making a fruit salad is a DT activity that links well with work on the story of Handa's Surprise and exploration of the fruit involved.
KS1 Science: Ready to Learn
This Teachers TV shows how a Y1 class was supported to think about the importance of fruit and vegetables for a healthy diet. It would support the development of children's skills for science as the children worked together to make a pictogram based upon their preferences.
RSPCA Needs of pets to be healthy and happy
This lesson plan gives ideas for helping children to think about what they need to be happy and healthy and to then correlate it with what pets need. This activity could be linked to work in literacy as children use secondary sources to find out about the needs of different kinds of animals. Children could be challenged to think about how the needs of the animals in the story the same as the pets described in this resource abd gow are they different.
Are You a Plant Eater? - Plants in Our Daily Lives
This resource would help children to realise that we do not just eat the fruits of plants but also the stems, roots, seeds, flowers and leaves. It describes how a lesson on the subject is run at Kew Gardens and provides a selction of pictures which can be used to support the lesson. You might ask children 'If Handa had included other parts of the plant, as well as fruit, what else might she have put in her basket?'
Plants to Eat
This scanned in book shows lots of photographs of fruit and vegetables and relates them to the part of the plant that they come from. It would be useful to share on the Interactive White Board and would support the practical work done on this topic.
BBC Bitesize Why does the giraffe have a long neck?
This short clip features three of the animals from the story (giraffe, elephant and antelope). It explains in simple language the evolutionary pressures which led to giraffes gradually developing longer necks. It could help children begin to understand how evolution occurs in species rather than in individuals and takes place over many generations.
After watching this children might be supported to think about how other animals are adapted to their habitats. This could include animals in the story, or creatures that live closer to home.
Jack and the Beanstalk: Plants 5-7
This collection of activities, linked to the story of Jack and the Beanstalk, gives children opportunities to explore different aspects of growing plants, especially those that we grow for food. It would add depth to children's exploration of fruit and help children to understand the connection between fruit and the whole plant.