I like the topic of ‘Animals in the Cold’, as weather and suitable clothing for the type of weather, is a topic that is explored, every year in the infant classes. We look at the weather and the seasons. However, we do not always look at how animals keep warm. Most children have seen the movie Happy Feet, so I would show selected pieces from this movie and this can be the stimulus for starting discussion around how the penguins and polar animals keep warm in the snow and ice. I would show the pupils pictures of the animals and ask them to describe what they notice about the animals such as fur, feathers, size etc. I would ask them to predict how the animals keep warm. Then we would look at the coats of animals and discuss layers of fat and the function of these in keeping the animals warm. To demonstrate waterproofing I would put Vaseline on one of the pupils hands and have them play with water and ask what do they notice about the hand with Vaseline v the hand without. Then as a follow on activity, we could predict and explore the properties of materials. This involves enquiry based, hands on checking which materials were absorbent and which were waterproof, and in groups, design a raincoat for a teddy bear.