A map of an old board game covered in wooden game pieces and dice.

The Vanishing Land

About The Vanishing Land

Long ago in a far away ocean, a beautiful island rose high above the sapphire waters. The sands of the beaches were as white as the snow on the highest mountains and the deep forests crawled with every type of animal and insect imaginable. But these were not creatures that live in human memory, for almost all of them are now gone…   

You and your class begin learning about forgotten lands and disappearing environments. But the discovery of an old board game set on a lost island begins an all too real journey into a vanishing land. The game unlocks a portal to the lost island: only the students can save it before it disappears forever…

Project aims:
This project engages students with local geography and the environment while encouraging collaboration, imagination and empathy as well as increasing standards in oracy and writing.

Students will:

  • Play a collaborative game together
  • Explore their local environment to gain knowledge of its natural resources
  • Write stories
  • Collect samples of flora and fauna on a site visit of your choice

Who is it for?


The Vanishing Land is suitable for Year 5 or 6. The delivery of the project will involve one year group and their teachers.

Resources 

  • A one day CPD to immerse teachers in Punchdrunk Enrichment practice and to share advice and tips on how to best deliver the project
  • A toolkit of handmade props, maps and materials for simple design installations that bring the lost island to life in your school
  • A detailed teacher resource pack 
  • These materials can be used to repeat the project for future year groups  

It’s kind of made them more independent, a few of them were just doing two or three stories, and those children that you wouldn't expect it, were some of the first to finish. “Or can I, can I illustrate it?” or “can I, can I do a drawing”, it’s like yeah go for it.

Emma Russell, Year 5 Teacher, Montbelle Primary School 

Image gallery

Gallery

  • A nest on a window sill with a cracked gold and green egg.
  • A golden bee wing on a table.
  • An old board game with wooden pieces, a dice and some grey stones.
  • A golden bee wing on a table.
  • A map of an old board game covered in wooden game pieces and dice.

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