Year 1 - Curriculum Overview

 
As is the case with the rest of the school, each half term we will teach our lessons by focusing on one over-arching theme. Each theme forms part of our whole-school curriculum called Learning Means the World – a new and exciting curriculum that, whilst meeting all of the requirements of the National Curriculum, is forward thinking, highly relevant and deals with tomorrow's issues today.

Our themes are as follows:

Autumn
“Unity in the Community” is a thematic unit about the area you live in, with a geography focus.  Pupils will develop their geographical skills, local knowledge and understanding through learning about their school, the features of its grounds, the
surrounding area and how it has changed over time.  They will be taught all about the importance of acting responsibly within both the school and the wider community.
 
“Happy Families” is a thematic unit based around changes over time for pupils, their families and their community, with a history focus.  They will look at differences between how people used to live at different times and in different eras, specifically Victorian, and find answers to questions.
 
Spring
“Going Wild” is a thematic unit based around humans and animals, with a science focus.  Pupils will look at humans and animals, beginning with characteristics of living and non-living things through to classifying birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles
and mammals.  There will be a particular focus on looking after animals and pupils will learn about extinction, wildlife conservation, habitat destruction and endangered species.

“Happily Ever After” is a thematic unit, based around fairy tales, with a key focus on literacy and drama.  It is designed to enable pupils to develop a love of stories, as well as providing a vehicle for communication through creative arts work.  Stories
should be chosen carefully, in consultation with previous year groups, to avoid duplication as far as possible.  However, the three suggested in this unit (The Ugly Duckling, Red Riding Hood and Cinderella) work well.

Summer
“Come Fly With Me! Arctic Circle” is a thematic unit based on the Arctic region and surroundings, with a key focus on geography.  Pupils will learn about the location, weather and climate in the Arctic, as well as the wildlife that lives there.
Inuit people, their traditions and customs, will also be studied.

“Paddington’s Passport” is a thematic unit based around the worldwide travels of Paddington Bear, with a geography focus.  Pupils will look first at Peru, including the Amazonian rainforest.  Then, the focus is on London, learning about the UK within the global context of continents and oceans.