Lower Foundation

Programme of Study

Knowledge, skills and Understanding

Activities

Knowledge and Understanding of the World

The world:

• Looks closely at similarities, differences, patterns and change.
• Children will look at similarities and differences in living things.
• They talk about the features of their own immediate environment and how environments may vary from one another

Health and Self Care

• Eat a healthy range of foodstuffs and understand a need for variety in food.
• Show some understanding that good practices with regard to exercise, eating, sleeping and hygiene can contribute to good health.

The world

• Comments and asks questions about aspects of their familiar world such as the place where they live or the natural world.
• Can talk about some of the things they have observed such as plants, animals, natural and found objects.
• Talks about why things happen and how things work.
• Developing an understanding of growth, decay and changes over time.
• Shows care and concern for living things and the environment.

Autumn - Cycle A and B

Topics: When I grow up (Aut 1)

              Into the woods  (Aut 2)

• Keeping Healthy / Looking after our bodies.
• Identifying the changes as we grow from a baby to a child.
• Naming parts of our body.
• Observing the effects of decay overtime. 
• Seasonal weather changes Autumn/Winter
• Habitats of some common woodland animals.
• Naming common trees in our outdoor environment.
• Nature walk/ Leaf Hunt 

Spring  Cycle A

Topics- Winter/Space (Spr 1)                   

              Lifecycles/At the zoo (Spr 2).

• Seasonal changes- Winter/Spring
• Life cycle of butterflies– record changes over time.
• Identify, name and talk about animals that are located in a zoo and their habitats.
• Exploring moon, sun and stars.
• Life on earth and learn names of planets.
• Explore light and dark using torches and cardboard boxes.
• Bubbling planets- Observe scientific reactions and describe the changes they see and hear (mixing baking soda and water).

Spring  Cycle B

Topics- Winter/Superheroes (Spr 1) Lifecycles/Down at the Farm (Spr 2)

• Seasonal changes- Winter/Spring
• Life cycle of tadpoles– record changes over time.
• Identify, name and talk about animals that are located on a farm and their habitats.
• Farm animals and their young
• Leaning names of fruits and vegetables and why they are important in our diet.
• Frozen food- How they freeze and what would happen if left out of the freezer.
• Explore and name common mini-beasts.

Summer  Cycle A

Topics- Once upon a time (Sum 1)

              We’re going to the seaside (Sum 2)

• Making porridge- exploring our senses.
• Seasonal Changes- Spring/Summer
• Identify and discuss wild flowers found in our outdoor environment.
• Sample different range of healthy fruits and vegetables.
• Materials in our house/classroom.
• Explore and find out about found objects and sea life living on or near the coastline.
• Exploring natural found objects from the seaside.

Summer  Cycle B

Topics- Teddy Bears (Sum 1)

              X marks the spot (Sum 2)

• Seasonal Changes- Spring/Summer
• Different bears and their habitats.
• Sampling honey and learning how it is produced by bees.
• Exploring natural found objects from different environments for example, pine cones, sticks, grass, mud, water.
• Sinking and floating
• Exploring buried treasure- finding magnetic treasure.
• Explore and find out about animals that live in the oceans.

Programme of Study

Knowledge, skills and Understanding

Activities

Knowledge and Understanding of the World

People and Communities:

We will talk about the family customs and routines we enjoy.

The World:

Looks closely at similarities, differences, patterns and change.

We will look at similarities and differences in living things.

People and Communities

• Children talk about the past and present events in their own lives and in the lives of family members.
• They know that other children don’t always enjoy the same things, and are sensitive to this.
• They know about similarities and differences between themselves and others, and among families and communities

The world

• Comments and asks questions about aspects of their familiar world such as the place where they live or the natural world.
• Can talk about some of the things they have observed such as plants, animals, natural and found objects.
• Talks about why things happen and how things work.
• Developing an understanding of growth, decay and changes over time.
• Shows care and concern for living things and the environment.

Autumn - Cycle A and B

Topics: When I grow up (Aut 1)

              Into the woods  (Aut 2)

• Talk about my house and who lives there.
• Identifying the changes as we grow from a baby to a child.
• People who help us in our community and what we would like to be when we grow up.
• Autumn leaf hunt- changes in weather/seasons
• Why people celebrate Bonfire Night, Christmas, New Year, Easter etc.
• Harvest Festival
• Remembrance Day
• Habitats of some common woodland animals.
• Naming common trees in our outdoor environment.
• Nature walk/ Leaf Hunt 

Spring  Cycle A

Topics- Winter/Space (Spr 1)                   

              Lifecycles/At the zoo (Spr 2).

• Seasonal changes- Winter/Spring
• Exploring moon, sun and stars.
• Life on earth- identify animals that live on land or water.
• Planets in our solar system
• Life cycle of butterflies– record changes over time.
• Identify, name and talk about animals that are located in a zoo and their habitats.
• Our own encounters of visiting a zoo or anything special with family.
• Explore wildlife/zoo maps.

Spring  Cycle B

Topics- Winter/Superheroes (Spr 1) Lifecycles/Down at the Farm (Spr 2)

• Seasonal changes- Winter/Spring
• Life cycle of frogs– record changes over time.
• Identify, name and talk about animals found on a farm.
• Farm animals and their young.
• Our own encounters of visiting a farm or anything special with family.
• Explore habitats of common mini-beasts.
• Heroes in our local area
• Discuss important buildings/landmarks in Wakefield and compare with cities viewed in superhero comics/books-  For example, Metropolis and Gotham city.

Summer  Cycle A

Topics- Once upon a time (Sum 1)

              We’re going to the seaside (Sum 2)

• Seasonal Changes- Spring/Summer
• Identify and discuss wild flowers found in our outdoor environment.
• Explore and find out about found objects and sea life living on or near the coastline.
• Exploring natural found objects from the seaside.
• Transport and journeys to the seaside- explore maps, travel documentation, methods of transport.
• Holiday destinations around the UK and world.
• Tour de Yorkshire and Yorkshire Day

Summer  Cycle B

Topics- Teddy Bears (Sum 1)

              X marks the spot (Sum 2)

• Seasonal Changes- Spring/Summer
• Different bears and their habitats.
• Exploring natural found objects from different environments for example, pine cones, sticks, grass, mud, water.
• Explore and find out about animals that live in the oceans.
• Pirate treasure maps
• Boats and pirate ships
• Places around the world where the pirates may have sailed to in search of treasure
• Tour de Yorkshire and Yorkshire Day

Programme of Study

Knowledge, skills and Understanding

Activities

Knowledge and Understanding of the World

People and Communities:

• Children to talk about the family customs and routines we enjoy.

The world

• Children know about similarities and differences in relation to living things.
• Children make observations of animals and plants and explain why somethings occur, and talk about changes.

People and Communities

• Children talk about the past and present events in their own lives and in the lives of family members.
• They know that other children don’t always enjoy the same things, and are sensitive to this.
• They know about similarities and differences between themselves and others, and among families and communities

Autumn - Cycle A and B

Topics: When I grow up (Aut 1)

              Into the woods  (Aut 2)

• Talk about my family and what we like / remembering experiences, special events and family traditions.
• Talk about my house and who lives there.
• Identifying the changes as we grow from a baby to a child.
• People who help us in our community and what we would like to be when we grow up.
• Remembrance Day/ Harvest Festival
• Why people celebrate Bonfire night, Christmas, New Year and Easter?

Spring  Cycle A

Topics- Winter/Space (Spr 1)                   

              Lifecycles/At the zoo (Spr 2).

• Pancake day traditions
• Talk about differences between own and other’s cultures, family traditions and celebrations – Easter, Mother’s Day.
• Explore an astronaut’s job and discuss some significant astronauts- Neill Armstrong and Tim Peake.
• Discuss job roles in a zoo such as a vet, zoo assistant, zoo keeper, etc.
• Children to discuss their own experiences of visiting the zoo or a safari park.

Spring  Cycle B

Topics- Winter/Superheroes (Spr 1) Lifecycles/Down at the Farm (Spr 2)

• Pancake day traditions
• Talk about differences between own and other’s cultures, family traditions and celebrations – Easter, Mother’s Day.
• What is a superhero and who is a superhero to them?
• Heroes who help us in our community.
• Discuss job roles on a farm
• Children to discuss their own experiences of visiting a farm.

Summer  Cycle A

Topics- Once upon a time (Sum 1)

              We’re going to the seaside (Sum 2)

• Children to discuss what they did in the half term? Did they do anything special with family or friends?
• Children to discuss their own encounters of visiting a woodland or park.
• Discuss journeys and how people get by places.
• Children to share their own journeys.
• Discuss family holidays or a visit to the seaside.

Summer  Cycle B

Topics- Teddy Bears (Sum 1)

              X marks the spot (Sum 2)

• Children to discuss what they did in the half term? Did they do anything special with family or friends?
• Children to share information about their teddy bear for example do you take your bear somewhere special with you?
• Boats and pirate ships
• Places around the world where the pirates may have sailed to in search of treasure.
• Explore aquarium jobs and people who conserve sea life.
• Discuss family holidays or special events- How did they get there?

Programme of Study

Knowledge, skills and Understanding

Activities

Expressive Arts and Design

Exploring and using media and materials

• Explores what happens when they mix colours.

• Experiments to create different textures.

• Understands that different media can be combined to create new effects.

• Manipulates materials to achieve a planned effect.

• Constructs with a purpose in mind, using a variety of resources.

• Uses simple tools and techniques competently and appropriately.

• Selects appropriate resources and adapts work where necessary.

• Selects tools and techniques needed to shape, assemble and join materials they are using.

Being imaginative

Create simple representations of events, people and objects.

• Chooses particular colours to use for a purpose.

Physical Development

• Use simple tools to effect changes to materials.
• Handle tools, objects, construction and malleable materials safely and with increasing control

Exploring and using media and materials

• Explores colour and how colours can be changed.

• Understands that they can use lines to enclose a space, and then begin to use these shapes to represent objects.

• Beginning to be interested in and describe the texture of things.

• Uses various construction materials.

• Beginning to construct, stacking blocks vertically and horizontally, making enclosures and creating spaces.

• Joins construction pieces together to build and balance.

• Realises tools can be used for a purpose.

Being imaginative

• Notices what adults do, imitating what is observed and then doing it spontaneously when the adult is not there.
• Captures experiences and responses with a range of media, such as music, dance and paint and other materials or words.

Autumn - Cycle A and B

Topics: When I grow up (Aut 1)

              Into the woods  (Aut 2)

• Simple representation of ourselves using various media.
• Make a house using 2D shapes.
• Box modelling- People who help us vehicles using shape.
• Autumn Art- Leaf/bark rubbing, etc.
• Vegetable/fruit printing.
• Clay leaf bowls.
• Woodland animal art
• Christmas cards / calendars/decorations.

Spring  Cycle A

Topics- Winter/Space (Spr 1)                   

              Lifecycles/At the zoo (Spr 2).

• Winter paintings using different media and shape.
• Starry night paintings using watercolours.
• Making rockets using different media and shape.
• Making 3D planets using paper mache and paint.
• Butterfly and caterpillar paintings using a range of media and tools.
• Zoo animal paper plate art
• Mother’s Day/Easter cards
• Easter baking

Spring Cycle B

Topics- Winter/Superheroes (Spr 1) Lifecycles/Down at the Farm (Spr 2)

•  Winter paintings using different media and shape.
• Superhero masks/capes.
• Superhero role play
• Make wools worms using yarn, googly eyes etc.
• Superhero drawings/paintings
• Tadpole and frog art using a range of media and tools (Easy origami frogs)
• Sheep yoghurt pot model
• Mother’s Day/Easter cards.
• Easter baking

Summer  Cycle A

Topics- Once upon a time (Sum 1)

              We’re going to the seaside (Sum 2)

• Painting flowers from our environment.

• Making porridge
• Box modelling- make a bed or a chair for Goldilocks.
• Make a beanstalk using different materials and media.
• Sea life art for example make sea crabs, jellyfish, starfish.
• Make paper aeroplanes
• Ice cream cone sponge paintings.  

Summer Cycle B

• Teddy bear portraits.
• Bear scrunched tissue collage
• Teddy bear picnic role play
• Make honey/jam sandwiches.
• Make pirate telescopes.
• Explore using different percussion instruments to represent different sea creatures.
• Pirate role play.
• Under the sea art and crafts.