Discovery Curriculum
What is our Discovery Curriculum?
Our Discovery Curriculum is an exciting new curriculum for Years 1 to 6 which has been developed by our curriculum leaders for the teaching and learning of the Foundation subjects:
- History
- Geography
- Art
- Design & Technology
It is designed to help children learn the essential knowledge, skills and understanding for each of these subjects, as set out in the National Curriculum of 2014.
It also plays a key role in how our school’s Core Values are brought to life and embedded throughout our pupils’ learning. Our Core Values are:
- Respect
- Nurture
- Creativity
- Collaboration
- Aspiration
- Equality
- Excellence
- Courage
How is the Discovery Curriculum structured?
Each term has a shared subject focus for Years 1 to 6:
Autumn: ‘We are Historians’
Spring: ‘We are Geographers’
Summer: ‘We are Innovators’
The Core Values which best match each subject focus have been linked and, within each term, each Year Group has a specific topic which relates to the subject area:
|
|
Autumn We are Historians |
Spring We are Geographers |
Summer We are Innovators |
|
|
School values: Courage Excellence |
School values: Respect Nurture |
School values: Aspiration Creativity Collaboration |
|
Year 1 |
The Plague & |
Weather |
Clothes |
|
Year 2 |
Significant People |
Our World |
Performance |
|
Year 3 |
Early Man |
Rainforests |
Fair Trade |
|
Year 4 |
Ancient Greece & the Roman Empire |
Active Planet |
The Environment |
|
Year 5 |
Anglo-Saxons & Vikings |
Rivers |
Technology |
|
Year 6 |
Britain at War |
Biomes |
The Arts |
For more detail on each Year Group’s topics please refer to the Curriculum Maps on the Year Group pages.
How are topics delivered?
- Pupils will be made aware of their new Discovery topic just prior to a holiday and invited to contribute ideas during a ‘brainstorming’ session.
- Each topic begins with an ‘entry point’ activity to capture the pupils’ interest and imagination.
- Each topic culminates in an exciting ‘exit point’ activity which pupils will have been working towards and which is designed to give them an opportunity to demonstrate their learning.
How does the Discovery Curriculum link to other subjects?
Wherever possible, pupils’ learning in English will link with their Discovery topic – particularly through the choice of texts studied.
Both Science and RE are taught as discreet subjects but meaningful links with the current Discovery topic will always be made for pupils, whenever possible.