Cornerstones Curriculum in Year 1

The Cornerstones topics they will be learning about this year are;

Childhood

This project teaches children about everyday life and families today, including comparisons with childhood in the 1950s, using artefacts and a range of different sources.

Companion projects 

Funny faces and fabulous features

This project teaches children about the concept of the portrait and how the collage technique can be used to make a portrait.

Human senses

This project teaches children that humans are a type of animal known as a mammal. They name and count body parts and identify similarities and differences. They learn about the senses, the body parts associated with each sense and their role in keeping us safe.

Our wonderful world

This essential skills and knowledge project teaches children about physical and human features, maps, cardinal compass points, and positional and directional language. They learn about the equator, hemispheres and continents and are introduced to the countries, capital cities and settlements of the United Kingdom. The children carry out simple fieldwork to find out about local physical and human features.

Shade and shelter

This project teaches children about the purpose of shelters and their materials. They name and describe shelters and design and make shelter prototypes. Children then design and build a play den as a group and evaluate their completed product.

Everyday materials

This project teaches children that objects are made from materials. They identify a range of everyday materials and their sources. Children investigate the properties of materials and begin to recognise that a material's properties define its use.

Bright Lights, Big City

Put on your best outfit because you’re invited to have tea with the Queen. Use your best manners and comb your hair, as one will not be amused if you don’t! What do you know about England’s capital city? Let’s find out all about London, including its history, transport and famous landmarks. Step back in time and discover what happened in the Great Fire of London. Where did it start? How did it end? Create a model of the bakery on Pudding Lane, then burn it to the ground to recreate the Great Fire. Stand well back and watch how the flames spread. London’s burning! London’s burning! Fire, fire! Fire, fire! Hang on, there’s someone new in town. Plan a tour for Marley the Meerkat (he’s come all the way from Zambia, you know) making sure he takes in all the sights and sounds of London before he finally meets his family at London Zoo. Are you ready for the bright lights of the big city? Hop in a black cab and enjoy the ride.

School Days

This project teaches children about their own school and locality, both today and in the past. They compare schooling in the Victorian era to their experiences today.

We also develop their social skills and empathy for each other during RE and RSE. Year 1 is an important year for your child’s increasing independence. The days are so varied and busy, the hours just fly by!