Understanding the World
Intent
Understanding the World is categorised into three main areas;
- Past and Present
- People, Culture and Communities
- The Natural World
Lumley Infant and Nursery school aims to guide children to make sense of their physical world by developing their skills and knowledge as early historians, geographers and scientists. The curriculum is designed to build on children’s own interests as well as equipping them with knowledge and understanding of local history and their local community. The curriculum ensures skills and knowledge taught, prepares children for their future learning in Key Stage One and beyond.
Knowledge and Key Skills Progression Grids:
HISTORY – EYFS & KS1 Knowledge and Key Skills – Updated October 2023
GEOGRAPHY – EYFS & KS1 Knowledge and Key Skills – Updated September 2023
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION – EYFS & KS1 Knowledge and Key Skills – Updated September 2022
SCIENCE – EYFS & KS1 Knowledge and Key Skills – Updated December 2023
Implementation
The curriculum design places an emphasis on enhancing children’s personal experiences, as this increases their knowledge and sense of the world around them. Children have a wealth of opportunities to complete local field studies, visiting local areas such as parks and farms. By utilising, expertise, interests and professions of parents, carers and family members, children meet many important members of the local community including, police officers, nurses, firefighters and members of different faiths. The curriculum is enriched by a wealth of hands on practical activities, which encourage children to explore, investigate and questions, utilising opportunities for outdoor learning. Listening to a broad selection of stories, non-fiction, rhymes and poems is an integral part of our curriculum as it fosters children’s understanding of our culturally, socially, technologically and ecologically diverse world. As well as building important knowledge, this extends children’s familiarity with words. enriching and widening children’s vocabulary, which will support further development of reading comprehension.
Impact
By the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage, most children can:
Past and Present
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Talk about the lives of the people around them and their roles in society.
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Know some similarities and differences between things in the past and now, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class.
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Understand the past through settings, characters and events encountered in books read in class and storytelling.
People, Culture and Communities
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Describe their immediate environment using knowledge from observation, discussion, stories, non-fiction texts and maps.
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Know some similarities and differences between different religious and cultural communities in this country, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class.
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Explain some similarities and differences between life in this country and life in other countries, drawing on knowledge from stories, non-fiction texts and – when appropriate – maps.
The Natural World
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Explore the natural world around them, making observations and drawing pictures of animals and plants.
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Know some similarities and differences between the natural world around them and contrasting environments, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class.
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Understand some important processes and changes in the natural world around them, including the seasons and changing states of matter.
