Inspired by: Children's Games - Medium Term Plan

The Year 1 Module 2 curriculum takes a creative approach to literacy by using Pieter Bruegel the Elder's painting, "Children's Games," as a springboard for learning. Over the course of six weeks, students will develop their comprehension, composition, grammar, and punctuation skills through engaging with the rich tapestry of the artwork. In week one, the objective is to make inferences from the painting, discussing its title and depicted events, and to express these verbally before writing. This culminates in students beginning to understand and use basic punctuation such as capital letters and full stops in their sentences. Teacher ideas for this week include activities like 'The Painting With No Name' and 'Looking For Clues,' which encourage observation and interpretation.

As the weeks progress, the children are encouraged to connect the scenarios in the painting to their own experiences, enhancing their understanding and empathy. They continue to practice speaking before writing and composing sentences orally, which aids in structuring their thoughts. By week three, they are sequencing sentences to form narratives and using conjunctions like 'and' to join clauses. The curriculum builds towards predicting outcomes, appreciating poetry, and participating in group discussions. By week six, the focus is on narrative sequencing, re-reading for sense, and using question marks and capital letters correctly, especially for the pronoun 'I'. Activities such as 'Catch Me if You Can,' 'The Messy Games Cupboard,' and 'Playing Games – Then and Now' not only make learning interactive but also provide a historical perspective on children's games through Bruegel's artwork.