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While every lesson in Year 1 is a literacy lesson, we like to expand our vocabulary and understanding of the world through the study of Christian Studies, Science, Arts, Technology, Maths and the Humanities (History and Geography). We believe that all learning is a lens in which to view God’s nature and incredibly intricate design.

Our first term focuses on exploring the world around us through a Science unit called Beach, Bush and Backyard, which examines animals and their habitats. This involves identifying features of animals and how they suit their natural habitat and help them to survive. We examine their needs and enhance this learning through a field trip to a local zoo, where we touch and see animals and complete a scientific field work journal. We consider the wonder of God’s creation as He has designed each animal with unique features that equip them to survive and contribute to the natural ecosystem. Students examine their role as responsible stewards of God’s creation and identify ways that they can actively contribute to caring for each space. Our next unit also focuses on Science when we learn about materials and their purposes. This involves identifying whether materials are man-made or God-created and exploring the many and varied ways that materials can be changed and manipulated to suit a wide variety or practical purposes. During this unit we also explore the Fruit of the Spirit and how, as Christians, we can rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to bring these nine character traits to fruition in our lives (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control).

In our second term, we move into a study of Historical changes that have occurred over time. We examine life in the past, with a particular emphasis on the fact that while some things change, some things stay the same. We examine family traditions over time, including cooking, and how these things can make us feel connected to family over time. We explore how school life has changed and identify ways in which it is the same as well. During this time, we study the story of Abraham, as the Father of the Faith, and how we can rest assured that God holds all time in His hands, as he is the Alpha and Omega (the beginning and the end).

For our third term, we explore Our Changing Earth and Sky, as we again identify that all things in our Creation are either God-created or man-made in our Science unit. This involves exploring the phases of the moon, understanding calendars and the effects of seasons on our weather and lifestyle choices. From this, we move into an exploration of light and sound, where we explore how our senses have been given to us to perceive the world around us, as well as exploring the notion of how we perceive God, who is not necessarily perceived through empirical sources.  During this time, we study the story of Joshua and how he listened to God and obeyed him. We explore how we can listen to God, understand His will, and obey Him in our lives.

Our final term Geography unit explores features of Places Around Us and the difference between natural, managed and constructed environments. We examine their distinctive features and identify why people change spaces to suit our needs. We look into mapping areas and explore a range of directional language, while identifying various features observed within our school environment. During this time, we explore the Creation story as told in Genesis and revealed through the rest of our Biblical studies. We move through each area of Creation and finish with a study on Christmas, highlighting that Jesus was the author of Creation and the solution to all of the problems in our fallen world. His birth heralded a new chapter in mankind: The Chapter of Grace, where we can all come home to our Heavenly Father and experience the life-giving transformative power of the Holy Spirit who now dwells within us, as Christians.