The Key Stage 2 Themed Curriculum
The curriculum for our children in Years 3 to 6 builds on a strong foundation of skills and knowledge developed in Key Stage 1. Children are increasingly able to access advanced and deeper learning opportunities.
The Key Stage 2 Curriculum is similarly underpinned by the need to develop strong reading skills which are taught through our systematic approach to the guided reading and reading comprehension. Numeracy continues to be taught through our cyclical approach to the teaching of Mathematics through our ‘Maths No Problem - Maths Mastery’ programme of study enabling pupils to reason and problem solve based on a strong foundation of the understanding of number and place value.
Foundation subjects at Lisle Marsden Church of England Primary Academy are planned and delivered through a themed curriculum tailored to meet the needs and interests of our children. We believe that the more real the learning experience, the more likely it is that they will engage. In order to motivate the children with the themes chosen, we therefore use a range of stimuli such as visits, visitors, artefacts, videos, situations, plays etc.
Essential Learning is identified and themes are selected in order to meet and exceed the coverage of objectives set out in the 2014 National Curriculum. Each theme lasts between a half and one term. Chris Quigley materials are used as a planning aid, and teachers plan in year groups to meet the requirements for each learning milestone.
In Key Stage Two our cross curricular thematic Programmes of Study are aimed at all pupils completing ‘Milestone 2 by the end of Year 4 and Milestone 3 by the end of Year 6’ therefore achieving age related expectations as determined in the National Curriculum by the time pupils complete Year 6.
Initially, teachers plan for only the first 50% of each theme, and as they approach the end of this period the children are encouraged to input their ideas in order to steer where the learning will go next. It is at this point that classes and year groups may take different directions within the theme to best meet the requirements of the children in their own class. This gives pupils the time to explore their own chosen lines of enquiry, embedding the Curriculum Driver and also allows for pupils who may need extra time to understand.
We plan our lessons with clear learning objectives. We take these objectives from the 2014 National Curriculum and Chris Quigley Essentials materials.
Currently pupils in Phase Years 3 and 4 (milestone 2) and pupils in Phase Years 5 and Y6 (milestone 3) complete their units of study over a two year cycle with pupils in each phase completing the same unit of work differentiated to meet their age related expectations.
Half termly and termly plans can be downloaded below which show the breadth of learning opportunities planned for the children. Should parents wish to know more about the curriculum they can contact their child’s class teacher or alternatively call the academy on 01472 311040 to speak to one of the Leaders of Learning or member of the Head’s Team.
- Autumn Term 1 - What did the Anglo Saxons leave for us [docx 2MB]
- Autumn Term 2 - Who's afraid of the big bad wolf [docx 248KB]
- Spring Term 1 - Awesome Archaeology [docx 257KB]
- Spring Term 2 - Awesome Archaeology [docx 225KB]
- Summer Term 1 - Passport to the world [docx 296KB]
- Summer Term 2 - Normans and 1066 [docx 297KB]