Year 1 Curriculum Guide

All learning at our school is based around the International Baccalaureate's Primary Years Programme (PYP), an inquiry-based, transdisciplinary curriculum framework.

Throughout the year, students will be guided through six Units of Inquiry of global significance, providing opportunities to broaden their learning by developing their conceptual understandings, strengthening their knowledge and skills across, between and beyond subject areas.

The following five Units of Inquiry will be explored throughout the year. Each unit is developed around a concept, a Central Idea and Lines of Inquiry.

Central Idea: Knowledge of ourselves and the impact of our interactions helps us to flourish

An inquiry into:

• Myself: My health and wellbeing
• Interactions: My relationships with others and my sense of belonging
• Growth: The impact on my learning and development

Unit timing: all year

Central Idea: People celebrate events through shared experiences involving traditions & ceremonies. 人們通過傳統活動和不同儀式來慶祝活動。

An inquiry into:

• Celebrations involve special activities, symbols & traditions 慶祝活動包括特殊活動、象徵和傳統
  
• Groups of people celebrate important days & events together 人們一起慶祝重要的日子和事件
  
• Celebrations provide groups of people a sense of belonging 慶祝活動給人們帶來了歸屬感
  

Unit timing: all year

Central Idea: Symbols hold a shared meaning which can be used to communicate.

符號具有可用於交流的共享含義。

An inquiry into:

• How people use symbols to communicate (case study - Hong Kong) 人們如何使用符號進行交流（案例研究 - 香港）
  
• Different symbols we use 我們使用的不同符號
  
• How symbols communicate meaning 符號是如何傳達意義的
  

Unit timing: Term One

Central Idea: The Earth provides us with limited natural resources. 地球為我們提供有限的自然資源。

An inquiry into:

• Earth's natural resources 地球自然資源
  
• How people use natural resources 人們如何使用自然資源
  
• Our responsibility for conserving Earth’s natural resources (case study - water) 保護地球自然資源是我們的責任 (案例研究 - 水)
  

Unit timing: Term Two

Central Idea: People reflect on their past to gain a better understanding of themselves. 人們反思他們的過去以更好地了解自己。

An inquiry into:

• Our past (case study) 我們的過去（案例分析）
  
• How people can document & share the changes in their lives in a variety of ways 人們可以通過多種方式記錄和分享他們生活中的變化
• Reflecting on personal growth & change can lead to new learning 反思個人成長和變化可以帶來新的學習
  

Unit timing: Term Three

The development of language is fundamental to all areas of our learning programs. Language helps us communicate our thinking and understanding.

Language is socially constructed - it is dependent on social interactions and relationships. It permeates all subject areas. As such, we view all of our teachers and assistants to be language teachers.

English is our main language of instruction, with Chinese (Mandarin) taught as an additional language.

Our English curriculum is taught via five main strands: speaking and listening, reading, writing, spelling and handwriting and information literacy.

In Year 1, we begin our phonics and camera words program, providing the students with the essential building blocks for reading and writing. Our reading program focuses on developing decoding strategies, fluency and comprehension. These are developed through a mixture of guiding reading, shared reading, read aloud and independent reading sessions. Readers will be sent home on a regular basis so students can practise taught skills after school.

Students will explore a range of text types: to entertain, to inform and to persuade. Specific writing skills will be developed around how to entertain a reader through recounts, stories and poems.

Our Chinese curriculum is taught via three main strands: speaking/listening, reading and writing. Our Chinese program is taught through two main streams: Chinese Foundation and Chinese Language. Traditional characters are used in both streams.

Chinese Foundation focuses on speaking, listening and social Chinese. Students read texts and focus on speaking, listening and social Chinese. Students read text and environmental print and learn to write the most commonly occurring characters.

Chinese Language focuses on Chinese speaking, listening and the reading of longer texts. Students write their own longer pieces of writing.

Mathematics is a global language of concepts and symbols through which we make sense of the world around us.

Mathematics is taught through three main stages:

1. Constructing meaning and ideas about a mathematical concept through interactions with objects, discussions, experimentation and play;
2. Transferring these ideas and understandings into symbols;
3. Applying these ideas and understanding in real-life and hands-on problem solving activities.

Mathematics is taught through the strands of number, data handling, shape and space, measure and problem solving.

In Year 1, students will explore numbers up to 100. They will learn addition and subtraction facts to 20. They will learn different addition strategies such as skip counting, doubling and grouping. They will explore the concept of division through equal sharing and recognise halves and quarters.

Students will explore the concept of space by applying directional vocabulary. They will measure and compare length and capacity using informal units. They will classify a range of 2D shapes and 3D objects. They will tell time to the half-hour, distinguish between the different season and explore the use of calendars.

Our outdoor learning is a central pillar of our school and a wide range of engaging experiences enable our students to learn about and connect with nature. Students develop specific skills in school and are provided opportunities to apply them during Forest School outings throughout the year.

In Year 1, students will explore a range of land-based and freshwater environments. They will learn how to identify a range of native and garden plants and spending time observing the different patterns and cycles in nature. Students will have opportunities to explore water sources, as well as, creating and maintaining a freshwater ecosystem at school.

Our PE program in Year 1 focuses on developing a range of fundamental movement skills. This is mainly done through our Perceptual Motor Program.

Wellbeing is another central pillar of our school. Throughout our wellbeing program, our students explore the concepts of meaning, identity and aspects of health (physical, social, emotional and spiritual). Our wellbeing program also teaches our students about child protection, anti-bullying and mindfulness strategies.

In Year 1, students will learn ways to set their own learning goals. They will explore their own cultural heritage along with the others in the class. They will learn about ways to keep safe near roads, water and in nature. They will learn strategies to use when they feel unsafe, uncomfortable or need help. Students will learn the importance of healthy snack choices and water consumption.

Our Arts program is taught through four main strands: music, visual arts, drama and dance. Music and visual arts are taught by specialist teachers.

In Music, Year 1 students will use different forms of singing and percussion instruments to explore beat and the dynamics of sound. They will use symbols and pictures to represent sounds and learn the vocabulary needed to respond to music.

In Visual Art, Year 1 students will explore a range of materials and techniques. They will be exposed to different forms of art styles from various cultures. They will learn how to recognise different colours and draw different shapes and lines.

In Drama, Year 1 students will engage in short improvised pieces. They will learn how to use voice, expression and movement in different scenarios. They will explore how to use a performance space.

In Dance, Year 1 students will learn fundamental movements to create their own dance. They will explore the use of body control, posture, strength, balance and coordination.

Science and Social Studies are primarily taught through the Units of Inquiry (see above).

In Year 1, students will learn about the origins and use of natural resources. They will identify and describe stage of the water cycle. They will explore properties of light and sound.

Students will also explore role seasons play in the world. They will investigate their own personal history and the concept of family. They will learn about different cultural celebrations, as well as, the different symbols used in Hong Kong.

Our technology program is taught through two strands: ICT and Design.

In Year 1, students will use a range a different digital systems, mainly through the use of a tablet. They will learn how to create text, images and sounds, manipulating them for an intended purpose. Students will also explore a range of tools, equipment & techniques to use with different materials.

• Listen and follow two-step instructions.
• Communicate with others in the class.
• Ask questions.

• Decode simple text with a teacher at PM level 8 or higher.
• Listen to stories daily and show interest in a variety of picture books, often using pictures to help retell stories or gain information.
• Use knowledge of phonemes and camera words (words that are not easily decoded) from the ‘Basic Code’ of the 'Get Reading Right Program’ when reading.

• Draw a picture related to a specific topic and write multiple sentences or phrases using appropriate spacing between words.
• Use knowledge of phonemes and camera words to spell.
• Form letters and numbers correctly.
• Attempt to spell unfamiliar words in a way that can be understood by readers.
• Use some basic punctuation, such as full stops, question marks and exclamation marks.

• Recognise and write numbers from 1-100.
• Count on and back from a given number between 0-100.
• Begin to skip count in multiples of 1, 2, 5 and 10.
• Add and subtract using concrete materials and pictorial representations, including the number line.
• Recognise mathematical statements involving addition, subtraction, and equals signs.
• Recognise and name halves and quarters as equal parts of an object, shape or quantity.
• Create simple representations of data and tally charts, usually using pictures.

• Sort, describe and name shapes.
• Compare measurements of length, weight or capacity.
  
• Know days of the week and months of the year.
  
• Recognise o'clock and half-past on a clock.

• Solve simple addition and subtraction problems using visual aids such as cubes, counters or pictures.

To see the Subject Guidance for all subjects from Nursery to Year 6 please click on this link

A happy, healthy learning community empowering all members to flourish

Email: info@ichkhly.edu.hk
Website: www.ichkhly.edu.hk
Location: 3 Hong Lok Yuen 20th Street, Hong Lok Yuen, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 3955 3000
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