Who am I and who do I belong to?
Family and Community
Gospel Virtues: Eloquent & Truthful British Values: Democracy
This term, our big question is “Who am I and who do I belong to?”. We will be exploring this through the Catholic Social Teaching theme of Family and Community, weaving it across all areas of our learning.
In Understanding the World, we will be learning more about ourselves — where we live, who we live with, and the communities we belong to. Through circle times, class discussions, and by sharing photographs, the children will have opportunities to talk about their own lives and listen to others. This will help them to recognise their place in the world and understand how each of us is a valued and important member of both our local and school community.
As historians, we will take a peek into the past to help us explore who we are and where we come from. The children will investigate their own families and special people, beginning to understand how our personal histories shape our identities. We will explore family traditions, look at how life has changed over time, and talk about the important events and memories that help make us who we are today.
As geographers, we will begin to explore the world around us by looking closely at where we live. The children will use simple maps and plans to understand their immediate environment and begin to notice how places can be the same or different. We will also start to think about what life is like in other countries, comparing similarities and differences with our own lives, helping the children to develop curiosity about the wider world and their place within it.
As scientists, our focus will be on Animal Adventures. The children will explore different animals and their habitats, finding out how animals live and grow, and how they care for their young. By comparing animal families to our own, we will think about the importance of belonging, looking after one another, and how every creature has a place in God’s family. This will help the children to make meaningful links between the natural world, their own experiences of family and community, and our big question “Who am I and who do I belong to?”
To support our learning, we will be using a selection of wonderful books, including:
Our Class is a Family – a story about starting school and how we build a supportive, caring classroom community.
Owl Babies – a reassuring tale for children who may feel anxious when separating from their grown-ups, reminding them that all will be well.
Number 7 Evergreen Street – the story of Pea and her neighbours, showing the joy of living in a diverse, multicultural community and how much we can achieve when we work together.
Elmer – a much-loved classic about a patchwork elephant that celebrates friendship, inclusivity, and the beauty of being unique.
We will also explore many other carefully chosen books throughout the term, helping us to deepen our understanding and develop our knowledge and skills.
By the end of the unit, the children will be able to talk confidently about themselves, their families, and their communities, showing a richer understanding of who they are, where they come from, and where they belong.