Wider Curriculum
Last year we launched a hugely ambitious and exciting new trust-wide curriculum for Art, Design Technology, Geography, History & Science. The curriculum has been in development in a number of our partner schools since 2018.
The curriculum has been reviewed, refined and successfully tested over the years and provides children and staff with a powerful and unapologetically ambitious start to their educational journey. Our interdisciplinary curriculum ensures that explicit links are made between the different subject areas as children move through the curriculum, maximising both retention of learning over time and the understanding of how knowledge is used in the wider world to solve problems.
We are one of a few schools in the country offering such a dedicated and bespoke approach to our curriculum, ensuring that children are inspired and equipped to join a world being transformed by the work of the STEM careers which continue to drive innovation and change across the world. The new curriculum has been designed to revolutionise teaching and learning in our school: the children work collaboratively each term towards creating a final project outcome, utilising the knowledge and skills that have been developed during the learning journey.
The GLF Curriculum is designed to make logical and meaningful connections between the different disciplines (Art, DT, History, Geography and Science.) A coherent curriculum ensures that the content, skills and learning experiences are aligned and integrated in a way that enables children to develop and embed their learning into the long-term memory.
Human beings live the world in a connected way. We experience life in a way that means we ultimately want to achieve generalisations. We want to be able to take a skill or an experience and be able to apply it or learn from it in a different context. Coherence is a fundamental aspect to achieving learning in a meaningful way. One of the pitfalls could be when some sessions are ‘stand-alone’ rather than part of a progressive accumulation of knowledge and skills. Rather, each session should build on what was done before.
We believe our curriculum is equipping and exposing children to a very modern way of working, inspiring a future generation to pursue careers in an ever-changing world. The children across the school are discovering new and exciting opportunities that they want to explore – ‘I want to design cars when I grow up!’ ….’I want to be a pilot’ ….. We want the children to see the opportunities and understand that they can make their own future!
We have carefully chosen the people we learn about their contribution to industry advances to ensure all children are encouraged to be aspirational and see themselves, their cultures and learning strengths included in our curriculum whilst also selecting industry examples that celebrate and include both local and national cultures so that all children, who naturally have different starting points and life experiences, benefit equitably from the same high-quality, inclusive and aspirational curriculum.
The very intent and core purpose of our curriculum is to empower children. We know that children’s language development impacts on all curriculum areas. Without high-quality teaching that includes a deliberate focus on oracy and the direct instruction of vocabulary, children from disadvantaged backgrounds fall further and further behind (Roulstone, Law et al 2010). Therefore, oracy is the golden thread that connects everything in every subject. The ability to speak eloquently, articulate ideas and thoughts, collaborate with peers and have the confidence to express your views are all vital life skills that support success in learning and life in general. We aim to provide a robust foundation for the development of oracy skills through direct instruction of vocabulary and a vast range of oracy.
We believe that a focus on oracy will enable us to:
- develop a high level of vocabulary in children to expose the depth of their acquired knowledge and composite skills.
- ensure that all children, irrelevant of starting points or barriers, make strong progress and are ambitious in their pursuit for excellence and achievement.
- ensure that there are specifically designed, taught, and experienced opportunities for all children to work on their oracy skills and vocabulary retention.
Through our curriculum we teach the disciplines of the Arts, Design and Technology, Geography, History and Science. Through our education offer, empower children to acquire and internalise disciplinary behaviours; there is a constant interplay between knowledge learnt, skills acquired and the ability to effectively express oneself.
Art and Design
At Lime Tree Primary School, our Art and Design curriculum is designed to nurture creativity, imagination, and self-expression. We believe that every child is an artist with a unique perspective on the world. Through engaging lessons, hands-on activities, and exposure to various artistic techniques, children develop the confidence to express themselves while learning essential skills.
Through the GLF Curriculum, children develop the ability to think critically and gain a deeper understanding of artistic concepts. As they progress through the curriculum, they develop an understanding of how art has contributed to life and its influence on cultures around the world. For example, in Year 2 they explore the Pop Art movement, in Year 3 they explore how portraiture was used to display power in the Tudor era and in Year 6 they explore the influences of Islamic art. Throughout EYFS and Key Stage 1 and 2, children develop their drawing and sculpting skills using a range of different media and tools. For example, in Year 1 children develop their sketching skills when producing observational drawings of plants and in Year 5 children create an Ancient Greek inspired vase decorated with block figures and repeating patterns.
How can I support my child in Art?
Create a Space for Art
If possible, set up a small area at home for your child to explore and create art.
Visit Museums and Galleries
Explore local art exhibits together to inspire creativity.
Encourage Experimentation
Let your child try different materials and techniques at home.
Celebrate Their Work
Display their artwork at home or online and celebrate their creative achievements.
Useful Weblinks
Tate Kids - Interactive games, activities, and videos that introduce children to famous artists, art movements, and different techniques. Children can create their own art online and explore famous works in an engaging way.
Arts for Kids Hub - Step-by-step drawing tutorials for children with easy-to-follow videos. Children can learn how to draw anything from animals and people to their favorite characters.
Design and Technology
At Lime Tree Primary School, our Design and Technology curriculum encourages children to become innovative thinkers and problem solvers. Through hands-on activities, we inspire curiosity and creativity, helping children develop practical skills while understanding how technology and design shape the world around us.
Through our GLF Curriculum, children design, make and evaluate a range of products. Through the interdisciplinary curriculum, they use knowledge from other subjects such as Science and Maths to create unique end products. For example, in Year 4 children design and make a motorised CAM toy for a ‘Great Exhibition’ and in Year 5 children carry out market research and create a product for teachers that can see around corners. Our D&T curriculum teaches children to think critically and enables them to develop knowledge and skills which will be valuable for their future.
How can I support my child with Design and Technology?
Encourage Building and Crafting
If possible, provide materials for your child to build simple structures or models.
Explore Everyday Technology
Discuss how household items work and encourage curiosity about how things are made.
Involve Them in Projects
Let your child help with simple home DIY projects, giving them the opportunity to apply problem-solving skills.
Useful Weblinks
STEM website - Offers a wide range of resources for primary school students to learn about design, engineering, and technology through interactive activities, challenges, and projects.
BBC Bitesize: Design and Technology - Videos, and quizzes that cover various aspects of Design and Technology, including structures, mechanisms, and food technology.
The Design Museum - Resources that introduce children to the world of design, encouraging them to think creatively and understand how products are made.
Geography
At Lime Tree Primary School, our geography curriculum helps students develop a deeper understanding of the world around them. From learning about local landscapes to exploring global environments, we equip our children with the knowledge and skills to navigate an ever-changing world. Geography is about more than just maps—it's about understanding how people, places, and environments are connected.
Through our GLF Curriculum, children’s geographical knowledge and skills build progressively through EYFS to Year 6. For example, in Year 1 children explore their local area and consider the physical and human features they can observe. This is then further developed in Year 3 where children look at local waterways and consider how the use of these has changed over time. Through the curriculum, children deepen their understanding of the world around them and how physical and human processes interact. For example, in Year 4, children explore how humans impact the environment and in Year 6, children consider how the world is interconnected due to activities such as trade. Throughout the Key Stages, children develop their ability to read a range of different maps, observe and analyse findings during fieldwork and think critically about what they have learnt.
How can I support my child with Geography?
Explore Your Area:
You could go on walks or bike rides to explore your local environment together and discuss what you see.
Use Maps and Globes
Help your child locate places on a map and talk about the geography of different regions. The use of online tools such as Google Earth can let you explore places all around the world.
Discuss Global Issues:
Talk about the importance of environmental conservation, weather patterns, or world events that maybe occurring.
Useful weblinks:
Google Earth - A virtual globe that allows children to explore different places around the world, zoom into landmarks, cities, and natural features. It’s a great way to visualize geography in a real-world context.
National Geographic Kids - Articles, games, videos, and quizzes on different countries, environments, wildlife, and global cultures. Perfect for young explorers to learn about the natural world and human geography.
BBC Bitesize Geography - Covers topics like weather, climate, maps, physical features, and global locations. There are a range of interactive activities and quizzes make learning fun and easy.
National Geographic Map Maker - This interactive map tool allows children to explore different maps and create their own. They can learn about world geography, environments, and human settlements.
History
At Lime Tree Primary School, we believe that history lessons help children to be inspired and curious about the world around them by understanding what has happened in the past. Through our curriculum children gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of people's lives, the processes of change, the diversity of societies, and the relationships between different groups.
Through our GLF Curriculum, historical themes are explored as the children progress through the curriculum. For example, in Year 1 children explore the local history of Merstham and the importance it has had as a market town, and in Year 4, the children learn about the effects of power through settlers and invaders. The curriculum builds on historical skills and knowledge such as how the past has contributed to our life in the UK and the wider world. Throughout the Key Stages children also learn how to interpret sources and decide on their reliability.
Our history lessons equip children with the skills to ask insightful questions, think critically, evaluate evidence, analyse arguments, and develop their own perspectives and judgments.
How can I support my child with History?
Links to home
Teachers love parents and grandparents who are prepared to come in to talk to their class, if they have a specific knowledge about a period of history e.g. life before the internet (yes, this does now count as history!), the moon landings, or rationing.
Visit Museums or Historic Houses
Talk about the topics that they are doing. The children who love history are often the ones who have seen a love of the past in their parents. There are many excellent, free museums, e.g. the Ashmolean, Pitt Rivers, Sulgrave Manor, Banbury Museum. Use them as a resource and spend quality time sharing the past together. Otherwise, watch age-appropriate history programmes on TV.
Read fantastic Children’s Books based in the Past.
Whilst these are often fiction, there will be facts and figures in the books that children will remember. Some good examples include: anything by Caroline Lawrence (the Roman Mysteries), Goodnight Mr Tom (WW2 and evacuation), Stig of the Dump (Clive King) and picture books or non-fiction books that you can share at bedtime.
Useful Weblinks.
The BBC website (though no longer being updated) has lots of links to videos, games and information about a range of historical periods.
Try Teaching History with 100 Objects for some great ideas for using artefacts to teach history.
Science
At Lime Tree Primary School, we believe that science education is vital in developing children’s understanding of the world and preparing them for their future. Because of this Science pervades our GLF Curriculum and is the golden thread that runs through every term. When working towards our end products, the children, individually or as a whole class, will be working scientifically. That is to say, they will be making observations, generalisations, researching, planning, testing and evaluating.
Within our Science lessons children are given the opportunity to learn through hands-on experiences and discovery, making it an ideal way to understand the world around them. We encourage children to become independent and collaborative scientific thinkers and investigators through their participation in engaging practical investigations. By designing their own experiments, children are encouraged to be creative and make learning more relevant to themselves. They are given opportunities to observe, explore, and ask questions about living things, materials, and physical processes. They evaluate evidence and consider the fairness of tests or comparisons. They share and communicate their ideas through scientific language, drawings, charts, and tables.
Science knowledge and skills are built on and deepened throughout Early Years and the Key Stages through a cohesive and connective curriculum. Enquiry skills and approaches are explicitly taught to the children to help them question the world around them and how to find the answers to these questions.
How can I support my child in Science?
Be Interested
Find out about their Science topics: find relevant books in the library or bookshop, do some research, brush up your own knowledge about the topic! Then you can have interesting conversations where you are both learning at the same time.
Take a Trip
Why not take a trip to a science museum, a zoo or an aquarium? These don’t necessarily need to be completely related to what they are learning about at school. Any visit can help their curiosity and engagement with science generally. There are increasingly more virtual 'visits' available online also, if you can't manage a trip in person.
Make it Personal
Find out about famous scientist role models and research unique and exciting achievements and inventions, up to and including the present day. Who knows, you may have the next Stephen Hawking or Marie Curie at home!
Get Hands-On
Look up fun, practical science experiments you can do at home with everyday objects.
For example:
Ask ‘What happens when you mix food colouring in milk?’ Then add washing up liquid and watch what happens.
Why not try making your own mini exploding volcano? Just add bicarbonate of soda, food colouring, washing up liquid and vinegar. Then stand back and watch the eruption!
Cooking is also a great opportunity to mix ingredients, add heat and examine changing states.
Try exploring changing states with ice and water to begin to see those changes that can be reversed and those that can’t.
A real favourite is to create ‘gloop’ — use water and cornflour (add food colouring too if needed) to explore solids and liquids. Just be prepared to get messy!
Of course, there are also some wonderful science kits available to buy to push your scientists further – making crystals, rockets and even bouncy balls.
Useful Weblinks
The Science Museum for information, games etc.
The Children’s University of Manchester Science pages
The Royal Institute’s annual Christmas lectures make science real for children and are available online
