Teaching Resources
The Year Programme
43 themed weeks across the four school terms. Today falls in Week 25 — Small Creatures - Insects and Bugs. Every week gives you the ring time, the words, one activity per learning area, a story, a song, an outdoor game, what to watch for, and a message to send parents.
THIS WEEK
Small Creatures - Insects and Bugs
27 Jul – 31 Jul 2026
Week 25
Close-up observation is early science - and curiosity replaces fear of the lowveld's little creatures.
Well-being
Lowveld habits: shake out your shoes before wearing them, stand still near bees, never slap at wasps - practise the calm walk-away.
Identity & Belonging
My favourite and least favourite bug and why - it is okay to be scared AND curious at the same time.
Communication
Bug-hunt reports: catch an insect gently in a clear bottle, describe it to the class with three details, then release it kindly.
Exploring Mathematics
Leg counting: insects six, spiders eight - build wire-and-bead bugs with exactly the right leg count; count a real ant line as far as you can.
Creativity
Egg-box caterpillars, bottle-top ladybirds, and fold-over symmetrical butterfly blob-paintings.
Physical & the World
Bug moves: march in an ant line carrying 'crumbs' (beanbags) to the nest, do the bee waggle-dance, spider-crawl on all fours.
⏰ Morning ring
- Insects are everywhere - and they all have six legs
- Watch the ants: where are they going, what are they carrying?
- Bees make honey - if one comes near, stand still or walk away slowly
- Look at bugs, do not touch bees, wasps or hairy caterpillars
📖 Story
'The Ant and the Grasshopper' (Aesop) - the ants work all summer while grasshopper sings; when winter comes, the ants share and grasshopper plays music for them. Work AND kindness both matter.
🎵 Song
'Incy Wincy Spider' (traditional) - first line: 'Incy Wincy Spider climbed up the water spout'.
🏃 Outdoor
Ant-watching expedition: find a real ant trail, follow it quietly, guess where it goes - then play 'ants and anteater' chase.
💬 Words this week
insect ant bee butterfly spider wings legs small
intuthwane (isiZulu - ant)
inyosi (isiZulu - bee)
uvemvane (isiZulu - butterfly)
👁 Watch and record
Gentle handling and observation stamina; counting accuracy to 6 and 8; how children manage fear of creatures.
🎓 Grade R stretch
Minibeast tally chart from the yard hunt; sort creatures into 6 legs / 8 legs / no legs (worms and snails).
📱 Message home to parents
Theme: Small Creatures. Watch ants with your child for five minutes - where are they going? Remind them: look at bugs, but never touch bees, wasps or spiders.
The whole year
14 January - 27 March 2026 (11 weeks, 53 school days; unified national calendar - no separate inland/coastal clusters in 2026)
Myself and My World: settling in, separation security, my body, senses, family and home. Colours red/blue/yellow/green, shapes circle/square/triangle, numbers 1-5.
8 April - 26 June 2026 (12 weeks, 54 school days; public holidays: Freedom Day Mon 27 Apr, Workers' Day Fri 1 May, special holiday Mon 15 Jun, Youth Day Tue 16 Jun)
My Community and the Working World: the people, places, helpers and transport around us, farm life, and winter. Numbers to 10, shape consolidation, positional language.
21 July - 23 September 2026 (10 weeks, 46 school days; National Women's Day observed Mon 10 Aug; Heritage Day 24 Sep falls in the holiday)
The Natural World and Our Heritage: wild animals, small creatures, water, plants, spring, birds, and Heritage Month. Numbers to 10 and beyond, patterns, measurement.
6 October - 9 December 2026 (10 weeks, 47 school days; learners close 9 Dec, educators 11 Dec)
The Wider World, Big Dreams and Celebration: life cycles, storms, sky, sea, money, aspirations, summer safety and the year-end concert. School readiness consolidation for Grade R.
