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.
SELECTED WEEK
Our Heritage - My Culture, My Language
14 Sep – 18 Sep 2026
Week 32
Heritage Month - clan names, languages, dance and pattern traditions give every child cultural pride and mutual respect.
Well-being
Belonging circle: each child is greeted and clapped in their own home language - pride without comparison.
Identity & Belonging
Clan-name day: children say the clan name learned at home this week; the teacher records each one in the child's file - names carry history.
Communication
Praise-poem play: teacher models a simple praise line ('Thandi, daughter of the mountain, fast as the duiker') and each child adds one proud line about themselves.
Exploring Mathematics
Bead-pattern maths: copy traditional bead colour patterns with bottle tops; find the symmetry in Ndebele-style geometric borders.
Creativity
Geometric border paintings with straight-edge patterns in earth colours; pinch-pots from clay marked with pattern lines.
Physical & the World
Dance basics to the drum: a Tsonga hip rhythm with strip skirts, a stamp-and-clap sequence, and a slow ceremonial walk.
⏰ Morning ring
- What is heritage? The special ways of our families
- Clan names: who knows their isibongo or xivongo?
- Traditional food, dress and dance in our families
- Every culture in our class is respected and celebrated
📖 Story
'The Hare and the Baboon' (African trickster tale) - Hare invites Baboon to a feast but insists on washed hands; Baboon's hands get dirty walking. Fairness, cleverness and hospitality. Children walk on 'all fours' like poor Baboon.
🎵 Song
'Shosholoza' (traditional) - first line: 'Shosholoza, kulezo ntaba'.
🏃 Outdoor
Traditional games festival: diketo, kgati rope skipping, and mbube-mbube - the blindfolded 'lion' guided by the circle's chanting.
💬 Words this week
culture language dance drum beads tradition respect proud
isiko (isiZulu - custom/tradition)
isibongo (isiZulu - clan name)
ndhavuko (Xitsonga - culture)
👁 Watch and record
Cultural knowledge each child carries (record clan names and languages); rhythm and coordination in the dance work.
🎓 Grade R stretch
Class language-survey graph; write the first letter of your clan name; retell the Hare and Baboon tale in the right order.
📱 Message home to parents
Theme: Our Heritage. Please teach your child your family's clan name (isibongo/xivongo) this week - we will honour each child's name at ring time. Traditional dress welcome on Friday!
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.
