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
My Senses
2 Feb – 6 Feb 2026
Week 4
Young children learn through their senses - this week sharpens observation and gives them describing words.
Well-being
Quiet listening minute - lie down, close eyes, then tell one sound you heard. A calming practice to reuse all year.
Identity & Belonging
Favourite-smell choosing: smell soap, orange peel and a herb sprig; each child picks a favourite and says why - likes differ and that is fine.
Communication
Feely bag: describe a hidden object (stone, spoon, pine cone, mealie cob) with three words before naming it.
Exploring Mathematics
Sound counting - teacher claps behind a screen or cloth; children hold up fingers for how many claps they heard.
Creativity
Texture collage from the yard: smooth leaves, rough bark, soft wool scraps, sprinkled sand on glue lines.
Physical & the World
Barefoot sensory path - walk across sand, grass, a smooth plank and a wet towel, describing each underfoot feeling.
⏰ Morning ring
- Our five senses tour: eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin
- What did you hear on the way to school today?
- Favourite smells and tastes - everyone is different
- How we care for eyes and ears (no sticks, no shouting in ears)
📖 Story
'The Blind Men and the Elephant' retold simply - each man feels one part and argues; we must use all our senses and listen to each other. Children first feel parts of a 'hidden elephant' (a draped chair).
🎵 Song
'Two Little Eyes' (traditional finger rhyme) - first line: 'Two little eyes to look around'.
🏃 Outdoor
Listening walk around the yard - stop, point silently at what you hear: birds, a taxi, wind, the kitchen.
💬 Words this week
see hear smell taste touch loud soft sweet
amehlo (isiZulu - eyes)
izindlebe (isiZulu - ears)
tindleve (Xitsonga - ears)
bona (isiZulu - see)
👁 Watch and record
Children who do not respond to soft sounds or who squint at pictures - record possible hearing/vision concerns and report to the principal for clinic referral.
🎓 Grade R stretch
Make a senses recording page - draw one thing found for each sense; play the initial-sound game 's-s-see, s-s-smell'.
📱 Message home to parents
Theme: My Senses. On the walk home, play 'What can you hear?' - stop, close eyes and name three sounds together.
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.
