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
Summer and Water Safety
23 Nov – 27 Nov 2026
Week 41
December drownings are a real rural danger - this week drills the water rules before the long holiday, plus sun care.
Well-being
Sun-safe habits: hat drill at the door, water-bottle sips on schedule, shade play at midday; learn to notice thirst and heat-tiredness.
Identity & Belonging
My holiday plans: where will you be and which grown-up keeps you safe there? (Teacher quietly notes holiday care arrangements.)
Communication
The class composes its own water-safety chant, choosing the words together, and rehearses it to perform for parents at the concert.
Exploring Mathematics
Ice experiment: two ice blocks, one in sun, one in shade - predict which melts first, watch, and count the minutes; cup-and-jug measuring play.
Creativity
Decorate paper-plate sun hats and wear them all week; draw with coloured ice blocks (frozen paint water) as they melt on paper.
Physical & the World
Water-play stations with the rules practised: cup-fill relays, sponge toss, wash-the-toys station - an adult always watching, walking feet on wet ground.
⏰ Morning ring
- Summer is here: heat, storms and holidays coming
- THE WATER RULES: never swim alone; only with a grown-up watching; rivers run fast after rain
- Sun rules: hat on, shade at midday, drink water
- Where will you play these holidays? Who will be watching?
📖 Story
Original: 'Fast River, Still River' - after the rain the river looks calm, but old Tortoise knows it runs fast underneath; a near-miss teaches the friends: a grown-up watching, always. Told gently but directly.
🎵 Song
Original to the traditional Frere Jacques tune - first line: 'Summer sunshine, summer sunshine, hot, hot, hot!'
🏃 Outdoor
Bucket-and-sponge splash games with the water rules said out loud first - we ask, an adult watches, we walk not run.
💬 Words this week
summer hot swim river dam sun hat shade
ihlobo (isiZulu - summer)
lihlobo (siSwati - summer)
ximumu (Xitsonga - summer)
umfula (isiZulu - river)
👁 Watch and record
Every single child must be able to say 'never alone in the water' - check individually; hydration and heat-coping habits.
🎓 Grade R stretch
Make a water-safety poster and copy the rule words onto it; record morning versus midday warmth (cooler/hotter) for the week.
📱 Message home to parents
Theme: Summer and Water Safety. The holidays are near. Please make this family law: children NEVER swim or play in rivers or dams without a grown-up watching. After rain, rivers are dangerous even for adults.
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.
