Year 1
This week Year 1 have been learning about diversity of families and how they show care for each other. By the end of the lesson, students were able to describe and define what a family is, identify various family members, and explain how families express love and care. The lesson involved activities such as creating a family tree to explore generational connections and discussing different types of families, including nuclear, stepfamilies, and adoptive families. The class then collaboratively defined “family,” emphasising inclusion and respect for all family structures.
Retrieval Questions:
- What types of family structures are discussed in the lesson plan?
- How does the activity of creating a family tree help students understand family connections?
- What is the main goal of the class discussion when defining “family”?
Year 2
In this lesson, students learned about the concept of family and what makes one. They described what a family is, identified who might be in a family, and explored how families care for and show love to each other. The class discussed family members through activities like drawing and writing about their own families, filling in family trees, and examining real-life examples, such as Esma’s family and the ways her granddad showed love and care for her. Students also engaged in role-play scenarios, creating freeze frames to demonstrate acts of care. Additionally, they discussed the importance of maintaining connections with family members—whether close or far away. To wrap up, students reflected on their learning and identified ways they can show care for others.
Retrieval Questions:
- How can families show love and care for each other?
- What activities did Esma and her grandad enjoy doing together?
- How can you show care for family members who live far away?
Year 3
in this lesson, students explore the diverse types of families that exist. They recognised different family structures and understand the similarities and differences between them. By examining Esma’s class, which included children from various family backgrounds, students discussed how families can vary in composition, activities, and shared experiences. Activities included drawing and labelling family pictures, comparing them with peers, and identifying common family activities, such as watching TV or playing together. Students also considered how families stay connected, like Esma’s example of staying in touch with her sister. The lesson emphasised the importance of talking to trusted adults when feeling uncertain or worried about family matters.
Retrieval Questions:
- What are some of the differences between families that students explore in the lesson?
- How does Esma’s family spend time together, and how does this relate to the lesson’s learning objectives?
- Why is it important for children to talk to an adult they trust if they have worries about their family?
Year 4
In this “Understanding Families and Facing Challenges” lesson, Year 4 pupils explored important aspects of family life and discussed strategies for supporting family members in times of need. The lesson began with a “Families Diamond 9” activity, where students brainstormed key aspects of family life and ranked them in order of importance. Pupils then worked in pairs or small groups to complete the diamond shape, discussing their reasoning behind their choices. Following this, they analysed a scenario involving a girl named Meera, who was facing a challenge at her football club, and discussed ways her family could support her. The class reflected on the role of family in providing emotional support and helping family members overcome challenges. The lesson concluded with a recap of key ideas and a final reflection on how family members care for each other.
Retrieval Questions:
- What activity did pupils complete to prioritise the aspects of family life?
- How did the “Facing a Challenge” activity help students think about family support?
- What strategies were discussed for supporting Meera in the scenario?
Year 5
In this lesson, students learned about the different family structures that exist and explored what makes each family unique. They were able to describe various family types, identify commonalities and differences between them, and recognise the importance of valuing and celebrating all family structures. Students participated in activities like brainstorming different family combinations, matching family descriptions in groups, and discussing what families have in common and how they differ. The class also examined a scenario involving Jamal, who was questioning the concept of a “normal” family, sparking discussions about how diverse families can be. Through this lesson, students gained an understanding that every family is unique and should be respected. The lesson concluded with an extension activity, where students wrote about what makes a chosen family unique, focusing on relationships, hobbies, and time spent together.
Retrieval Questions:
- What were the main differences and similarities students discussed about different families in the lesson?
- How did the scenario about Jamal help students think about the concept of a “normal” family?
- Why is it important to value and celebrate all types of families?
Year 6
In this lesson, students explored the concept of change within families. They learned to describe the types of changes that can happen in a family, such as the arrival of a new baby or changes in living arrangements, and discussed how these changes can affect family members’ feelings. Students examined a scenario where Nish’s family is expecting a new baby, discussing the hopes and worries that Nish might have. They also looked at a conflict between Nish and his brother Anik, who are struggling to share a bedroom, and explored strategies for managing conflicts. Through these activities, students recognised that changes can be challenging but that there are strategies for coping, such as talking to others or finding ways to resolve conflicts. The lesson emphasised the importance of having support from trusted adults when dealing with family changes.
Retrieval Questions:
- What changes in Nish’s family did students discuss, and how might these changes affect family members?
- What strategies did students explore for managing conflict between family members, like Nish and Anik?
- How can trusted adults help children who are feeling worried or unhappy about changes in their family?