According to the recommendations of the recently released Rose Review, the re-designed primary curriculum will place a greater emphasis on key skills and concepts underpinning learning and make more connections between the different subject areas. Where There’s Smoke… supports the notion of a broader school curriculum where pupils not only develop understanding and skills but also become co-constructors in their own learning, participating meaningfully to question, reflect and act on things that have a direct relevance to the real world. The programme also offers opportunities for the whole class to work collaboratively. These attributes are necessary not only for academic attainment but also for the self-fulfillment and development of pupils holistically.
The programme provides opportunities for pupils to engage and develop as:
- Successful Learners who enjoy learning and make progress and achieve
- Confident individuals who are able to lead healthy and fulfilling lives
- Responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society
It also provides a context for the development of:
- Attitudes and attributes
- Skills
- Knowledge and understanding
The outcomes of Where There’s Smoke… support the ‘Every Child Matters’ initiative making a contribution to the ‘Enjoy and achieve’ and ‘Make a positive contribution’ strands by addressing the following priorities:
- Improve access to and take up of broader learning opportunities
- Ensure that children and young people are better able to respond to challenges
- Help children and young people to develop socially and emotionally
- Consult and engage with children and young people
Where There’s Smoke… also links into SEAL (Social & Emotional Aspects of Learning) by supporting children to:
- see things from another’s point of view
- work together
- manage feelings
- problem solve
The programme and activities in this resource pack specifically connect to the Art, Design and technology, History, English, Citizenship, Geography and History curriculums in the following ways:
Art
- Exploring and developing ideas
- Investigating and making art, craft and design
- Investigating the possibilities of a range of materials and processes
- Trying out tools and techniques and applying these to materials and processes, including drawing
English
- Speaking
- Listening
- Group discussion and interaction
- Drama
- Writing
Citizenship
- Developing confidence and responsibility and making the most of their abilities
- Preparing to play an active role as citizens
- Developing good relationships and respecting the differences between people
- Recognising how their behaviour affects other people
- Listening to other people, and play and work cooperatively
Geography
- Asking geographical questions [for example, 'What is it like to live in this place?']
- Recognising how places have become the way they are and how they are changing
- Recognising changes in physical and human features [for example, heavy rain flooding fields].
Design and technology
- Developing, planning and communicating ideas
- Working with tools, equipment, materials and components to make quality products
- Knowledge and understanding of materials and components – learning about the working characteristics of materials [for example, folding paper to make it stiffer, plaiting yarn to make it stronger]
History
- Chronological understanding
- Knowledge and understanding of events, people and changes in the past
- Historical interpretation
- Historical enquiry
