Understanding the World

Understanding the World 

There are three Early Learning Goals in this area: 

Past and Present: 

Children at the expected level of development will: 

• Talk about the lives of the people around them and their roles in society. 

• Know some similarities and differences between things in the past and now, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class. 

• Understand the past through settings, characters and events encountered in books read in class and storytelling. 

People, Culture and Communities: 

Children at the expected level of development will: 

• Describe their immediate environment using knowledge from observation, discussion, stories, non-fiction texts and maps. 

• Know some similarities and differences between different religious and cultural communities in this country, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class. 

• Explain some similarities and differences between life in this country and life in other countries, drawing on knowledge from stories, non-fiction texts and (when appropriate) maps. 

The Natural World: 

Children at the expected level of development will: 

• Explore the natural world around them, making observations and drawing pictures of animals and plants. 

• Know some similarities and differences between the natural world around them and contrasting environments, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class. 

• Understand some important processes and changes in the natural world around them, including the seasons and changing states of matter. 

Through a range of texts and everyday experiences children develop their understanding and knowledge of the world around them. They are encouraged to notice and celebrate the similarities and differences they discover. Children learn about their immediate family and friends, as well as wider communities on a local, national and international scale.