Life Skills

The Life Skills subject is central to the holistic development of learners. It is concerned with the social, personal, intellectual, emotional and physical growth of learners, and with the way in which these are integrated. In the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) the subject Life Skills in Foundation Phase (Grades R-3)

has been organised into four study areas: Beginning Knowledge, Personal and Social Well-being, Creative Arts and Physical Education. Life Skills has been organised in this way in order to ensure that the foundational skills, values and concepts of early childhood development and of the subjects offered in Grades 4 - 12 are taught and developed in Grades R-3. Beginning Knowledge and Personal and Social Well-being are integrated in the topics. Life Skills is a cross cutting subject that should support and strengthen the teaching of the other core Foundation Phase subjects namely Languages (Home and First Additional) and Mathematics.

Specific Aims

The Life Skills subject is aimed at guiding and preparing learners for life and its possibilities, including equipping learners for meaningful and successful living in a rapidly changing and transforming society. Through Life Skills learners are exposed to a range of knowledge, skills and values that strengthen their

• physical, social, personal, emotional and cognitive development;

• creative and aesthetic skills and knowledge through engaging in dance, music, drama and visual art activities;

• knowledge of personal health and safety;

• understanding of the relationship between people and the environment;

• awareness of social relationships, technological processes and elementary science.

Grade 1

>>Link to resources

Term 1:

• Beginning Knowledge and Personal and Social Well-being

  • Me

  • At school

  • Healthy habits

  • The weather

  • Religious days and other special days

• Creative Arts

  • Creative games and skills

  • Improvise and interpret

  • Create in 2D

  • Create in 3D (constructing)

• Physical Education

  • Locomotion

  • Perceptual motor

  • Rhythm

  • Co-ordination

  • Balance

  • Spatial orientation

  • Laterality

  • Sports and games

Term 2:

• Beginning Knowledge and Personal and Social Well-being

  • My family

  • My body

  • Keeping my body safe

  • Religious days and other special days

• Creative Arts

  • Creative games and skills

  • Improvise and interpret

  • Create in 2D

  • Create in 3D

• Physical Education

  • Locomotor

  • Perceptual motor

  • Rhythm

  • Co-ordination

  • Balance

  • Spatial orientation

  • Laterality

  • Sports and games

Term 3:

• Beginning Knowledge and Personal and Social Well-being

  • My community

  • Pets

  • Manners and responsibilities

  • Plants and seeds

  • Foods

  • Religious days and other special days

• Creative Arts

  • Creative games and skills

  • Improvise and interpret

  • Create in 2D

  • Create in 3D

• Physical Education

  • Locomotor

  • Perceptual motor

  • Rhythm

  • Co-ordination

  • Balance

  • Spatial orientation

  • Laterality

  • Sports and games

Term 4:

• Beginning Knowledge and Personal and Social Well-being

  • Homes

  • Picture maps

  • Water

  • The sky at night

  • Religious days and other special days

  • Consolidation of topics and assessment

• Creative Arts

  • Creative games and skills

  • Improvise and interpret

  • Create in 2D

  • Create in 3D (constructing)

• Physical Education

  • Locomotor

  • Perceptual motor

  • Rhythm

  • Co-ordination

  • Balance

  • Spatial orientation

  • Laterality

  • Sports and games

Grade 2

>>Link to resources

Term 1:

• Beginning Knowledge and Personal and Social Well-being

  • What we need to live

  • Everyone is special

  • Healthy living

  • Religious days and other special days

• Creative Arts

  • Creative games and skills

  • Improvise and interpret

  • Create in 2D

  • Create in 3D

• Physical Education

  • Locomotion

  • Perceptual motor

  • Rhythm

  • Co-ordination

  • Balance

  • Spatial orientation

  • Laterality

Term 2:

• Beginning Knowledge and Personal and Social Well-being

  • Seasons

  • Animals

  • Animals and creatures that live in water

  • Animal homes

  • Religious days and other special days

• Creative Arts

  • Creative games and skills

  • Improvise and interpret

  • Create in 2D

  • Create in 3D (constructing)

• Physical Education

  • Locomotion

  • Perceptual motor

  • Rhythm

  • Co-ordination

  • Balance

  • Spatial orientation

  • Laterality

  • Sports and games

Term 3:

• Beginning Knowledge and Personal and Social Well-being

  • Soil

  • Transport

  • Road safety

  • People who help us

  • Religious days and other special days

• Creative Arts

  • Creative games and skills

  • Improvise and interpret

  • Create in 2D

  • Create in 3D (constructing)

• Physical Education

  • Locomotion

  • Perceptual motor

  • Rhythm

  • Co-ordination

  • Balance

  • Spatial orientation

  • Laterality

  • Sports and games

Term 4:

• Beginning Knowledge and Personal and Social Well-being

  • Our country

  • Ways we communicate

  • Life at night

  • Religious days and other special days

  • Consolidation of topics and assessment

• Creative Arts

  • Creative games and skills

  • Improvise and interpret

  • Create in 2D

  • Create in 3D (constructing)

• Physical Education

  • Locomotion

  • Perceptual motor

  • Rhythm

  • Co-ordination

  • Balance

  • Spatial orientation

  • Laterality

  • Sports and games

Grade 3

>>Link to resources

Term 1:

• Beginning Knowledge and Personal and Social Well-being

  • About me

  • Feelings

  • Health protection

  • Keeping my body safe

  • Rights and responsibilities

  • Religious days and other special days

• Creative Arts

  • Creative games and skills

  • Improvise and interpret

  • Create in 2D

  • Create in 3D (constructing)

  • Visual literacy

• Physical Education

  • Locomotion

  • Perceptual motor

  • Rhythm

  • Co-ordination

  • Balance

  • Spatial orientation

  • Laterality

  • Sports and games

Term 2:

• Beginning Knowledge and Personal and Social Well-being

  • Healthy eating

  • Insects

  • Life cycles

  • Recycling

  • Religious days and other special days

• Creative Arts

  • Creative games and skills

  • Improvise and interpret

  • Create in 2D

  • Create in 3D (box sculptures)

  • Visual literacy

• Physical Education

  • Locomotion

  • Perceptual motor

  • Rhythm

  • Co-ordination

  • Balance

  • Spatial orientation

  • Laterality

  • Sports and games

Term 3:

• Beginning Knowledge and Personal and Social Well-being

  • Public safety

  • Pollution

  • How people lived long ago

  • Space

  • Religious days and other special days

• Creative Arts

  • Creative games and skills

  • Improvise and interpret

  • Create in 2D

  • Create in 3D (constructing)

  • Visual literacy

• Physical Education

  • Locomotion

  • Perceptual motor

  • Rhythm

  • Co-ordination

  • Balance

  • Spatial orientation

  • Laterality

  • Sports and games

Term 4:

• Beginning Knowledge and Personal and Social Well-being

  • Products and processes

  • Disasters and what we should do

  • Animals and creatures that help us

  • Religious days and other special days

  • Consolidation of topics covered and preparation for transition to grade 4

• Creative Arts

  • Creative games and skills

  • Improvise and interpret

  • Create in 2D

  • Create in 3D (constructing)

  • Visual literacy

• Physical Education

  • Locomotion

  • Perceptual motor

  • Rhythm

  • Co-ordination

  • Balance

  • Spatial orientation

  • Laterality

  • Sports and games