Wider Curriculum Y1 Autumn 1
Project Title: How Can Data Help Us Understand the World Around Us?
This term, our Year 1 children will become young scientists and designers as they explore the properties of materials and how data can help us make informed decisions. Their learning will be centred around a practical and creative challenge: designing and making a curtain that is both functional and appealing.
What Will the Children Be Learning?
Science- Investigate everyday materials, their physical properties, and how these affect their suitability for different purposes—especially for blocking out light.
Design & Technology (DT)- Learn how to design, test, and evaluate a product based on a design brief. They will create a panel for a class curtain, considering factors like opacity, flexibility, and appearance.
Art- Explore printing techniques and tie-dye to embellish fabric. They will study designers such as Orla Kiely and William Morris, and create their own repeating patterns.
Project Outcome
By the end of the term, each child will have created a fabric panel for a collaborative class curtain. This panel will reflect their understanding of materials and design, featuring a repeating pattern created through printing or dyeing techniques.
Enrichment Opportunities
To enhance their learning, children will:
- Use data loggers to measure light levels.
- Experiment with fabric colouring techniques.
- Create their own printed textile samples.
Global Learning
Children will explore how housing and window coverings differ around the world, encouraging them to appreciate diversity and develop a sense of global citizenship.
Supporting Learning at Home
You can support your child by:
- Talking about different materials and their uses at home.
- Exploring patterns in everyday objects.
- Reading linked texts such as The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig or Everyday Materials by Ruth Owen.


