Reading Overview

Writing Overview

Hold a Sentence

The Naam Karan is a Sikh baby naming ceremony, and many Sikh parents bring their newborns to the Gurdwara (the Sikh temple) as soon as they are able to visit. The Granthi (reader of the scriptures) opens the holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, at random, and the first letter of the first word on the left-hand page will be the first letter of the baby's name.

Family relationships are important in Sikhism. After the Naam Karan, many Sikh children will continue to learn about the Sikh faith at home and at the Gurdwara. Some may also attend Punjabi lessons so they can read the Guru Granth Sahib themselves.

Christian harvest festivals are not fixed in the church calendar. However, many churches and schools in the UK celebrate harvest in September or October. At harvest time, Christians may sing special hymns, display a range of foods and flowers in church, collect food and household items for local good causes or give money to charities at home or overseas.

Different harvest festivals happen all over the world and most major religions give thanks for the harvest at some point in the year. The timing of harvest celebrations change depending on the different seasons and crops grown in each country.

Purim is a lively festival that commemorates the strength of the Jewish people. Practising Jews wear costumes and visit the synagogue to listen to the story of Queen Esther who prevented Haman, her husband's servant, from killing the Jewish people. After attending the synagogue, families and friends gather together to eat, dance and exchange gifts.

The festival of Milad un Nabi commemorates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. During the festival, Muslims hear stories of Muhammad’s life, visit the mosque, sing songs, share a meal with family and give to those in need.

However, Milad un Nabi is not celebrated by all Muslims. There is no evidence that Muhammad celebrated his birthday, so many Muslims don’t celebrate birthdays either.

Esala Perahera, also known as the Festival of the Tooth, is celebrated in Kandy, Sri Lanka, during July and August. The festival lasts for 10 days and begins when Jak tree cuttings are planted outside four temples called Devalas.

Torch lit processions (peraheras) of dancers, drummers, acrobats and highly decorated elephants fill the streets and visit the different temples during the festival. The most spectacular elephant carries a replica of the Buddha's tooth casket, which is kept in the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.

The festival ends with a water cutting ceremony called Diya Kepeema. Water in the Mahaweli River is 'cut through' with a sword to separate the pure and impure water and ensure there is no drought in Sri Lanka during the coming year. Some of the water is then collected and kept so that it can be used during the tree planting ceremony, which will open the following year's Esala Perahera festival.

Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated in October or November and is one of the most popular Hindu festivals. It lasts for five days and marks the Hindu New Year.

Many stories and traditions are celebrated at Diwali. The story of Rama and Sita shows the triumph of good over evil, a clean house, new clothes and presents mark the start of the New Year, and lights, rangoli patterns, footsteps and decorations welcome goddess Lakshmi into homes to grant good fortune. Diwali is an exciting festival full of fun, food, family time and light.

• Feeling special and safe

• Being part of a class

• Rights and responsibilities

• Rewards and feeling proud

• Consequences

• Owning the Learning Charter

• Similarities and differences

• Understanding bullying and

knowing how to deal with it

• Making new friends

• Celebrating the differences

in everyone

• Setting goals

• Identifying successes and

achievements

• Learning styles

• Working well and celebrating

achievement with a partner

• Tackling new challenges

• Identifying and overcoming

obstacles

• Feelings of success

• Keeping myself healthy

• Healthier lifestyle choices

• Keeping clean

• Being safe

• Medicine safety/safety with

household items

• Road safety

• Linking health and happiness

• Belonging to a family

• Making friends/being a good friend

• Physical contact preferences

• People who help us

• Qualities as a friend and person

• Self-acknowledgement

• Being a good friend to myself

• Celebrating special relationships

• Life cycles – animal and human

• Changes in me

• Changes since being a baby

• Differences between female and

male bodies (correct terminology)

• Linking growing and learning

• Coping with change

• Transition