Better School Community

Overview

Unit: Building Our Community Together (Lesson 3 of 3)
Duration: 45 minutes
Class Size: 30 Year 1 students
Subject: PSHE
National Curriculum Focus:

• PSHE Education – Relationships and Living in the Wider World (Key Stage 1)
• Key Themes: Respect, Cooperation, Belonging

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, pupils will:

• Understand what makes a positive and respectful school community (NC KS1, PSHE – Relationships).
• Express ideas on how to make their school a better place through respectful behaviour and cooperation (NC KS1, Living in the Wider World).
• Work collaboratively to create a class project that reflects their ideas (NC KS1, PSHE – Working Together).
• Demonstrate their understanding through presentation, showing confidence and communicative skills appropriate to their age (NC KS1 Speaking and Listening skills).

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National Curriculum Links

Curriculum Strand	Learning Objectives / Statements	Reference
PSHE – Relationships	To recognise ways to be respectful and kind to others in school.	NC KS1 PSHE 1A, 1B
PSHE – Living in the Wider World	To understand how they belong to different groups and communities.	NC KS1 PSHE 2A, 2B
Speaking & Listening	Listen and respond appropriately, ask relevant questions.	NC KS1 English Spoken Language

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Resources

• Large poster paper or flip chart
• Colourful markers, crayons, stickers
• Pre-cut images related to school life (e.g., playground, library, classroom)
• “Idea Clouds” templates (cloud-shaped paper for brainstorm words)
• Simple seating arrangement for group work and circle time
• Digital camera/tablet (optional) to capture final presentation

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Lesson Structure

Starter (10 minutes)

Activity: Circle Time Reflection

• Gather the class in a circle.
• Teacher invites pupils to share one thing they like about their school community.
• Prompt: “What makes our school a happy place?” and “How do we show respect to each other?”
• Teacher notes key words on a central poster visible to all (e.g. kindness, helping, sharing).

Purpose:
Activate prior knowledge from previous lessons in the unit, reinforce importance of respect and cooperation.

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Main Activity (25 minutes)

Activity 1: Brainstorming Ways to Improve Our School (10 minutes)

• In small groups of 5, children discuss ways they can make the school better.
• Provide “Idea Clouds” paper for each group to write or draw their ideas (e.g., helping friends, keeping playground tidy, sharing toys).
• Groups use pre-cut images and stickers to decorate their brainstorm sheet.

Activity 2: Class Project Creation (15 minutes)

• Combine all group ideas into one large class poster titled “Our Better School Community”.
• Children choose where to place their ideas.
• Teacher writes down children’s spoken ideas to add words if needed.
• Emphasise key words: Respect, Cooperation, Kindness.

Purpose:
Encourages cooperation, communication, and collective creativity. Meets NC goals on working together and recognising community roles.

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Plenary (10 minutes)

Activity: Group Presentation and Commitment Pledge

• Each group presents one idea from their brainstorming.
• Teacher guides a short discussion on how they can all help make these ideas real.
• End by forming a class “Community Pledge”: children say together simple sentences such as, “We will be kind, help each other, and respect our school.”
• Optionally, photograph the poster for display in the classroom or school corridor.

Purpose:
Reinforces learning objectives and encourages personal responsibility and public speaking confidence aligned with NC speaking/listening targets.

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Assessment & Differentiation

Assessment:

• Teacher observes contributions during circle time and group discussions, noting understanding of respect and cooperation.
• Assessment based on participation in brainstorming, ability to work cooperatively, and presentation skills suitable for Year 1.
• Use simple checklist: listens well, shares ideas, works in a group, speaks clearly.

Differentiation:

• Support for EAL and lower-attaining pupils by pairing with confident buddies.
• Use of pictures and symbols in brainstorming sheets for non-writers.
• Extension: More confident pupils encouraged to lead small group presentations or add detailed ideas on the poster.

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Wow Factor Ideas for Teachers

• Use QR codes linking to a short recorded video of the class pledge for parents to see at home.
• Create a “Community Kindness Jar” where pupils and staff can add notes about kind deeds happening around the school. Show connection between ideas created in the lesson and lived behaviour.
• Incorporate simple role-play or puppet scenarios about respect to deepen understanding (activated before plenary).
• Take photos or a short video of the poster’s creation and presentation to share in a school assembly or showcase via digital school newsletter (with parental consent).

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Reflection

At the end of the lesson, teachers might reflect on:

• Which types of ideas were most popular with the children?
• How well did students express respect and cooperation?
• How was the group dynamic in creating the project?
• What could be done next to maintain pupil commitment to a better school community?

This lesson both consolidates prior learning and provides a launching point for actively living out PSHE values daily.