Grade 4 is the entry point to the Intermediate Phase, where Life Skills expands to cover broader social issues and more structured creative disciplines. The 2026 curriculum focuses on developing emotional intelligence, understanding religions and cultures, and building foundational skills in music, drama, and visual arts.
This guide outlines the 2026 Life Skills Annual Teaching Plan (ATP), providing a structured weekly roadmap to help teachers guide learners through conflict resolution, healthy environments, and creative performances.
Life Skills Grade 4 ATP 2026
The curriculum is divided into three distinct study areas: Personal and Social Wellbeing (PSW), Physical Education (PE), and Creative Arts (CA). Each has specific weekly allocations.
Term 1: Self-Development & Rhythm
Focus: The first term focuses on self-image, hygiene, conflict resolution, and the basics of rhythm and movement.
- PSW (Personal & Social Wellbeing):
- Weeks 1–3: Personal strengths (achievements/experiences) and converting weaknesses into strengths.
- Weeks 4–6: Respect for own and others’ bodies (privacy/bodily integrity).
- Weeks 7–9: Dealing with conflict (strategies to avoid and resolve conflict).
- Creative Arts (Performing):
- Warm-up: Breathing exercises, humming, and travelling in space.
- Music: Rhythm patterns (crotchets, quavers, minims) and body percussion.
- Drama: Introduction to mime and tableau.
- Assessment: Formal Practical Assessment (40 Marks) combining rhythm and movement.
- Creative Arts (Visual):
- 2D: Drawing “Family and Friends” exploring line, shape, and secondary colours.
- 3D: Creating a “Self and Others” figure using recyclable materials.
- Physical Education:
- Locomote, rotate, elevate, and balance using various body parts.
Term 2: Emotions, Rights & Mobiles
Focus: The second term delves into emotional health, children’s rights, and creating 3D art structures.
- PSW:
- Weeks 1–3: Understanding emotions (love, grief, jealousy) and appropriate ways to express them.
- Weeks 4–6: Working in a group (benefits/challenges) and dealing with bullying.
- Weeks 7–9: Children’s Rights and Responsibilities (as per the SA Constitution).
- Creative Arts (Visual):
- 2D: Creative lettering and pattern-making using contrast.
- 3D: Constructing Mobiles or Stabiles (moving or stationary sculptures) focusing on balance and spatial awareness.
- Assessment: Formal Visual Arts Assessment (40 Marks).
- Creative Arts (Performing):
- Music: Creating sound pictures (e.g., a thunderstorm) using instruments and voice.
- Drama: Movement sentences in 4/4 time.
- Physical Education:
- Modified invasion games aiming to develop teamwork and spatial skills.
Term 3: Cultures, Religions & Animals
Focus: The third term explores South Africa’s diverse cultures and religions, while Creative Arts focuses on animal themes.
- PSW:
- Weeks 1–3: Cultural groups in South Africa (menus, moral lessons from narratives).
- Weeks 4–7: Major religions in SA (Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, African Traditional Religion) – significant places and symbols.
- Weeks 8–10: Water safety (dangers at home, pools, rivers).
- Creative Arts (Visual):
- 2D: Drawing wild or domestic animals in their environment (focus on texture and colour).
- 3D: Creating animal models using clay or recyclable materials.
- Creative Arts (Performing):
- Drama: Building a drama from a stimulus (storyline, characters, space).
- Music: Using sound pictures to create a soundtrack for the drama.
- Assessment: Formal Performing Arts Assessment (40 Marks).
- Physical Education:
- Rhythmic movements focusing on posture and timing.
Term 4: Health, HIV & The Natural World
Focus: The final term addresses environmental health, traffic rules, and HIV/AIDS education.
- PSW:
- Weeks 1–3: Traffic rules for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Weeks 4–5: Personal and household hygiene (germ breeding areas) and dietary habits.
- Weeks 6–7: Healthy environments vs. pollution.
- Weeks 8–9: HIV and AIDS education (basic facts, transmission through blood).
- Creative Arts (Visual):
- 2D: Artworks depicting the “Natural World” using tints and shades.
- 3D: Constructing a Kite, Dream Catcher, or Bird Feeder.
- Assessment: Formal Visual Arts Assessment (40 Marks).
- Creative Arts (Performing):
- Drama: Mime using imaginary objects and expressing feelings through gesture.
- Music: Recognising melodies (doh to soh).
- Physical Education:
- Field and track athletics or swimming activities.
Assessment Guidelines
- PSW:
- Term 2: Controlled Test (30 Marks).
- Term 3: Project (30 Marks).
- Term 4: Controlled Test (30 Marks).
- Creative Arts:
- Alternates between Visual Arts (Terms 2 & 4) and Performing Arts (Terms 1 & 3) for formal assessment (40 Marks each).
- Physical Education:
- Continuous assessment of movement performance (30 Marks per term).
FAQ: Life Skills Grade 4
Q: What is a “Mobile” in Visual Arts? A: A mobile is a type of kinetic sculpture constructed to take advantage of the principle of equilibrium. It consists of objects hanging from wires or strings that balance each other and move freely in the air.
Q: Do we need musical instruments for Creative Arts? A: While real instruments are great, the curriculum encourages using body percussion (clapping, stomping) and found objects (tins, stones, shakers) to create rhythm and sound pictures.
Q: What is “Visual Literacy”? A: It is the ability to “read” images. In Grade 4, learners observe photographs and artworks to identify art elements like line, shape, colour, texture, and contrast.