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Expressive arts – First level (Curriculum for Excellence, Scotland): What to Teach (Scotland)

Your Teacher Information Pack for Expressive arts – First level (Curriculum for Excellence, Scotland) in Scotland: the curriculum structure, our short summaries with links to the official wording, and key dates.

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Country
Scotland
Level
First level
Ages
5/6–8/9
Source
Curriculum for Excellence – experiences and outcomes (broad general education)
Last checked
2026-10-20

Usually P2, P3, P4 (a guide, not a fixed year group). Roughly US Grades 1–3 (approximate).

Plan the whole year: open this course in the Year Planner – every lesson dated around your term dates, with a coverage check. Free.

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What to teach

Below are the experiences and outcomes with their official codes, in our own short summaries. Each code links to the official document.

Participation in performances and presentations

  • EXA 1-01a Enjoying performing for audiences and watching others perform.

Official wording

Art and design

  • EXA 1-02a Exploring media and technologies, learning what suits each task.
  • EXA 1-03a Creating work using line, shape, form, colour, tone, pattern, texture.
  • EXA 1-04a Recording observations from curriculum experiences into visual material.
  • EXA 1-05a Expressing ideas and feelings through art, inspired by varied stimuli.
  • EXA 1-06a Using exploration and imagination for real-life design problems.
  • EXA 1-07a Discussing art responses and giving and accepting constructive feedback.

Official wording

Dance

  • EXA 1-08a Creating short sequences with travel, turn, jump, gesture, pause, fall.
  • EXA 1-09a Expressing ideas and feelings through creative dance work inspired by stimuli.
  • EXA 1-10a Practising and performing steps, formations, and short dances.
  • EXA 1-11a Discussing dance experiences and giving and accepting constructive comment.

Official wording

Drama

  • EXA 1-12a Enjoying choosing and accepting roles using movement, voice, expression.
  • EXA 1-13a Expressing ideas and feelings through drama inspired by stimuli.
  • EXA 1-14a Building confidence creating drama through improvisation and script.
  • EXA 1-15a Discussing drama experiences and giving and accepting constructive comment.

Official wording

Music

  • EXA 1-16a Singing and playing music from other cultures, learning notation basics.
  • EXA 1-17a Exploring pitch and dynamics with voice, instruments, and technology.
  • EXA 1-18a Expressing ideas through music, alone or with others, inspired by stimuli.
  • EXA 1-19a Discussing music listened to and giving and accepting constructive comment.

Official wording

Assessments and key dates

Qualifications Scotland exams 2027: Mon, 26 April 2027 to Thu, 3 June 2027 (timetable). There are no national tests of curriculum levels; teachers judge progress using the Benchmarks.

Trusted free resources

Links only: we don't copy their content and we aren't connected to these organisations.

More packs

Expressive arts – Early level · Expressive arts – Second level · Expressive arts – Third level · Expressive arts – Fourth level · P1 Expressive arts · P2 Expressive arts · P3 Expressive arts · P4 Expressive arts · All Scotland packs · Find another TIP

Codes and structure from Curriculum for Excellence experiences and outcomes and Benchmarks, Education Scotland (Crown copyright). Summaries are Classfern's own words – always read the official wording via the link.

No official wording is reproduced: codes and structure are facts, and the short descriptions are our own summaries. Always read the official wording via the links. Checked on 2026-10-20.

Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by Education Scotland, Qualifications Scotland (formerly SQA) or the Scottish Government.