Coding and Robotics Lesson Plans Grades 1–3

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This page is a Foundation Phase download hub for Coding and Robotics lesson-plan files for Grades 1, 2 and 3. It is not a second full CAPS dump.

The Department of Basic Education now publishes a final Foundation Phase Coding and Robotics CAPS (hub filename FP Coding and Robotics CAPS Final 2025.pdf). That final document organises the subject into three content areas: Coding, Robotics and Digital Concepts. Foundation Phase teaching is unplugged-first: devices and software are optional enrichment, not a requirement to start.

Full Foundation Phase classroom rollout was postponed to 2026. Do not treat 2025 as the current implementation year for every school.

The DOCX packs below were uploaded in January 2023. Many filenames still use older draft/pilot strand names. Keep them as historic pilot/draft-aligned resources. Always verify against the Final 2025 CAPS before you teach from them.

CAPS123 is not an official Department of Basic Education site. Verify every claim against the Final 2025 CAPS on the DBE hub.

Official Final CAPS (use this first)

For a short plain-English walk-through of the final three content areas, see Introducing the Final Coding and Robotics Curriculum for South African Foundation Phase Learners. That post still mentions a 2025 start in places; plan from the 2026 rollout timing and the Final PDF above.

How the final subject is organised

From Section 2 of the Final FP CAPS:

Content area What it covers (high level)
Coding Algorithms and programming practices, pattern work as part of coding, debugging and related computational thinking
Robotics What a robot is, components, design and construction, mimicking operations and following instructions
Digital Concepts Digital citizenship, digital awareness and digital skills in a Foundation Phase context

The older draft CAPS used five Foundation Phase study areas (Pattern Recognition; Algorithms and Coding; Robotics Skills; Internet and e-Communication; Application Skills). Those draft strand names still appear in some filenames below. In the final CAPS, pattern work sits under Coding, and related digital ideas sit under Digital Concepts.

There is no standalone Coding and Robotics ATP listed on the national 2023 ATPs hub at the time of this refresh. Plan from Final CAPS Section 3 (grade and term clarification) plus your province or district guidance for 2026.

How to use the downloads on this page

  1. 1. Open the Final FP CAPS PDF and check the grade and term tables for Coding, Robotics and Digital Concepts.
  2. 2. Download a file below only as a starting point. Many titles still mirror draft/pilot strand names.
  3. 3. Adapt language, outcomes and sequencing to the Final 2025 CAPS and your school timetable. Do not treat a 2023 week label as a current national week map.
  4. 4. Prefer unplugged activities first. Add devices only where they enrich learning and where your school can support them.

Labelling used on every file list: Uploaded 2023; aligned to draft/pilot strand names; check against Final 2025 CAPS before use.

Lesson plan downloads

Coverage on this hub is mainly Term 1 and Term 2 files for Grades 1–3 (53 DOCX files, all live). Files are grouped under the final content-area names where the old filename allows a clear map. That grouping is a navigation aid only. It is not a new official week map.

Grade 1

Historic note: These DOCX files were uploaded in January 2023. Filenames still use draft/pilot strand names (Pattern Recognition, Application skills, Internet and e-communication, Robotics Draft). They are not the Final 2025 CAPS. Check each file against the official Final FP CAPS before classroom use.

Coding

Robotics

Digital Concepts

Activity pack

Grade 2

Historic note: These DOCX files were uploaded in January 2023. Filenames still use draft/pilot strand names (Pattern Recognition, Application skills, Internet and e-communication, Robotics Draft). They are not the Final 2025 CAPS. Check each file against the official Final FP CAPS before classroom use.

Coding

Robotics

Digital Concepts

Activity pack

Grade 3

Historic note: These DOCX files were uploaded in January 2023. Filenames still use draft/pilot strand names (Pattern Recognition, Application skills, Internet and e-communication, Robotics Draft). They are not the Final 2025 CAPS. Check each file against the official Final FP CAPS before classroom use.

Coding

Robotics

Digital Concepts

Activity pack

Related CAPS123 pages

Disclaimer

CAPS123 shares teacher-facing links and historic lesson files for convenience. It is not the Department of Basic Education and it does not publish official CAPS policy. Always verify planning against the Final FP Coding and Robotics CAPS on the DBE CAPS hub and against current provincial or district guidance for the 2026 Foundation Phase rollout.

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