What does this ‘Why is our world wonderful?’ knowledge organiser give me that other classroom resources don’t?

Primary classrooms are exciting places to be! Between the interactive whiteboard, colourful displays and engaging books, children have no end of resources to support their learning. So, how will a simple knowledge organiser help you to go further?

Kapow Primary knowledge organisers are designed by our team of subject specialists, and follow the learning sequence for each unit of work closely. At first glance, this ‘Why is our world wonderful?’ KO might look like any other set of maps. However, you’ll notice that it is much more specific in the information it provides to the children. The information has been distilled from what children are taught throughout this Y2 Geography unit. So, every label and every picture counts. And, because it has been designed to accompany their learning, children don’t have to contend with excess information that they are not required to know at this stage.

So, why not use this knowledge organiser as a brilliant addition to your already fabulous range of classroom resources. Put it in books, on the working wall, or in your book corner for children to access whenever, however they need to.

How can I help my KS1 children to take ownership of their learning?

This can be tricky. In year 2, children are still very young, and will have varying levels of independence. Some will require minimal input from external sources in order to learn, whilst others will need lots of support and scaffolding in order to learn successfully. Many teachers find this daunting. But, fear not! Kapow Primary’s KOs are here to help. Here’s how:

• Make sure you train children to use knowledge organisers. They should be accessible in a variety of different locations, and teach children when an acceptable time to go and get one to support their learning is. For example, you may not want them getting up in the middle of your lesson input, so give them 5 minutes to get one before/afterwards.

How can using this ‘Why is our world wonderful?’ knowledge organiser support my Y2 Geography teaching?

If you look closely at all Kapow Primary’s knowledge organisers, you’ll discover that they align closely to the knowledge that children will need to successfully achieve the unit outcomes. Which is why they all look very different. There is no ‘one size fits all’ KO, and that is exactly how it should be.

Let’s take a look at this ‘Why is our world wonderful?’ KO. The unit outcomes for secure pupils are:

• Identify and locate characteristics of the UK on a map.
• Identify human and physical features.
• Locate human and physical features on a world map.
• Explain the difference between oceans and seas.
• Name and locate the five oceans on a world map.
• Use an aerial photograph to draw a simple sketch map.
• Collect data by sketching findings on a map and completing a tally chart.
• Present their findings in a bar chart.

Which is why this KO looks as it does: a map of the world and a map of the UK, with images of important physical and human features located in the correct positions and labelled. All the key knowledge from the unit can be captured in this way, leaving pupils to develop the key skills that they will need to succeed.

So, you can print and use this knowledge organiser (and all our others too!) safe in the knowledge that they really are helping your students get to grips with what is important in a teaching unit.