Key Stage 1 Topics

Study this seminal historical event while promoting fire-safety understanding by comparing past and present. Organise a classroom tour of 17th Century London. Make a range of artworks inspired by St Paul's Cathedral. Enthused by Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn, write diaries!

Through a series of lively activities, such as filming their own weather forecasts or making their own weather station, children will build knowledge of seasonal and daily weather patterns in the UK. Understand global hot and cold areas while developing locational knowledge and geographical skills.

Be inspired by famous people who have made significant contributions, nationally and internationally in the arts, the sciences and politics. Choose celebrated men and women from Tudor, Renaissance, Victorian or Modern times to explore changes in aspects of everyday life.

Learn historical concepts and vocabulary by exploring how life has changed over three generations. Develop a chronology of domestic life, clothes, transport, communication, toys, books, food and music. Experience a 1950s school day. Cook up a food festival and create a museum in the classroom.

Children discover oceans and seas around the world. They understand the different environments these represent and how they affect life on land as well as at sea. Children develop their geographical skills to build up their knowledge of food chains, exploration, and evolution.

Explore UK countries and capitals. Learn geographical vocabulary using maps, atlases and globes. Celebrate diversity with puppet shows, family trees and a class ‘Breakfast Club’. Put on an art exhibition inspired by a castle, take part in a ‘We are Great Britain’ conference and share a British Bakery celebration!

Be inspired by Saint-Saëns’ 'Carnival of the Animals'! Learn about the formation of an orchestra and its instruments, and about Saint-Saëns himself. Explore mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and fossils around the world and deliver animal Olympics and a carnival.

Teach children fieldwork and observational skills as they study the geography of their school, its grounds and the human and physical features of the surrounding environment. Children compare their local area knowledge with a small area in Kenya.

Discover significant events through the lens of festivals or anniversaries: Remembrance Day, Bonfire Night, Thanksgiving Day, the first aeroplane flight, Shakespeare’s birthday, the Monarch’s official birthday, National Days and Commonwealth Day.

Raise awareness of notable days in the calendar with educational and engaging blocks of teaching. Mark important awareness days, such as World Health Day and Walk to School Day in your class or your school. Select from our menu of activities to choose activities for a single day or a series of afternoon sessions.

This topic enables you to cover the core elements of the KS1 geography curriculum. All of the skills and areas of knowledge are included. It is perfect for introducing or summing up geography for this key stage, and 'enrichment activities' allow you to incorporate other subjects as well.