Discover a world of Primary Education Lesson Plans
This page serves as a comprehensive hub for primary education activities and lesson plans, designed for both home educators and primary school teachers. It follows the English National Curriculum and covers a wide range of subjects and age groups. The page is well-organized, featuring navigation menus for different key stages (Reception, Key Stage 1, and Key Stage 2) and subject areas such as English, Maths, and Science. Each section is further divided into year groups, making it easy for users to find age-appropriate content. Overall, this resource hub aims to provide comprehensive, structured, and easily accessible educational materials for primary-age children.
What is Key Stage 1?
Key Stage 1, typically attended by children aged 5-7, encompasses a broad range of subjects designed to foster holistic development. During this stage, students engage with foundational subjects such as English, Maths, and Science, building essential skills in areas like communication, numeracy, and scientific inquiry. Additionally, Key Stage 1 introduces young learners to creative outlets through Art & Design and Music, nurturing their expression and appreciation for the arts. Subjects like Geography and History spark curiosity about the world and past events, while Physical Education promotes physical health and well-being through activities that develop fine and gross motor skills. Furthermore, the curriculum addresses social and emotional growth, emphasizing personal development and communication skills. Through this diverse array of subjects and activities, Key Stage 1 offers a rich educational experience that encourages exploration and learning in a supportive environment.
What is Key Stage 2?
Key Stage 2 covers a child’s time in year 3, year 4, year 5 and year 6. In the United States, this would cover the children in second grade through to finishing elementary school, and starting middle school. Sometimes the years of Key Stage 2 are divided into:
- Lower KS2 (LKS2) – years 3 and 4
- Upper KS2 (UKS2) – years 5 and 6 (formerly known as “Juniors”).
Use our KS2 resource collections to supplement your teaching of Years 3 through 6. At the end of Key Stage 2, year 6 are tested within Math, English and Science in SATs exams, and since 2016 given a scaled score for these.
How are each of these Key Stages structured?
Key Stages on the National Curriculum are structured by dividing them into different National Curriculum Aims also known as National Curriculum expectations. Each National Curriculum aim specifies a particular skill, ability, or level of knowledge that students should strive to achieve in a specific subject at each Key Stage. These aims provide a clear framework for educators to follow when planning their curriculum and teaching strategies. Within each Key Stage and subject, there are multiple National Curriculum Aims that students are expected to work towards. Each aim outlines specific learning outcomes and objectives that students need to accomplish. By following these structured aims, students can progress through each Key Stage while developing a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter and building essential skills.
What are the key stages that make up the national curriculum in England and Wales?
The national curriculum in England and Wales comprises of five key stages that students progress through as they advance in their education. These key stages are structured to correspond with different year groups and ages of children, and each stage includes standardized exams that are tailored to measure students' performance and learning in specific areas of study. Teachers are well-versed in the objectives outlined in the national curriculum and incorporate relevant topics into their lessons to support children in successfully passing each key stage.
What are the key stages and their age groups?
The national curriculum in England and Wales consists of several key stages, each catering to different age groups of children. These key stages, along with the corresponding age groups, are as follows:
- Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) – ages 3-5 (Nursery and Reception)
- Key Stage 1 – ages 5-7 (Years 1-2)
- Key Stage 2 – ages 7-11 (Years 3-6)
- Key Stage 3 – ages 11-14 (Years 7-9)
- Key Stage 4 – ages 14-16 (Years 10-11)
What are the Year 1 and Year 2 age groups?
The Year 1 and Year 2 age groups typically consist of children who are between 5 and 7 years old. In key stage one, the Year 1 age group is generally comprised of children who are 5 to 6 years old, while the Year 2 age group encompasses children who are 6 to 7 years old. These age ranges reflect the usual age distribution within these year levels in the educational system.
What are the Year 3, Year 4, and Year 5 age groups?
Year 3, Year 4, and Year 5 correspond to the lower Key Stage 2 (LKS2) age group, which typically consists of children who are approximately 7 to 9 years old. In the United States, children in this age group are usually in second grade through fourth grade, transitioning from primary school to middle school. These years are crucial periods in a child's education journey, setting the foundation for more advanced learning in later stages. Specifically, Year 3 includes students around 7 years old, Year 4 encompasses those about 8 years old, and Year 5 comprises children who are around 9 years old. During these years, students engage in various subjects such as Math, English, and Science, with a focus on building fundamental skills and knowledge to prepare them for the subsequent stages of their academic development.
What are the Year 7, Year 8, and Year 9 age groups?
In the educational system, Year 7 typically consists of students who are around 11 to 12 years old. Year 8 includes students who are typically aged between 12 and 13, while Year 9 is comprised of students between the ages of 13 and 14. Each year level corresponds to a specific age range within the broader group of 11 to 14-year-olds.
What is Key Stage 4?
Key Stage 4 is a phase within the secondary education system that typically includes years 10 and 11. During this stage, students commonly undertake GCSE examinations in various subjects, including English, Mathematics, and Science. Key Stage 4 is crucial as it plays a pivotal role in preparing students for further education or future career paths. This stage is equivalent to the time spent by high school students in the United States, emphasizing the importance of academic progression and achievement.
What are the Year 10 and Year 11 age groups?
The age groups for Year 10 and Year 11 typically consist of children between the ages of 14 and 16 years old. Students who are in Year 10 are generally around 14 and 15 years old, while those in Year 11 are typically between the ages of 15 and 16. These two years mark the final stage of formal education for many students in this age range.
Diving into our National Curriculum based Activities
Those teachers and parents following the national curriculum sets for England understand it lays out a framework of subjects and standards used by primary and secondary schools to ensure that all pupils receive a high-quality education.
The core national curriculum topics are English, Mathematics and Science, while the foundation subjects include history, geography, design and technology, art and design, music, physical education including physical development, computing and a modern foreign language (KS2). Each year group has specific learning goals to achieve in these topics, which are designed to build on the previous year's knowledge and prepare students for the next stage of their education.
Hands-On Activities and Worksheets
We understand the importance of hands-on learning and have developed activities that follow the national curriculum to help teachers and parents create engaging and interactive lessons for pupils attending primary schools or in home education. Our activities are designed to meet the learning objectives outlined in the national curriculum for England and can be tailored to suit different year groups and abilities up to their entry into secondary education.
This activities hub supports the English national curriculum’s aims with hands-on learning opportunities, responsibilities and experiences for your child or students. Whether you're a professional educator or a homeschooling parent, we're here to help you create engaging and effective lessons that will inspire and challenge children.
A look at STEM Objectives
As a primary school teacher or home educator, you are likely familiar with the concept of key stages and the national archives. In the national curriculum, there are two key stages that primary school students go through. Key Stage 1 covers students aged 5-7, while Key Stage 2 covers students aged 7-11. During these two stages, students are required to study a set of foundation subjects, which include English, science and maths. These are compulsory subjects that form the foundation of a student's education.
In addition to the core key stages subject of English, the primary curriculum places a strong emphasis on STEM objectives. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths. These areas of learning are becoming increasingly important in today's world, and it is essential that students are taught the necessary skills to succeed in these areas.
A Look at Compulsory Subjects
It is worth noting that while there are certain compulsory subjects, including religious education, sex education and modern foreign languages, there is still some flexibility within the national curriculum. Teachers and home educators have the freedom to incorporate their own teaching styles and methods to ensure that students receive a well-rounded education.
By focusing on core subjects such as English, as well as STEM topics, students are equipped with the necessary skills and essential knowledge to succeed in a rapidly changing world.
Pupils of Maintained School’s Curriculum
As primary school teachers and home educators, you know how important hands-on learning can be for children and pupils of maintained school’s curriculum. When it comes to teaching, the more interactive and engaging the lesson is, the better the students will retain the information. This is why hands-on learning is such a valuable tool for educators and parents alike.
A great thing about hands-on learning is that it can be applied to mental and physical school Curriculum Activities. Whether you're teaching science, math, history, or even art, there are countless ways to incorporate hands-on activities into your lessons. The best part is that these activities can be adjusted to different age groups and learning levels with relative ease.
Planning Lessons with Hands-On Education
When it comes to planning your lessons, it's important to keep in mind the national curriculum and key stage standards. While hands-on learning is a great way to supplement traditional lessons, it's important to make sure you're covering all the necessary topics and skills. By integrating hands-on activities into your key stage lesson plans, you can help your students learn the same things in a more engaging and memorable way.
As schools and households head into the current term, consider putting together a set of curriculum subjects that are broadly based on the upcoming season, also choose topics that can be easily adapted to your learning environment. This will not only make your lessons more fun and interesting, but it will also help prepare your students for later life.
Be sure to give children a strong foundation in a range of lessons and standards to enjoy. Hands-On Education are always on the lookout for new and creative ways to help improve the standards children learn by in their early academic years.
