KS2 Materials

KS2 is the common abbreviated term for the Key Stage 2 of the compulsory schooling system in the United Kingdom. 

Under this system, key stages are the different stages in the student life created on the basis of the learning levels, categorization of teaching topics and teaching resources to be used. The four distinct stages are KS1, KS2, KS3 and KS4 catering to children belonging to 5-6 years, 7-11 years, 12-13 years and 14-16 years respectively. Thus KS2 caters to children of standards 2 - 6. 

Its importance lies in the fact that children here are already versed with basic reading, writing and numerical skills and this is the linking stage for all other subjects like History, Geography, Science, etc., of which the very foundation would be built. Teachers are also trained according to the stage he/she wants to cater to.

The subjects commonly taught at the KS2 are English, Maths, History, Geography, Science, Languages, Art, PSHE and citizenship. For teachers, KS2 can be both fun as well as challenging. It is fun since children are involved but the challenge lies in the fact that you would be following a National Curriculum where at the end of KS2 the children would be accessed through a timed examination (KS2 SATS). The way they perform would show how well they have been taught from standard 2-6.

KS2 involves using various kinds of teaching resources so that the learning process becomes student centric, interesting and developmental. Some of the most popular and effective resources are;

Presentations,

Games,

Quizzes,

Activities,

Worksheets,

Flashcards, and

Interactive Blackboard Exercises

Colourful, informative and interactive presentations or worksheets can be used while addressing an assembly on theoretical knowledge about a topic or instructing about how to go about doing something, e.g. writing poems. Creatively thought out activities also goes a long way in making learning interesting. For example, assign students to be tree detectives and chalk out an activity so that they learn about all tree details. 

Provide the world map as a puzzle and let them fix it. Games like hangman are very useful in word construction. Showing a set of informative flashcards and asking the associated information is one of the best memorizing techniques and can be used extensively in case of subjects like Science and History. Thus, numerous cross-curricular activities are found on the net today or can be created which teachers may use for KS2. 

The best strategy for teachers is to plan the lesson well regarding what is to be taught, creatively assess what kind of resource would suit the students best, search for such resources or create them, use them effectively and regularly monitor progress and evaluate progress of the students.

This information was brought to you by Key Stage Two.com, an online learning environment for children aged 7-11.   Key Stage Two.com successfully manages to combine fun games with education, making sure academic and non-academic children benefit greatly, whilst being compliant with the National Curriculum in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. 

Key Stage Two.com offers benefits for all; including schools, parents, teachers, tutors, councils, local authorities, and most importantly, the pupils. Visit the website at http://www.keystagetwo.com to … 'learn' more!