What are Knowledge Mats?

At Blackrod Church School we promote and deliver a knowledge rich curriculum primarily through the Focus Challenge Curriculum. We have adapted the learning challenges to suit the needs of all of our pupils and have created knowledge mats which run alongside the topic to share a summary of the key facts and essential knowledge that pupils need about a unit of work or a curriculum subject. The information is broken down into easily digestible chunks. Knowledge mats have been produced for each learning challenge, meaning children in Years 1-6 can expect to have a new knowledge mat each half term. Pupils will have access to these at school and will also bring one home to use too. They should review, revise and quiz themselves using their knowledge mat to consolidate what they have learnt in class. Each half term, children will have a 'Topic Mastermind' quiz to assess their recall of the key facts acquired during that topic. It is important that children understand and remember the key knowledge so that they are able to build on their learning when they move into the next year group. We find knowledge mats are a really clear and easy to understand way for parents to be more aware of what their children are learning at school, making it easier to support them at home. Please see below the knowledge mats for Year 1 children for the full year.