Knowledge Explorers

Knowledge Explorers - making connections in our learning and widening our vocabulary across the curriculum

Making connections in learning and having vocabulary for expression and explanation is crucial in order to embed and deepen children’s learning. This is why at Loxley we have implemented new tools in the delivery of many subjects. We call these tools Knowledge Explorers. They are given to pupils at the start of each topic and discussed in the first lesson. Children then refer to them to assist them with spellings, recall of pre-learned ideas, and the application of broader cross-curricular language.

 Loxley’s approach enables our Knowledge Explorers’ impact to move well beyond vocabulary acquisition into being a useful aid for learning across the curriculum.  They provide a beginning and end point to each unit of learning and help to establish, as well as assist with, lines of enquiry.  Pupils learning is measured and benchmarked against them in non-core subjects.

Each Knowledge Explorer is bespoke to the school and has been created with much care and deliberation to best enhance pupils’ learning through their use of them.  They are always pupil friendly, bright and with appropriate pictures and language chosen to best assist pupils in their lessons.

An example (see below):

1. Concept words. 

These are carefully chosen words which we embed into learning in two ways.  Rather than being merely lists of vocabulary, they are language (or lexicon) focused and so are applicable across the curriculum in a variety of other subjects. Through spiraling topic continuity within our curriculum; year on year, the knowledge explorers ensure cohesion and progression in pupils’ understanding and development.  The list of words has been chosen for the specific Key Stage with words ‘greyed out’ if they have not yet been encountered within that topic, or year group’s, learning.  By Year 6, the expectation is that none of these words are deselected to ensure that Loxley pupils are accessing and using a broad and high-quality range of language and vocabulary.

2. Key Ideas. 

This is the section of learning that clearly states the skills, intentions and outcomes throughout the unit. They are regularly referred to and discussed throughout the entire unit of learning.

3. Topic words. 

This is our core subject-specific list of words covered within learning in the topic. Pupils will learn the meaning of these words and relate them to current and past learning within that subject.

4. Important facts.

 These are the facts that will be delivered within the learning and that pupils are expected to know and be able to explain.