Knowledge organisers: A guide for teachers

Knowledge organisers have become a common sight in classrooms across the country, stuck in student’s books or on the wall as a reference point. Once the domain of KS4 or 5, these learning tools are now used across all key stages to help students deepen their understanding of a whole host of topics.

In this article, we explain what knowledge organisers are, how to spot good examples, what to include and tips for maximising knowledge organisers in the classroom.

What is a knowledge organiser?

Typically no more than one to two sides of A4, a knowledge organiser contains all of the information, key facts and important points from a topic, text or subject. Brevity is the word of choice as topics will need to be summarised to showcase pertinent details that help open up student’s learning.

Teachers may find that the more concise this is the better for students to remember all significant concepts. It will also help with an analysis of terms that mesh together their knowledge and understanding of a subject and propel them to a greater level of comprehension.

Each section should provide students with a comprehensive overview of that aspect of the topic, helping them construct a more profound grasp of the subject matter that can be practically applied in their own work.

What makes a good knowledge organiser?

There is no fast rule for creating a knowledge organiser. Thinking about what your students need to know by the end of the topic and what they should write about in an assessment will help you concentrate on forming essential sections.

In general, you’ll find that knowledge organisers will include:

• Important knowledge about a topic organised into sections so that students can easily digest the information.
• Key vocabulary, technical terms and topic-specific phases with definitions and meanings.
• Visual images or diagrams that help to illustrate the topic.
• Memory-stimulating features, such as timelines or graphs.
• Quotations, sayings or stand-out statements to help students understand the topic in more detail.

Consulting the curriculum criteria and assessment objectives for a topic will help you decide on what details to include so that students cover all key information comprehensively.

Who uses knowledge organisers and when are they helpful?

Knowledge organisers can be used by everyone involved in the learning process, including teachers, students, teaching assistants, school leaders and parents. While teachers typically create knowledge organisers, they can serve as valuable resources for all parties to understand the topics being studied and to support student learning.

They are useful for tracking student progress and ensuring that curriculum standards are being met. By clearly outlining the key elements of a topic or subject, knowledge organisers help teachers prioritise the most important information for students.

Knowledge organisers are versatile tools that can be introduced at the beginning of a topic to provide an overview, referenced throughout the learning process to reinforce understanding, and used as revision aids before assessments to consolidate knowledge.

Be inspired by these examples

Reviewing established examples of knowledge organisers created by other teaching practitioners can be very useful as you begin to think about making your own organiser.

You might be teaching a completely different topic or subject, but taking organisational cues and thinking about pedagogical language or directional terms can help you streamline your process.

Explore these examples, download the PDF versions for FREE to use in your lessons or as inspiration for your own knowledge organisers.

KS1 and KS2 knowledge organiser examples

KS3 science knowledge organiser examples

KS4 knowledge organiser examples

5 tips for using knowledge organisers in the classroom

As a teacher, you will develop your own way of delivering your subject. Also, you may adapt your teaching to suit the needs of different learners and groups. Many experienced teachers say that the following 5 steps help them to deliver content effectively using knowledge organisers to clarify and expand student learning:

1. Introduce at the start. Use knowledge organisers from the very beginning of a topic so that students can become familiar with them and their contents as soon as possible. This helps to boost confidence in the learning process and stimulate prior knowledge retrieval.
2. Display for all to see. Having enlarged copies of knowledge organisers or sections from this document on the wall or in easily accessible places help students to consult them to clarify understanding.
3. Use for reinforcement. Consult knowledge organisers at regular intervals for quizzes and retrieval practice. This helps to strengthen concepts and identify any gaps in knowledge.
4. Cross reference. Making a bridge to content that has been studied in the past, or even topics from other subjects, helps students to connect the dots and make more concrete comparisons and contrasts within their own work.
5. Interactive engagement. Students can produce learning tools and revision aids using knowledge organisers, such as flash cards, games and competitions to engage all types of learners and make learning fun.

Common pitfalls of knowledge organisers

By being aware of common pitfalls and actively working to address them, teachers can maximise the effectiveness of knowledge organisers as a valuable educational tool. These might include:

• Overloading with information: One of the most common issues is trying to include too much information. This can overwhelm students and make the organiser difficult to use. Focus on key concepts and essential knowledge. Less is more; ensure clarity and brevity.
• Lack of student engagement: Knowledge organisers can be seen as dry or boring, leading to a lack of engagement from students. Try to integrate interactive elements such as quizzes, flashcards or mind maps to make the content more engaging.
• Misalignment with curriculum: Sometimes, knowledge organisers are not well aligned with the curriculum, causing confusion. Regularly review and update the organisers to ensure they are in line with the current curriculum and learning objectives.
• Inconsistent usage: When not used consistently across the school, students might not see the value and purpose of knowledge organisers. Ensure all teachers are trained in the effective use of knowledge organisers and incorporate them into regular teaching practices.
• Limited Accessibility: If knowledge organisers are not accessible to all students, particularly those with learning difficulties, they can be ineffective. Create differentiated organisers or provide additional support materials to cater to diverse learning needs.
• Neglecting Higher-Order Thinking Skills: Focusing solely on factual information can overlook the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Include questions and activities that promote analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information.
• Poor Presentation: A cluttered or poorly designed organiser can detract from its effectiveness. Use clear headings, bullet points, and visual aids to enhance readability and comprehension.

Finally, there is no one way to use knowledge organisers and no one way of learning. Nevertheless, in our knowledge-rich curriculum, these tools can be invaluable support for children as they continue on their learning journey.