What's included in the KS1 Christopher Columbus Rise and Read resource and why is it useful?

KS1 Christopher Columbus Rise and Read is a set of four short reading sessions about the explorer who sailed from Spain to find a new way to Asia. Each session is displayed on your whiteboard, so children can read together, answer on mini whiteboards or simply talk about their ideas.

Session 1: an information text about Columbus's voyage, with retrieval and purpose questions

Session 2: a letter written as Columbus, with vocabulary and inference questions

Session 3: a photograph of a compass, with prediction and inference questions

Session 4: a poem about Columbus's voyage, with a question to discuss together

How do our KS1 Rise and Read resources work?

Rise and Read gives children a quick and purposeful way to settle, refocus and get ready to learn through reading. Use a session as morning work, after break or following lunch to give pupils an immediate focus as they come into the classroom.

Display each session on your whiteboard for whole-class reading practice, guided reading or small-group intervention. The questions give children regular opportunities to explain, justify and discuss their ideas.

Short texts and real-world images keep the reading load manageable for young readers, while children practise key skills such as retrieval, vocabulary, inference and prediction.

We have a full range of Rise and Read resources for KS1 and KS2, covering famous people, significant historical events, festivals and celebrations, sporting events and other topical occasions throughout the year.