The topic wall can also be used for displaying the children’s work as their outcomes for different points of interest in a topic such as artwork or non-chronological reports. Make the topic wall 3D using tables to present any models the class have made as part of their work. The children can take an active role in presenting any work to show their understanding of the knowledge and skills they have acquired during a classroom topic.

Topic Questions
As a starting point for a curriculum topic, you can spend some time discussing what the class already know about the selected topic from work in other subjects or general knowledge. Get the children to identify questions that they could research to help them explore different aspects of the topic. Use the topic wall to display the name of the curriculum topic in the centre of the board. You can then display the children’s selected questions on pieces of card to stick to different regions of the topic wall. Attach some ribbons between the listed questions and the name of the topic. Get the class to discuss ways of researching the topic to find the answers to the listed questions and suggest activities that might show their understanding of each topic question.

Topic Vocabulary
The topic wall can also be used to display lists of vocabulary words that the children can use when completing pieces of work related to the topic. When the class encounter a new word as part of the topic then it can be added to a section of the display board along with a description of the meaning of each word. Spend time at the end of each day discussing the meaning of each of the newly listed words with the class. Encourage the children to use the topic vocabulary in their work by offering them a small reward when it has been included in their written work. The class can also be encouraged to use the listed vocabulary when discussing the topic with the class. Get the children to identify how to rephrase any answers to questions about the topic to use some of the selected vocabulary.

Topic Jigsaws
Once the class have identified a number of questions about a curriculum topic then you can divide the class into small groups to research possible answers. Get the children to work in their group to record a list of additional questions arising from the main question to focus their research. For example, when researching a topic question about how the local area has changed one group can investigate changing shops which can then be divided into building construction, change of shop use to flats and locations of shops which have moved over time. The children can then create some written and art and design work to display on the section of the topic wall to show the answer to one of the previously selected questions.

Topic Outcomes
Use the topic wall as a display area for the children’s written and pictorial work that illustrates their understanding of answers to the previously selected questions. Allow the class to select which of their pieces of work best answers each topic question so that they are taking an active part in researching the topic. You can display some tables underneath the topic wall to present any models that the class have produced to answer some of the topic questions such as models of how houses have changed in the local area.

Topic Presentations
At the end of a curriculum topic, you can use the wall to get the children to present their findings and understanding of different questions that were selected at the start of a topic. Allow groups of children to use the information they have collected on the wall to present their findings to the class. Discuss with the class additional questions that arise from each of the presentations about an aspect of the topic. Some children could try researching these additional questions as part of a homework activity.