Use these PP1 schemes of work to organise early childhood teaching and learning across Term 1, Term 2 and Term 3. Pre-Primary 1 (PP1) represents a vital foundational stage in Kenya’s Competency-Based Education (CBE) structure, transitioning young learners from home, daycare or play group / playgroup environments into structured Early Years Education (EYE). The term sections below are designed for quick access to the relevant resource tables, providing instant free download access to printable PP1 schemes of work PDF files across all approved Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) learning areas. While each ready-made scheme delivers a tested term sequence, ECDE teachers should still review and adapt the learning activities to match their school timetable, classroom resources and learner developmental pace.
Table of Contents
PP1 schemes for Term 1
Start with the Term 1 table when opening the school year. Term 1 sets the foundational routines for early childhood development and education (ECDE), helping young children acclimate to school life, develop social communication habits and master basic fine and gross motor coordination. Under the rationalized KICD pre-primary curriculum designs, Term 1 covers six essential activity areas:
- Mathematical Activities (PP1 Mathematics / Maths): Pre-number concepts including sorting and grouping real objects by color, size and shape, pairing items, identifying patterns and introducing numbers 1 to 5.
- Language Activities (PP1 English / Language): Developing active listening habits, sound discrimination, oral vocabulary, naming familiar classroom objects, picture reading, pencil grip exercises and basic scribbling.
- Environmental Activities: Personal hygiene, handwashing routines, school environment awareness, caring for personal belongings, weather observation and recognizing familiar plants and domestic animals.
- Creative Activities: Sensory exploration through finger painting, crayon scribbling, paper tearing, rolling clay or plasticine, and expressive singing of simple action songs.
- Psychomotor Activities: Gross motor coordination through balancing, walking in lines, hopping, gentle ball rolling, and structured outdoor play.
- Religious Education (PP1 CRE / IRE): Fostering basic moral values, thanking God for life and family, learning to share with peers, and showing kindness in class.
Each scheme in the table below is available as a free PP1 schemes of work Term 1 PDF download. Click the download action next to your assigned learning area to save the document for lesson planning and timetable alignment.
PP1 schemes for Term 2
Use the Term 2 table for the mid-year teaching period. By Term 2, PP1 learners have adjusted to classroom routines, allowing teachers to deepen conceptual understanding and expand hands-on experiences across all activity areas. Before adopting any scheme, compare the proposed weekly strands with what your learners mastered in Term 1 to maintain smooth continuity:
- Mathematical Activities (PP1 Term 2 Maths): Counting concrete objects up to 10, recognizing numerals, comparing quantities (more, less, same), ordering objects by size, and exploring basic 2D shapes (circles, squares, triangles).
- Language Activities (PP1 Term 2 Language): Enhancing expressive vocabulary, following two-step instructions, identifying initial letter sounds, pre-writing patterns (zigzags, waves, loops) and engaging in storytelling.
- Environmental Activities: Exploring common local plants, differentiating between domestic and wild animals, conserving water in school, and practicing healthy eating habits.
- Creative Activities: Color identification (primary colors), simple paper folding, controlled cutting with child-safe scissors, collage making, and rhythmic instrument play.
- Psychomotor Activities: Spatial awareness, kicking and catching lightweight balls, jumping over low obstacles, running games and fine finger manipulation.
- Religious Education (PP1 CRE & IRE): Creation stories, obedience, respecting parents and teachers, daily prayers, and celebrating religious festivals together.
Select your subject from the Term 2 resource table below for instant free PP1 schemes of work Term 2 PDF download access to support your classroom preparation.
PP1 schemes for Term 3
The Term 3 table completes the annual PP1 instructional cycle. Term 3 focuses on consolidating the competencies acquired throughout the year and preparing young children for a confident transition into PP2 (Pre-Primary 2). Pacing should allow adequate time for revision, learner-led demonstrations, and practical talent activities:
- Mathematical Activities (PP1 Term 3 Mathematics): Matching numerals to sets of objects 1 to 10, simple addition using real objects, recognizing patterns in nature, and understanding positional words (in, on, under, beside).
- Language Activities (PP1 Term 3 Language): Fluent self-introduction, reciting short rhymes, recalling sequence in simple picture stories, recognizing written names, and forming emergent letters.
- Environmental Activities: Identifying community helpers (teachers, doctors, farmers, police), understanding sources of water and light, and keeping school grounds clean and safe.
- Creative Activities: Combining painting with texture collages, constructing simple models from recycled cartons, and participating in school music and drama presentations.
- Religious Education (PP1 Term 3 CRE): Living harmoniously with others, expressing gratitude, caring for God’s creation, and learning peaceful conflict resolution with peers.
Access the PP1 schemes of work Term 3 PDF download options in the table below to finalize your yearly scheme file and term records.
How to use PP1 schemes of work well
Effective early childhood planning blends the official KICD curriculum design, the Ministry of Education school calendar and an accurate assessment of each child’s readiness. CBE PP1 schemes of work save preparation time, but they achieve the greatest classroom impact when customized by the teacher. Follow these professional best practices when adapting your downloaded scheme:
- Check the KICD curriculum design first. Ensure the scheme directly reflects the specific learning outcomes, key inquiry questions, core competencies and values outlined in the rationalized pre-primary design documents.
- Align with the term timetable. Account for opening week orientation, mid-term assessments, school sports days, national public holidays and end-of-term evaluations when distributing weekly sub-strands.
- Prioritize play-based, learner-centered experiences. Early years learners grasp abstract concepts through tactile manipulation, outdoor exploration, songs and storytelling rather than passive lecture methods.
- Gather low-cost teaching aids in advance. Review upcoming strands two weeks early to assemble bottle tops, counting sticks, flashcards, clay, local seeds, scrap paper and clean containers before teaching begins.
- Maintain regular reflection columns. Record genuine remarks in your scheme document after lessons—noting which concepts learners mastered quickly, which activities required repetition, and how absent learners were supported.
- Choose verified, clean curriculum sources. While third-party websites such as Teachers Arena or Shulefiti circulate various planning drafts, ensure your downloaded schemes originate from verified KICD-aligned CBE sources without corrupted tables or outdated 8-4-4 subject structures.
If you need free PP1 schemes of work, keep this page bookmarked rather than maintaining scattered links. All three terms and learning areas are maintained on this single master hub, ensuring your school documentation remains organized and fully up to date throughout the academic year.
Check the curriculum design before teaching
A downloaded scheme serves as an operational roadmap, but the curriculum design remains the definitive authority for learning outcomes, core competencies and non-formal activity guidelines. When preparing your term scheme or daily lesson plan, verify the strands and substrands against the official documents. Visit the PP1 curriculum design resource page for detailed breakdown notes, and consult the official KICD Pre-Primary curriculum designs portal for statutory circulars and syllabi.
Related PP1 teaching resources
Connecting your term scheme with day-to-day classroom delivery requires coordinated planning tools across the Early Years Education tier:
- Daily Lesson Preparation: Translate weekly scheme strands into classroom activities using verified PP1 lesson plans.
- Next Grade Progression: Review learning outcomes for the next school year via the PP2 schemes of work portal.
- Master Portal: Access pre-primary, primary, junior secondary and senior school schemes from the comprehensive Schemes of Work hub.
PP1 schemes of work FAQs
What are PP1 schemes of work used for?
They help pre-primary teachers systematically organise curriculum content, inquiry questions, learning experiences and assessment methods across a 10 to 14-week school term. A scheme provides a realistic teaching sequence that balances learning area allocations with the official school calendar, available manipulative resources and each child’s developmental pace.
Should I edit a downloaded PP1 scheme before using it?
Yes. Every classroom has unique learning dynamics, timetable schedules and access to materials. Teachers should review the pacing, learning outcomes, play-based activities and timing in the downloaded file, adapting any section that does not match their learners’ needs, school events or local learning environment.
Are PP1 schemes the same as lesson plans?
No. A scheme of work outlines the broader term-long and weekly sequence of strands, substrands and learning outcomes. A lesson plan focuses on a specific 30-minute lesson, detailing step-by-step introduction, development, child-centered activities, manipulative resources and conclusion.
Can older CBC PP1 schemes still be useful under CBE?
Earlier CBC drafts provide useful reference points for hands-on activities and song ideas, but teachers should ensure their working documents comply with the latest rationalized CBE curriculum designs. Check that learning outcomes, core competencies, formative assessment modes and terminology reflect current KICD standards.
Which learning areas are included in PP1 schemes of work?
Under the KICD pre-primary curriculum design, PP1 encompasses six core activity areas: Mathematical Activities (Mathematics), Language Activities (English), Environmental Activities, Creative Activities, Psychomotor Activities, and Religious Education (CRE or IRE). Each area focuses on holistic early childhood physical, emotional, moral and cognitive development.
Where can I download free PP1 schemes of work in PDF format?
All PP1 schemes for Term 1, Term 2 and Term 3 are available for free instant PDF download directly from the resource tables on this page. Unlike other online repositories like Teachers Arena or Shulefiti that require subscriptions or ad-shortener clicks, Teachers Kenya Hub provides direct, uncorrupted downloads aligned with KICD standards.
How do PP1 schemes connect with Playgroup and prepare learners for PP2?
PP1 acts as the critical bridge in Early Years Education. It builds on the informal socialization, sensory play and motor skills fostered in Playgroup / Daycare, introducing structured early numeracy, pre-reading phonics and environmental awareness. This gradual progression ensures learners are academically and emotionally ready for Pre-Primary 2 (PP2) and subsequent primary school grades.
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