Typing games for KS1

Type the words that Year 1 and Year 2 learn to spell. A lap is eight words, and every right key moves the puppy along the road.

For England, where key stage 1 (KS1) is Year 1 and Year 2. For Years 3 to 6, see KS2 typing games.

How to play

Choose Year 1 words or Year 2 words above the game, then type the lit key. The hands show which finger presses it. A wrong key counts as a slip, and the game waits for the right one. A lap is eight words in a new order, and it ends with up to three stars for careful typing. There is no clock.

The Year 1 words

the a do to today of said says are were was is his has I you your they be he me she we no go so by my here there where love come some one once ask friend school put push pull full house our

These are the common exception words that the national curriculum in England gives for Year 1, in English Appendix 1: Spelling: words such as "said" and "once", whose spelling does not fit the letter sounds taught so far. The curriculum adds "and/or others, according to the programme used", so your school's list may be longer. The game types 42 of the 45. It leaves out "a" and "I": every word in a lap has two letters or more. "of" is shown and not typed: our vocabulary rules for children also cover the letters left on the road while a word is being typed.

The Year 2 words

door floor because find kind mind behind child children wild climb most only both old cold gold hold told every everybody even great break steak pretty beautiful after fast last past father class grass pass plant path bath hour move prove improve sure sugar eye could should would who whole any many clothes busy people water again half Mr Mrs parents Christmas

The same appendix gives 64 common exception words for Year 2. 62 are shown here: 2 are left out because our vocabulary rules for children do not use them. The game types 55 of them. "Mr", "Mrs" and "Christmas" need a capital letter, which these laps do not ask for. Four more are shown and not typed: "class", "grass", "pass" and "half". Our vocabulary rules for children also cover the letters left on the road while a word is being typed. A link that opens this page on the Year 2 list: Year 2 words.

What KS1 is

KS1 is short for key stage 1. The national curriculum in England groups the school years into key stages, and key stage 1 is Year 1 and Year 2.

The table is from GOV.UK's guide to the national curriculum. The ages tell you the year group. They are not a rule for typing: children meet a keyboard at different times, so go by what your child can do. We read the curriculum for England. We have not read the curricula for Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Is typing in the KS1 curriculum?

It is not named. We read the English and computing programmes of study for key stages 1 and 2, and neither mentions typing or keyboard skills. The computing programme asks KS1 pupils to "use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content", and does not say how the words get onto the screen.

So there is no typing target for Year 1 or Year 2, and this page does not set one.

Never typed before? Start with two keys

F and J are the two keys with little bumps. Rest an index finger on each bump, then type the lit key. This is lesson 1 of the game, and it uses only F, J and the space bar.

What suits a child in KS1

• Short laps. Eight words, then a rest. A few laps are plenty for one sitting.
• Looking down is fine. Finding each key is the whole job at this stage.
• The same finger for the same key. The lit key is the colour of the finger that should press it, and the hands show the reach.
• Say it, then type it. A child reads the word aloud, then types it.
• Stars for care. Three stars is every key right. Speed is not counted on this page.

On a UK keyboard

The game draws a US keyboard. Every letter sits in the same place on a UK keyboard, and these laps use letters and the space bar only, so the picture matches the keys under your child's fingers. The few signs that differ are on the KS2 page.

For teachers

The page runs in a browser on Chromebooks, laptops and iPads, with no accounts and nothing to install, so a whole class can use it at once. Nothing typed is saved or sent. For your own class list, spelling practice turns any words you type in into the same game. Teachers can request free classroom codes for the full game.

Where next

• KS2 typing games
• Letter games
• Home row keys
• Typing for beginners
• Touch typing for kids
• All typing games

Questions