Schoolzone COL evaluations are supported by the Department for Education and Skills

resources update issue 15

Continuing our series of tasters of our digital resource evaluations, we bring you Primary Geography and Maths, Secondary Music and PSHE:

  • School Works: Tike and the Missing Mutt
  • Sibelius: Instruments
  • Awesome Ideas: Foundation Decimals
  • Sherston: Where in the world is Barnaby Bear
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Tike and the Missing Mutt
School Works

Sibelius Instruments
Sibelius Software Ltd

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The idea of this free web-based game is to encourage children to have a problem solving approach to the issues raised by the built environment of the school. In essence the game involves navigating ‘Tike’ through a school in which he must complete various challenges by interacting with the people he meets and collecting items, in order to be reunited with his dog. He has to solve issues such as ‘lunch queues’ (and how to reduce them), issues about the school entrance and security, amongst other things.

I used the game with a class of mixed ability 15 year olds and most navigated their way around it in under one hour, although sometimes it was not always clear what relevant points are being made and teacher intervention was necessary to clarify and explain.

This invaluable piece of software is a comprehensive interactive encyclopedia of western musical instruments and their use in bands, orchestras and ensembles since the 18th century. Suitable for children from primary through to upper secondary, it includes information on every orchestral and band instrument with high-quality recordings of each instrument. In addition is covers instrumental writing and playing techniques such as range, bowing, mutes, glissandi, harmonics, mallets & multiphonics.

As a companion to Sibelius Starclass, it also contains lesson plans, student assignments and recommended listening. In addition it has an excellent quiz with 500 listening & general questions. This would be a great asset to any school.

Read full evaluation of Tike and the Missing Mutt Read the full evaluation of Sibelius Instruments

Where in the world is
Barnaby Bear?
Sherston

Foundation Decimals
Awesome Ideas

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This software supports KS1 Geography objectives. In particular, the program covers all the objectives from QCA Unit 5. This program is appropriate for both whole class and individual work and lends itself well to use with an interactive whiteboard, though this is by no means essential.

Pupils are provided with good quality, clear information about each theme or location and are then asked to carry out further activities which enable them to explore in greater depth. Examples of activities are: packing a suitcase with clothes and items suitable for the destination (Weather) and finding out which types of transport are appropriate for reaching and exploring each place. Pupils’ work is then automatically recorded in a personal ‘scrapbook’.

This software, using video style presentations and a clear spoken commentary, develops
concept and understanding of Place Value along with the principles of Decimals and how they relate to numbers, length and money.

The concepts are introduced, reinforced and built on gradually throughout the programs. The student is given the opportunity to test concepts and demonstrate what they have learnt. It could be used to introduce a topic to a class or for individual children to work through with minimal help. The visual approach makes it very suitable for children with special needs. This is a very useful resource to enable more able children to direct and extend their own learning as well as allowing those who have more difficulty to revise the basic concepts involved at a pace relevant to themselves.

Read full evaluation of Where in the world is Barnaby Bear? Read the full evaluation of Foundation Decimals

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