resources update issue 57

• Vital Statistics
• Mult-e-maths: A Maths Dictionary For Kids
• Amazing Grades Website
• Sounds Great: Interactive Phonics

• The Refuge Teacher's Resource Pack
• Grove Art Online
• Science KS3 VT, PowerPoint Displays
• Adobe School Collection 2.0

Vital Statistics is a program designed to support the GCSE Statistics examination, up to foundation level. However it could also successfully support data handling coursework
at both KS4 and KS3.

Vital Statistics can be used as a visual aid during the delivery of statistical concepts by a teacher, or used individually by learners accessing tutorials and practicing skills. With a mature, and sometimes dynamic graphical representation, the clarity of examples and the variety in the practice sequences provide an engaging learning experience.

The menu allows the user to easily select a topic, and part of the topic required, and provides an opportunity to lead the thoughts of learners with the use of a powerful visual. This would be an asset to any maths department’s
digital resources.

The Refuge Project is a comprehensive package that looks at the issues faced by refugees. The pack contains a DVD with an introductory film, 5 thematic classroom films, 5 personal profiles, 5 unedited testimonies and a teacher’s guide.

Also included in the pack are maps, concept cards, supplementary information and a gallery of pictures. The supporting website, www.refugeproject.com, allows students to access further materials. Designed mainly for
KS4, it can also be used with Year 9 pupils. The materials allow teachers to introduce important yet difficult issues to the pupils without preaching or lecturing them. Within the pack there are 9 thought provoking case studies of refugees. These range from The Holocaust, to Chile, the Balkans and Uganda. The history, geographic background, maps and personal profiles for all of the people featured
are provided.

Mult-e-Maths: A Maths Dictionary For Kids is an excellent child-friendly resource, which provides a definition and illustration for over 470 different maths words, linked to the NNS, providing additional support and interactive activities to practice and reinforce key skills. The graphics are bright and colourful and enjoyed by the children who used it.

Maths Dictionary is very flexibility and could be used in many different contexts. It could provide a clear focus when introducing lesson objectives or as a reminder of concepts
already covered. If the dictionary is installed on a computer network, it could be used as a reference tool by individual children to support any ongoing maths work. It could perhaps be used particularly effectively on an interactive
whiteboard where words could be discussed.

This is an online encyclopaedia that gives the user very detailed and thorough information on an incredibly wide range (over 45,000 articles) of art related subjects, worldwide, from 10,000 BC to the present day. As well as
this specifically written information there are also quick and easy links to several hundred museums and galleries all over the world, providing access to their online collections
Although it has no specific direct links to the National Curriculum Schemes of Work, it is an invaluable resource for all Key Stages supporting research in art as well as design technology, with its extensive bank of designers and design movements. The information is very well written and would be more suited to Key Stages 4 and 5, although not impossible for younger students.

Amazing Grades Website

Amazing Grades

Amazing Grades is a portal website with a large number of links to subject specific websites, revision aids and entertainment for study breaks. There is access to six faculties (creative arts, English, humanities, languages,
sciences and maths/ICT) containing 30 subjects. Within each faculty are a number of subjects and clicking on a subject will bring up a list of topics which then lists the relevant links with a useful, brief description.

The home page also has the “I’m Bored Now” link which allows students to access entertainment sites as a break from studying. A clock reminds them how long they have been away from their studying! This is a useful way of directing a student’s online revision into productive channels with the security of knowing the links are relevant and suitable.

This software consists of a series of PowerPoint displays giving mainly factual information to help teach science at Key Stage 3. The series of slides make up presentations covering nine major topics. It is quick to install and is simple to use, with a colourful and user friendly format that is appropriate for the target age group. The slides are suitable for pupils to refer to on a PC but I feel they are most suitable for use as a teaching aid on an interactive whiteboard.

The presentations are useful to introduce or help to consolidate a topic. The format and characters help to engage pupils and encourage visual learners. They also show how the different concepts covered are interlinked,
for example, how breathing and digestion are related to respiration.

Sounds Great! Interactive Phonics consists of three CD-ROMs, which provide F2 and Y1 teaching resources, for the introduction of phonics during word and sentence level work. It can also be used to support Y2 pupils with special needs. It works well with an interactive whiteboard for whole class groups, pairs or individuals.

Children are prompted to work through a simple story, which consists of a few pages of text targeting specific letter names and sounds. Each story has up to six progressive follow on activities looking for letter recognition,
initial sounds, rhyming words, whole words to complete sentences and word building. The third CD-ROM contains useful quizzes for assessment. Individual children’s files can be created to record the activities attempted and
their scores.

This four CD-ROM package allows KS2 and KS3 pupils to begin their careers as digital image and video editors, producing high quality results using market leading tools, in a range of cross curricular contexts.

Pupils can manipulate and create images in Photoshop, and use Photoshop and/or Premiere to assemble presentations. The presentations may use either created and edited images or imported video footage that they have shot themselves. Naturally, sound, narration, music and effects editing are all available. The fourth CD-ROM offers teaching suggestions and lesson resource materials, which are practical and accessible and the digital image bank can be downloaded free of charge. There are also links to the art, history, geography, citizenship and science DfES Schemes of Work.

Consult widely before you buy
• Ask colleagues, perhaps in other schools
• Read evaluations and look at Publisher’s sites
• Check to see if the product is COL listed (go to www.curriculumonline.gov.uk) and whether it is eLC eligible
• Involve colleagues who will be expected to use the titles in the classroom
• Order demo versions and try using them together before you buy