resources update issue 59

• Lessons in a Box KS2 Maths Club
• Child Development. VT, Set of PowerPoint Displays
• Red Herring
• Easiteach - English as an Additional Language - KS2

• Human Body Systems 2
• Science Foundations Presents Biology 1
• Foots-e Steps to Work
• Grove Music Online

Lessons in a Box KS2 Maths are easy to use maths lessons that are taken straight from a DVD/CD box. The software contains all the maths lessons and accompanying resources, which are well designed, extensive and easy to administer providing excellent recording and assessment opportunities, which would undoubtedly supplement any school’s scheme of work.

There are 35 lessons to support all aspects of the Year 6 Maths Curriculum and relate directly to the National Numeracy Strategy. The lessons are especially suitable for booster groups as well as for low/middle achievers and address the visual, aural and kinaesthetic aspects of teaching and learning. The lessons require little preparation and have an easy to use format. The 2 CD-ROMs contain all the worksheets as well as games and aids, which can supplement lessons.

Human Body Systems 2 is one of three CD-ROMs that provide information about the Human Body. Designed for use with students studying for GCSE biology, double science, AS and A2 biology, human biology and health sciences courses, it provides good coverage at GCSE and will extend the able and interested student. At A-level it provides a good foundation. It covers the nervous system (including the senses) and the endocrine system. The program contains information about the systems and organs which is presented in a variety of ways, from text and photographs through to interactive animations and video clips.

This program could be used in a variety of different ways either in a classroom with an IWB or multimedia projector, or by individuals for a reference or as a revision aid.

This resource uses the latest technology to explain topics in a clear interesting way and includes diagrams, talking characters, animations and more. Aimed primarily as a teacher resource, it is a fully editable, fun and motivating presentation package which is extremely useful to supplement traditional teaching materials. Pupils from across the ability range at Key Stage 4 will also be able to tap into this resource on an individual basis. The main topics required to be covered by GCSE child development courses are included, from planning to have children, to pregnancy, aftercare and physical development through to learning through play, feeding and diet, to name but a few. It really is a very comprehensive resource. The bright and colourful graphics encourage and engage those with poor concentration.

This CD-ROM accompanies the popular series of textbooks, Science Foundations, but can be used with any resources to provide an alternative way of teaching topics that students frequently have difficulty with. It is quick and easy to install and provides animated demonstrations of key concepts covered in Humans as Organisms, Maintenance of Life and
Environment for Key Stage 4. There is a range of questions and activities provided to help assess students’ knowledge and understanding.

It supports AQA Modular and Coordinated Science specifications although it could be used with any GCSE science course. It is designed for use on a whiteboard for whole class teaching, either as an introduction to new concepts or for revision and reinforcement. It is also suitable for individuals to revise.

Red Herring

Learning Curve Software

Red Herring is highly addictive resource designed to complement and encourage learning of French and German at KS3, KS4 and even KS5 in a fun and engaging manner. It is ostensibly a murder-mystery which enables
students to play detective, interview suspects, amass clues and collar the killer whilst earning as much virtual money as possible. Covering a wide range of tenses and vocabulary including town amenities, jobs, places of work and related lexis, activities and other miscellaneous vocabulary in its various tasks, it thereby presents topics covered in all 3 key stages of the National Curriculum. From the onset students are excited by the vibrant, energetic music, absorbed in the opening murder scenes and diligently working through the clues so as to catch the murderer.

Foots-e Steps to Work supports work-related learning through providing a generic insight into manufacturing and production. The main student screen is bright, energetic and
appealing to students showing the contents in a magazine style with a range of exciting graphic formats leading to videos, information and activities to help students understand industry.

Sections covering history, environment, health and safety, computer aided design, costing, industry trends and figures, web links, employee characteristics and the various roles
within industry are all delivered in a range of appealing styles. This is an excellent value tool for a broad range of courses including general work–related learning, careers, preparation for work experience and for delivering industrial
production activities in design and technology, not to mention citizenship, history and maths.

Easiteach EAL contains over ninety KS2/3 curriculum-based activities in English, mathematics and science to support the teaching of pupils who have English as an Additional Language using an interactive whiteboard. It concentrates on supporting pupils in accessing the formal language used in the different curriculum areas to attain their full potential. Each set of activities contains detailed teaching notes, learning objectives and suggestions for independent work. Key vocabulary for literacy, science and maths word banks can be easily dragged onto the Easiteach pages.

I found that the activities were set out clearly and the way terms were used helped all the children to increase their understanding of the topic. The ease of use and its interactivity kept the children focused and motivated.

Grove Music Online is an internet-based musical reference library that is very simple to use. All 36 massive volumes (including the 4 volumes of the New Grove Dictionary of Opera and the 3 volumes of the New Grove Dictionary of Jazz), articles, musical information, illustrations, bibliographies etc are included within the site. Two of the biggest enhancements of the Grove Music Online version - other than the numerous search capabilities of the 35,000
available articles - is the addition of 500+ sound examples and the 3000 links to other internet sites/related articles.

This resource creates a balance between the expansiveness/less restrictive nature of an internet resource and upholding the integrity and scholarly selectivity of the original printed text.

Existing resources
• Decide what you want to achieve with ICT and then assess whether your school has the resources available.
• If you work in partnership with other schools, you may want to consider their resources, too.
• Discuss your ideas for ICT with teaching staff and get their views of products they’ve used.