resources update issue 68

• Logotron Ltd: Thinking with Pictures
• Longman (Pearson): Digitexts:Fields of Glory
• Longman (Pearson): Exploring Science 7: Pupil Interactive CD-ROM
• BBC Worldwide: Big Picture E Big Book: Water
  

• Texas Instruments: TI-SmartView
• Ginn: Abacus Evolve: Solve the Problem Activities Year 2
• Ginn: Abacus Evolve: Teacher Toolkit Year 3 - Interactive I-Planner
• Bluehills Software Company: Primary Report Writer Online
  

This is a great all-round and ‘must have’ program for any teacher’s armoury, spanning almost any subject area, age and ability.

Thinking with Pictures provides a hi-tech but easily and intuitively used platform for a topic web/concept map. It develops children’s thought and planning processes, creating links between areas of knowledge and further enhances writing or development of ideas.

Useful for whole class work projected onto a large screen or whiteboard, the map can be modified as the topic progresses, with print facilities for individual use or a large wall display. Using either pictures or text and the inclusion of a ‘speak aloud’ tool and spell checker, it is accessible to all children. The guidebook explains how Thinking with Pictures can be easily adapted for cross-curricular use.

Digitext Fields of Glory is a fantastic new ICT text for shared, guided or independent reading sessions. The software is innovative and allows the reader to interact at many levels. It is a multi-layered, multimedia resource which includes text, sound, video footage and images.

The text tells the life story of Walter Tull, one of the first black footballers and army officers in the UK. It matches many of Year 6 NLS objectives with clear links to history and PSHE. It is told through a series of original diary extracts organised along a timeline. This flexible product can be used individually, networked or with an interactive whiteboard to enrich whole class teaching. Each Digitext has comprehensive lesson plans supporting planning and delivery, and includes the ability to highlight text and write notes on each extract, which is invaluable.

This forms part of a series of mathematical problem-solving activities, each specific to a particular year group with Solve the Problem 2 being appropriate to Year 2 children. The disk provides six challenging activities, matched to mathematics covered in the corresponding year group. These problems are set in a meaningful context, providing good animation and fun, familiar settings in which children develop their problem-solving skills.

It is possible to incorporate the work into a weekly plan as either paired or small group activity or as part of a problem solving day/project. The activities are open-ended and so pupils are encouraged to discuss their strategies before the activity and modify their approaches later on to improve their attempt/score.
An invaluable part of any school’s problem-solving programme.

Exploring Science 7: Pupil Interactive CD-ROM

Abacus Evolve: Teacher Toolkit
Year 3 - Interactive I-Planner

Longman (Pearson)

Exploring Science 7 Pupil Interactive CD-ROM, which is part of the Exploring Science series, is an assessment tool for Year 7 pupils which determines the level at which the pupil is working. There are multiple answer assessment activities, a collection of 10 activities for each unit which cover all levels (3-7), quizzes which tell the pupils if they have the answer right or wrong (but they are unable to change an answer once it has been submitted) and coursework assessment questions. To use this software effectively each pupil needs individual access to a computer where they can work independently. The software allows teachers to keep a record of their pupil’s progress and it keeps a running total for the pupil aggregating all their scores and levels.

This new maths program contains highly flexible planning tools and more challenging and interactive activities. It contains a set of 30 comprehensive weekly plans and related activities for teaching numeracy in Year 3. Each weekly plan consists of 2 units of work, based on NNS objectives, which can be used ‘as is’ or edited to suit the class.

The Teacher Toolkit includes a set of teacher cards, the Interactive Planner CD-ROM and the Interactive Teaching Resources CD-ROM. There are also printable teaching assistant notes with tips, homework sheets and assessment tasks and tests, which correspond to the units taught. The activities could also include paired or group practical activities or photocopy masters.
This program is ideal for updating the teaching of numeracy at any school.

This is part of the BBC’s series of resources designed to effectively deliver aspects of the geography curriculum. A CD-ROM with ‘big book’ style resources supports the Teacher’s Activity Book containing learning outcomes, activities and questions. Photos are clear, colourful and pertinent and the sound files help stimulate children and focus on the key messages.
The E Book has a number of sections containing images supported by key questions and text space, with topic questions to encourage thinking and debate. The activity section adds variety with pupils attempting a crossword or completing a research task.
There is scope for a number of uses: individual or group activities or collaborative use either as a starter, framework for whole class debate or research-based activity. This is a very useful tool supported by good documentation.

Primary Report Writer Online is a web-based program that offers to cut the time spent on creating reports. It provides instant access without loading any software. The confidential data is protected by several mechanisms and backed up at least once a day.
Writing reports takes minimal time thanks to the well-designed pages, a comments bank, National Curriculum and QCA statements together with the option of adding your own thoughts or editing others.

All that is required is to select a year group, a child, a subject and away you go. All subjects are available including RE, PSHE and citizenship. There are also areas to provide SEN statements and targets.

Your requirements

• Work with colleagues to prioritise areas where new resources are most in need and/or could make the most impact in enhancing pupil learning.
• List the age groups and subjects most in need of additional multimedia resources.