resources update issue 70

Continuing our series of tasters of our digital resource evaluations, this email contains links to software titles which have been evaluated for suitability for use on an IWB.

• RM: Easiteach Animated Books
• Food and Drink Federation: FoodFuture
• Right2Learn Education: Right2Learn
• RM: Easiteach Games

• Softease Limited: Textease Studio Plus
• BrainPop: BrainPOP
• Grid Learning: GridClub Games
• Nelson Thornes Ltd: Integrated Tasks Science Y6/P7 CD-ROM

The Easiteach range of animated books are designed to be used for whole class teaching during the Literacy Hour (covering many of the NLS objectives for Foundation and Key Stages 1 and 2) and are most effective when used on an IWB. There are a range of animated tales and animated facts available for the Foundation Stage and Key Stages 1 and 2 and additional animated poems for KS2. There are different styles of artwork and navigation icons used in the books, providing a stimulating ICT experience for the children. There is an excellent range of supporting materials for teachers and pupils, designed by Hamilton
Reading Project. The animated tales are designed and written for interactive use, with colourful animations combined with spoken text. The animated facts provide information for non-fiction topics.

This website is a fantastic resource to stimulate debates and discussions surrounding genetic modification. In addition, it provides student friendly information to support research and increase scientific literacy. The style of writing
is informative and there is also a glossary to help students understand the key scientific terms behind the topic.

www.foodfuture.org.uk is aimed at higher KS3, KS4 and A-level students and provides information on both sides of the GM argument. It’s a great resource to use on a network with students, allowing them to source information to build up a debate or to complete coursework. Alternatively, most of the pages can be used to create ideas and evidence tasks (Sc1) or literacy activities to use with a whole class.

BrainPOP is a subscription-based website with access to a large number of animated clips developed in order to be in line with American national standards from kindergarten to eighth grade. Each clip links to an interactive quiz, an experiment, a comic strip, a time line and a printable activity page. The subjects covered are maths, science, history, geography, English, technology and health.

Although aimed at the American market, a great many of the clips and extras are extremely pertinent to our curriculum and they are presented in an enjoyable way with an infectious element of humour. Children could use the site individually or in groups and teachers would be able to use the site on their interactive whiteboard as a starter to the lesson or as a plenary.

Right2Learn

GridClub Games

Right2Learn Education

This site includes examples of GCSE Schemes of Work, coursework guidelines, examples of GCSE coursework for two main examination boards AQA and Edexcel, examples of field trips, simulations, industrial debates and materials
for less able pupils. It also provides examples of materials and strategies to promote literacy in business studies at KS4.

The resources are detailed, well presented and clearly illustrated. There is a wide range of activities from which the teacher or student can pick and choose. The schemes of work will clearly save a lot of preparation time and can
be adapted to suit individual needs. The activities are well structured, clear and easy to understand, progressive and suitable for students of a

GridClub opens to pupils and teachers alike, a world of interactive fun mixed with high quality learning activities in a safe environment. As a subscription website it offers a complete range of interactive activities and games which
cover all areas of the National Curriculum. The learning activities are linked to a wide range of objectives in many core and foundation subjects with clear, concise and thorough lesson plans. I particularly liked the superb Animated Classics, a set of activities that brings alive some of our best loved classic fiction.

There is a superb teacher and parent’s section to reinforce learning from school, at home, as GridClub is a useful tool for directed homework. It offers tips and advice for bringing learning alive. Overall, GridClub offers many creative
opportunities for exciting independent and adult led learning opportunities.

Easiteach Games consists of 14 specifically designed games for interactive use with a whiteboard. Students can test their general knowledge or practise their word, number and logic skills. Some of the games are based on
traditional pen and paper games like Hangman, Battleships and Four in a Line and some of the games allow for the users, either teacher or pupil, to enter their own content. This allows for differentiation and flexibility of use over Key Stages 1 and 2. The games can be used
as rewards, during wet playtimes or as mental starters and can even brighten up revision.

Teachers can create their own content, which can be saved and re-used to fit different curriculum topics. Pupils, too, will enjoy the challenge of creating game questions as well
as answering them.

Integrated Tasks: Science Y6/P7 CD-ROM is just one of a scheme of published materials and internet linked pages to address the learning objectives of science, maths and English with ICT from Nelson Thornes. There is a separate
CD-ROM, project book and teacher’s book for each year group at Key Stage 2. Parts of the CD-ROM would be suitable for use with an interactive whiteboard, particularly as a lesson starter. The screens could be used to introduce
a new science topic. There are various activities available, for example, pupils are required to drag and drop appropriate words into a labelled picture and in another example, when learning about food hygiene, there are ‘hot areas’ on a picture that open out when clicked. For pupils
whose ICT skills are less accomplished, there are printable skills sheets.

How will you teach with this resource?

• Check whether it’s suitable for wholeclass teaching. Is it designed so that pupils can work with it on their own, with features like voice over on the text to help them understand and
  complete the activities? Will pupils need teacher support to get the best from it?
• Will the resource be compatible with other programs?
• Does the resource provide support materials for teachers? For pupils? Are there worksheets, teachers’ notes, lesson plans, differentiation activities?