resources update issue 74

Continuing our series of tasters of our digital resource evaluations, we bring you a selection of science, history, geography, english, PSHE & citizenship, MFL, maths and SEN titles for primary and secondary: -

• Heinemann Secondary: KS3 Science Interactive Presentations
• BBC Active: Britain since 1948 DVD Plus Pack
• BBC Active: Big Picture E Big Book: Mountains
• Heinemann Secondary: Interactive Poetry: The Literature Anthology for AQA A Heaney and Clarke

• Behaviour UK: The Primary/Junior Interactive Conduct File Version 2
• B-Dag Ltd: Sali Mali 123
• Thing-e: EduPuzzles KS2 Year 6 Maths - Autumn term Crossword and Wordsearch Puzzles
• Dyslexia Institute: Units of Sound
  

Interactive Presentations for Science is a bank of presentations designed for whole class teaching. This CD-ROM contains the QCA Year 7 science syllabus and would be suitable for most published schemes of work that followed the QCA format.

The software allows you to use prepared lessons that contain lesson targets, animations and PDF files to support your teaching. Existing resources can be incorporated into ready-made lessons or you can create your own lessons. Much of the content supports the concepts within the KS3 syllabus. Demonstrations, videoclips, animations, images and documents are all available. I have been impressed with the overall quality of the package that allows you to link a variety of resources through a simple menu system in order to create a professional lesson presentation.

This DVD pack supports QCA Unit 13 and covers the four main themes of transport, popular culture, technology and population in a way that keeps children’s interest. Its main
application is through whole class, teacher-led sessions but it can also be used for individual focus on relevant historical enquiry aspects. The inclusion of a variety of music and images from the era makes it appropriate for all
abilities.

The pack includes a teacher’s booklet supported by picture postcards, photocopiable fact files and numerous activity sheets. The DVD has an easy to use menu for quick access/selection which children can use unaided for information gathering. This is a really valuable tool which
children find engaging and would enhance the teaching of work on this topic.

Sali Mali 123 brings a popular Welsh book and cartoon character to the computer screen to help young children develop number skills. It has been so popular that even the Year 6 pupils were clamouring to have a go!

This is a bilingual product which can be accessed in either Welsh or English. The activities are well presented through an interactive storybook exploring the preparations for Jac
y Jwc’s birthday. Each page of the story can be heard so supporting early readers in both languages. The story and activities are well differentiated, developing literacy as well as numeracy skills. The activities are very well planned, and include some stimulating ideas for outdoor activities, both from the CD-ROM and the B-DAG website.

EduPuzzles KS2 Year 6 Maths - Autumn term Crossword and Wordsearch Puzzles

This is one of the series of E Big Books by the BBC covering various topics in geography, corresponding to the QCA scheme of work, Unit 15: The Mountain Environment. The Big Book is designed to be used with a whiteboard
and projector but could also run on either networked or stand alone PCs. Aimed at KS2 teachers, there are twelve topics and a “closer look” activity. A sound clip, questions and a suggested pupil activity accompany each topic.
Pictures are well presented with good relevant information.

The E Big Book provides an excellent stimulating introduction to the mountains topic and each page is a good starting point for each section. The topics and activities are mostly of an appropriate length (30-45mins) and suit the primary timetable well.

EduPuzzles provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface to help pupils learn and reinforce their knowledge of mathematical concepts and vocabulary used in the Year 6 Maths Curriculum. There are 12 areas that link to the National Numeracy Strategy, each offering 4 options: a
Crossword; a Crossword (with keyboard); a Word Search and a Worksheet. Each of these pages contains a puzzle area, a box containing a simple graphic and a text box containing a definition or clue. The software is attractive and easy to navigate with links to the publisher’s web site for
more information on the software and its content. The product can easily be networked and is very effective when used on interactive whiteboards. The stimulating material is ideal prior to starting a topic, as a revision tool, for consolidation purposes and as an assessment tool.

Heinemann has produced a first class resource specifically targeting the AQA A Literature Specification. Accessible, engaging and well planned, the CD-ROM includes all of the poems by Seamus Heaney, Gillian Clarke and the pre-1914 poetry bank. They are accompanied by images to support the poems as well as audio readings and a variety of interesting and focused activities to aid the students. The interactive activities are generally directed at whole class learning and include a number of very good comparative tasks. The variety of tasks helps to engage students’ interest. Also provided is a comprehensive Teacher’s Guide that offers excellent support for the teaching of these poems together with sample teaching sequences. These are clearly set out and prefaced with helpful objectives in each case.

Units of Sound is a vast multi sensory package comprising 4 CD-ROMs that aim to improve reading, writing and spelling skills, for all users from age seven to adult learners. It is suitable for networks or individual computers.

The main focus of the program is for people with Dyslexia and the teacher will have access to information about student progress, including screening test results and work covered to date. Words that students have failed to spell are highlighted and the incorrect spelling shown.

This product has a very good video tutorial, which serves as an introduction, and there is excellent support in the context of help files and additional software.

Making an informed decision

• Do some research with teachers, your LEA and advice organisations. Network meetings, INSET, evaluations and education shows all offer great opportunities to get other people’s feedback about resources and suppliers.
• To get a real feel for how a resource works, see if you can get a demo version or a free trial.
• Shop around on Curriculum Online. Look out for independent evaluations and teacher reviews.