New Web Site

Lochaber High School and Dyslexia Lochaber have collaborated to create a new website which provides an audio revision service for pupils with dyslexia which we believe to be a first in Scotland. The podcasts are now proving to be useful for all pupils in the build up to the examinations.

The website makes full use of RSS feeds, podcast subscriptions alongside more traditional streaming or downloading of audio files, enabling pupils the freedom to choose their preferred method of access.

World Maths Day

The students play against each other in mental arithmetic games. Students are captivated by the fact that they are playing in real time. Each game lasts for 60 seconds, students can play as many games as they wish. The questions are appropriately leveled for different ages and abilities.   This is a truly unique world event and a fantastic way to promote numeracy within your school. The organisers claim that past results show that students will make significant improvements in their mental arithmetic skills and have fun in the process.

..and it’s absolutely free of charge. You can register your class here.

Free teaching resources

Free-teaching-resources.co.uk lists resources, lesson plans and worksheets produced by top UK charities, museums & more. They have been reviewed and are ready for teachers to use.

The free teaching resources, lesson plans and work sheets cover all school curriculum subjects. There are write ups on each resource and a link to where you can get the lesson plan from.

Teaching Ideas for Primary Teachers

A site with a range of free resources for primary teachers

National Galleries of Scotland Art Competition

National Galleries of Scotland Art Competition for Schools 2009

School children are invited to enter this very popular annual competition, now in its sixth year. Full details can be viewed on the National Galleries of Scotland website.

There are six categories, each with a different theme:

Category A Nursery, theme: Food is Fantastic

Category B Primary 1-3, theme: A Super Duper Animal

Category C Primary 4-7, theme: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter

Category D S1-S2, theme: A Sense of Place

Category E Special Education Schools, theme: Look Up, Look Down

Category F Group Work

Pupils are asked to view a small selection of works of art online. Teaching notes and discussion ideas are provided. In support of the new Curriculum for Excellence there will be suggestions on interdisciplinary approaches. Pupils are invited to make their own artwork inspired by the theme and works of art. The closing date is Friday 8 May 2009.

Online Digital Science Comic

A new digital comic called, Selenia, has been created by the Science Communication Unit at the University of the West of England to help primary school children learn about scientific enquiry and changing materials. The comic, which is in digital format can be used on a whiteboard in the classroom. The comic and resources are all free.

In the stories, Selenia, the schoolgirl heroine travels from her alien planet to Earth where she makes two friends. Through her adventures, children develop an understanding of the properties of materials – such as the difference between gases, solids and liquids. The teaching resources, which accompany the comics, are designed to build children’s understanding of scientific processes.

The stories are full of action, magic and fun and are designed to give children the opportunity to explore science in unconventional ways.

The comic can be downloaded free from: www.sciencecomics.uwe.ac.uk

E Safety Games

To help promote European Safer Internet day next Tuesday (10th Feb), the English North West Learning Grid have created some e-safety games . They are free to use for anyone that wishes to do so and available here

Web Search Techniques

Here is a short video from Common Craft that might help you or your pupils search for information on the internet more effectively.

Free books for schools

The Times and The Sunday Times newspapers are offering every school in the country the chance to increase the number of books in their library for free, through the Books for Schools promotion.

Each day during the school terms in 2009, readers of The Times and The Sunday Times can collect tokens that can be redeemed for free children’s books. Books are available for as few as 10 tokens and include works by some of the most popular children’s writers. There is no limit to the number of books a school can order during the year, as long as they have the correct number of tokens.

Schools must register with the scheme by 31 January 2009.

See the Books for Schools website for more information.

PSE Citizenship and Health and Wellbeing resources for primary schools

Go Givers is a FREE PSE, Citizenship and Health and Wellbeing resources for primary schools. Although produced for English schools it has lots of good resources that could be used here.

The ‘Go-Givers’ cartoon characters, who represent children from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, have inspired the stories for younger children. For older children there are modules on challenging topics such as Rights & Responsibilities and immigration.

The lessons consist of downloadable PPT presentations, and ‘Learning Activities’ in pdf format. The site also includes a motivational electronic ‘Kindness Kit’ and a collection of innovative web tools, for example the Ballot Box, the Time Line and a Decision Making Tool.

You will need to register on the site to receive a password by email to use the material.