ENGLISH
Well versed
If you are looking for poems on certain themes, or material to inspire poetry writing, this collection provides a good starting point.
The Poetry Station (uploaded by English and Media Centre) is an online library of poems on video, often read by the authors, including Benjamin Zephaniah and Michael Rosen. Many of the texts are for older children, but it can be useful for younger pupils to watch the poems performed and brought to life.
A collection of poems about the senses can be used as part of a topic on “ourselves” for reception and Year 1 (ericag). Also aimed at Year 1 is a jumbled version of the poem Jump or Jiggle, by Evelyn Beyer. Pupils can be asked to identify the rhyming words to arrange the poem into rhyming couplets (clementinek176). A lesson plan for the Silly Stuff poetry unit includes nursery rhyme texts for pupils to play around with and change the wording (KitKaty).
Resources for Mother’s Day, on 3 April, include a poem by Roger Hurn that can be used for children to write their own Mother’s Day composition (RogerHurn) and the poem Homebaked Mum, which reads like a rhyming recipe (angelaspoems).
For older pupils, g3mmalina has uploaded an assembly script used with a Year 4 class, covering onomatopoeia, rhyme and alliteration, and AliceK’s tutorial has examples of poetic composition, with an emphasis on proper nouns and adjectives.
tes.co.ukpoetry-texts-ks1
NEWS
The eyes have it
Researchers from the University of East London hope they can target children that may be affected by language, social and attention difficulties by using eye-tracking technology. Working in partnership with Acuity ETS, UEL is exploring how babies respond to mouth and eye movements before they can talk. This can help identify future language difficulties, say researchers.
Brush up on art
Access Art is running a workshop to refresh drawing skills and discover new approaches and techniques. The session is aimed at teachers and practitioners and takes place in Cambridge on 6 April. 01223 262 134; info@accessart.org.uk
Step it up a gear
To mark Walk to School Week from 16 to 20 May, TTS Group will be giving away a set of Easi-Walker pedometers. The pedometers allow pupils to count the steps they have taken between school and home and upload this data to a PC for analysis using the software provided. To enter the competition, email weloveict @tts-group.co.uk with your name, school and telephone number by 22 April.
SEN
A little help from friends - Autistic Society promotes inclusion with peers
This collection of resources offers information on autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), advice and strategies to aid inclusion and “social stories” for pupils to help them understand common school situations.
Material from the National Autistic Society includes a resource pack for teachers and details of how to use the circle of friends approach to promote inclusion and interaction with peers. Pupils with ASDs are among those at greatest risk of being bullied because they do not always read other people’s signals well enough to interpret and understand threats. The society has also uploaded a guide for school staff on preventing and dealing with bullying.
A toolkit of tried and tested methods will aid inclusion in mainstream education (acrocker). The Autism Education Trust has uploaded strategies to support pupils with autism through transition periods, a practical guide to autism plus ideas for support materials and a list of links to useful organisations.
Resources uploaded by George Timlin, a teacher who has been supporting children with ASDs and their families for 18 years, include “social story” books, which explain common school situations and processes to younger children, with strategies for dealing with them.
tes.co.ukasd-primary
GEOGRAPHY
Environmental issues - Energy, waste, rubbish and landfill made fun
If you are looking to start a class topic on climate change or stimulate a lively discussion about the environment, this collection could be just what you need.
Material includes a cross-curricular scheme of work on greenhouse gases and links to additional presentations and worksheets (CAFOD) and a scheme of work complete with lesson plans and worksheets, plus interactive activities on saving energy (planuk). Resources including class activities, an assembly, a board game and a poster can be used to generate discussions on climate change and poverty (LearnGG).
One resource invites pupils to explore Energy Town, to find out where energy comes from, and includes quizzes and interactive games (EON_EdComs). A multimedia resource from Action Aid looks at how climate change affects young people around the world.
An animated video shows how the recycling process works and includes links to further information (recycle now). An online resource features recycling activities and reusable waste projects (TeachShare), while a PowerPoint about rubbish and landfill sites can be used to kick off a topic on improving our environment (Peskykat).
Another resource introduces pupils to a town suffering a build-up of rubbish and can help stimulate debate on the impact of waste on the environment (NGfL Cymru).
tes.co.ukprimary-environmental.
