April 2009 - Posts
2Simple's brand new program, 2Do It Yourself (2DIY), lets you and your primary pupils create your own cross curricular, Flash resources in minutes. Pupil's at Downs Primary School have been busy creating games using 2DIY. You can see their work on the Down's school website.
http://www.downs.kent.sch.uk/page_viewer.asp?page=Video+Games&pid=33
Have other Kent schools published any 2DIY activites on their website? (please leave a comment below)
2DIY Competition
TESconnect partner with 2Simple have launched a competition where the winner can win a laptop with all the 2Simple products installed.
Click here to find out more
Examples of activites created using 2DIY
There are many excellent examples of activities created using 2DiY on the 2Simple website. They show a wide range of the many possibilities that can be achieved using this fantastic software by children (and adults).
http://www.2simple.com/2diy/examples/
Action Scripts
Children can alter the action script of their games by right clicking on the green play button in 2DIY
Support with 2DIY Action script
Mandy:)
The Weather around the World Blog will run from 21 May to 22 May 2009 and is an exciting opportunity for pupils to compare and contrast the weather in different locations around the world. This event is open to all UK schools and schools around the world.
Pupils will collect and share information about their local weather with other schools. Using ICT they will:
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Measure and record the temperature outdoors
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Present their results for others to view
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Photograph the weather
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View aerial and satelite maps of different locations
For more information about the event, please contact philip.bracegirdle@kent.gov.uk
Schools planning to take part should email Philip, to indicate their interest, before Friday 15th May 2009
Weather Watch Project website
Other Kent ICT Projects
Mandy:)
The Data Protection Act 1998 affects our use of photography. This is because an image of a child is personal data for the purpose of the Act and it is a requirement that consent is obtained from the parent of a child or young person under the age of 18 years (or the child him or herself if deemed competent from 12 years old as suggested by the Information Commissioner) for any photographs or video recordings for purposes beyond the school’s core educational function. (Eg school websites, school productions).
The KCC Policy & Guidance for Kent Schools, Settings and KCC Services on the use of Photographic Images of Children has been updated for 2009. At the end of the guidance you will find the consent forms.
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consent for taking and publishing of photos must be obtained from parents
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any photograph taken is appropriate - be wary of PE and swimming photos
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If the pupil is named, avoid using their photograph. If the photograph is used, avoid naming the pupil.
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your school must have a consistent, legal and up to date policy about the use of photographic images
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photography for school and other events by staff, families and the media should be allowed for private use
Follow this link to download the KCC Policy and Guidance on the use of Photographic images of children
Information about safe usage of new technology can be found at
http://www.kenttrustweb.org.uk/kcn/e-safety_home.cfm
Mandy :)
Childnet International and the DCSF launched new guidance on Cyberbullying in relation to ‘Supporting School Staff’ on 15 April 2009. This document builds on the 2007 'Safe to Learn - Cyberbullying' guidance and provides advice for employers of school staff. It also offers advice for school staff about keeping themselves and their personal information safe. This important advice was written in consultation with the DCSF Cyberbullying Taskforce, and with the support of the leading school employee unions and professional associations.
http://www.digizen.org/cyberbullying/
Direct link to document
http://www.digizen.org/downloads/cyberbullying_teachers.pdf
Mandy :)
Social networking websites, particularly those popular with children and young people, are frequently on the receiving end of criticism. However, SuperClubsPlus (for primary-aged children) and GoldStarCafe (for 11- to 14-year-olds) offer children a safe place to make friends online.
To read more go to
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/apr/21/schools-child-protection
This is one of a new series of handbooks from QCA and can be downloaded from the QCA site: www.qca.org.uk/qca_1880.aspx
The handbook suggests ways of modifying each aspect of the programmes of study in the National Curriculum and then outlines opportunities and activities for key stages 1 to 4. P-level descriptions are also given. For P1-3, subject-focused examples are included to illustrate some of the ways in which staff might identify attainment in ICT. For P4-8, the text provides an example of how pupils' performance can be described in a way that indicates the emergence of skills, knowledge and understanding in ICT.
Screenonline is an encyclopaedia of British film and television featuring hundreds of hours of film and television clips from , and several hours of recorded interviews with film and TV personalities. These clips are supplemented by contextual material alongside thousands of stills, posters and press books. The site also features the BFI Screenonline Education Zone, a free resource to help all subject teachers make the most out of moving image in the classroom. Go to www.screenonline.org.uk/
Priory Wood School Resources
www.priorywoods.middlesbrough.sch.uk
Priory Woods is special school in Middlesbrough with some very good resources including talking big books, curriculum policies and entertaining videos.
Click here for other websites featured on our Website of the Week
Mandy :)
The month of May marks the start of Well Dressings in the Peak District.Wells, springs or other water sources are 'dressed' (decorated) with pictures made from things that grow such as parts of plants. Why not invite your pupils to make collages from natural materials?
Follow this link for customs and traditions about May
1 May - May Day
The first day of the month of May is known as May Day. Traditional English May Day celebrations include Morris dancing, crowning a May Queen and dancing around a Maypole.
4 - 10 May Deaf Awareness Week
8 May - 1945 VE (Victory in Europe) Day.
11 May Lag B'Omer (Jewish Festival) Jewish Year 5769: sunset May 11, 2009 - nightfall May 12, 2009
12 May - Limerick Day
12 May- 1820 Florence Nightingale was born.
18 -22 May Noise Action Week
Use data logging equipment to test the level of noise around your school.
21 May Ascension Day (Christian Festival)
Christian recognition of the departure of Jesus from earth after the resurrection.
28 May Shavuot (Jewish Festival)
Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks, is the Jewish holiday celebrating the harvest season in Israel. Shavuot, is held exactly seven weeks after Passover.
In this year, 2009, it lasts from sunset May 28th to nightfall May 29th.
29 May - Oak Apple Day
This is the day that traditionally people wear oak apples or oak leaves pinned to them to remember that on 29th May King Charles ll returned triumphantly to London after the restoration of the monarchy in 1660.
30 May FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final is the last game of a knockout competition between football clubs in England and Wales.
Mandy :)
We have mentioned Ictopus (ICT online primary user support) several times before and we know many Kent teachers are using it. However, just in case there are some teachers who have not discovered or have not used Ictopus for a while here is a gentle nudge:)
By subscribing to Ictopus (it's FREE!), you will receive the weekly Sharing Good Practice magazine, which is intended to be printed off and displayed in the staffroom. There is also a regularly updated newsblog, a set of classroom activities and a copyright free picture gallery. These resources are all archived on the website. Ictopus builds on the Becta Direct2U service and also the legacy of MAPE (Micros and Primary Education).
Jo Rickards, teacher at Sellindge Primary School and author of Sebastian Swan, wrote the following in this weeks issue of the Sharing Good Practice magazine:
"Having been on a bit of a career break for the past four years, discovering that actually teaching is easier than having your own children, it was with great relief that I found out about the ictopus website.
Everything in education changes, but the rate of change in the use of ICT in the classroom over the past four years has been quite extraordinary. Just before I left for my first maternity leave, I was teaching ICT with the whole class round a single monitor and accessing the internet through an unreliable ISDN line. Now I am back in the classroom part-time and everyone is happily using interactive whiteboards, broadband internet and accessing the school network from home…incredible really.
The quantity and quality of teaching resources now available on the Internet has also astounded me. Luckily I found the ictopus website. It was simple enough not to feel overwhelming and very focussed, so I felt that the quality of resources was guaranteed! Then after reading my first Sharing Good Practice I felt that my dreams had been answered. Simon Haughton’s article on using spreadsheets in a Theme Park investigation (SGP53) was a complete inspiration."
To read more, please register on the Ictopus website and start receiving ICT ideas every week in your email inbox.
(Simon can be followed on Twitter @simonhaughton )
Are you looking for inspirational ways of using ICT in your classoom?
Visit www.ictopus.org.uk and register today to receive each week a six page printable magazine and a set of activity suggestions via your email.
Mandy :)
A new resource from Childnet International is now available: Know IT All for Primary Schools. This resource has been produced specifically for the primary sector with support from Becta, the TDA and the UK Council for Child Internet Safety; KIA for Primary...(read more)
This announcement comes via the Kent e-safety blog
Know IT All for Primary Schools
http://www.childnet.com/kia/primary/
E-safety Spreadsheet of resources
http://www.naace.co.uk/848
Online Research, Communication, Publishing and E-Safety
Scheme of Work developed by the London Boroughs of Islington, Barnet and Kensington & Chelsea in conjunction with colleagues from Northampton and Hackney.
Mandy :)
Have a look at the entries for the Kent TV's animation competition. I think you will agree with us that they are all fantastic. Well done to all pupils and schools who took part. (Use the film strip underneath the video to select different schools.)
http://www.kenttv.com/animate/entries.php
The closing date for the competition is 24 April
The idea of the competition was for young people to watch six episodes on www.KentTV.com/animate and then upload their own animation for others in Kent to see. The episodes show the children a step-by-step guide to making different types of animation – from simple flick books to making their own Plasticine characters.
Mandy :)
Several schools have already tried out an early version of Picture the Music software to rapidly and easily create audio/visual resources for generating thinking and creative writing. The new Create version now allows importation of your own pictures and music very easily, as well as chance to record pupils' own narratives. It uses a combination of mind mapping, and a bank of pictures and music to get children thinking, with some stunning results from KS1 to KS3. http://www.picturethemusic.com/
Do let us know how you get on if you try it out yourself, and don't forget that our NEN resources of pictures and MP3 music (see links at the bottom of the Kent ICT page) can also be imported as well without copyright problems arising.
24 April update: Picture the Music has been recategorised as “Educational Materials” and can now be accessed by all Kent primary schools.
Pupils from 6 Dover primary schools attended the Dover Castle Writing project Celebration at Lydden primary school
To remember the famous siege of Dover Castle in 1216 the pupils created with Michele Gregson (ASK Art and Design Advisory Teacher) a tapestry to re-tell the event.
To view the Dover 1216 Tapestry follow this link.
History and Story Telling
Pupils from each school read their stories about the siege. They all remembered how the French Invaders tried to tunnel under the castle and how the army of William de Burgh defeated the invaders.
Follow this link to play and view the children from Guston and Sibertswold reading their stories (wmv file)
Follow this link for Sibertswold's pupils reading their stories
To find out more about the project and the work the children did, please visit:
http://www.segfl.org.uk/microsites2/archive.php?id=117
Mandy :)
Eagle class at Ash Cartwright & Kelsey Primary school helped Chris Evans out with a little problem. He wanted to know whether a cup of tea cooled quicked than a cup of coffee. With the help of their teacher, Chris Thomas, Eagle class set up an experiment to find out the answer. They then sent a photo and the graph showing the results to Chris at BBC Radio 2. Chris Evans was so pleased with their efforts that he told his listeners all about how Eagle class helped solve the science problem. Well done Eagle class :)
Follow this link to download listen to Chris Evans talking about the experiment
To see the photo of the experiment and the graph
http://www.ashckschool.org/ > Podacasts > Episode 9
Mandy :)
The Kent Eco-Schools Project programme links well to Geography and Science and also PSHE.
The Kent Schools Action On Climate Change pack and pledge is available either through the www.kent.gov.uk/ecoschools page or on www.kent.gov.uk/climatechange under schools. In this there are specific suggestions for all ages on key questions that relate to what is climate change, what its impact on kent will be both in terms of landscape and living and also what we can do. In addition there are key topics like Energy with suggestions for cross-curricular work that can be done in school. Schools can sign the Kent Schools Action on Climate Change pledge which will then enable them to go on Carbon Hub training and use this on-line software to monitor and improve their environmental performance.
There are over 60% of Kent Schools that are registered as Eco-Schools and over 45% of Kent Schools have an Eco-Schools award. In the Kent Eco News which is circulated electronically there is a web review where we showcase schools using their website to record and promote their Eco-Schools work.
For more information, please contact
Sarah Moy
Kent Eco-Schools Officer
Environment and Waste
Kent County Council
Invicta House, County Hall
Maidstone, Kent
ME14 1XX
Tel: 01622 221567
Internal: 7000 1567
Fax: 01622 221636
Email: sarah.moy@kent.gov.uk
Mandy :)
woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/riversevern
Join Winnie the Pooh and his two friends, Berty Beaver and Percy Penguin, as they travel down the River Severn. Ideal for learning about the different features of a river. This is the sequel to Pooh's trip down the River Thames.
Follow this link to read about their journey down the River Severn.
Mandy :)
Many schools in Kent are using Flashmeeting, a free and secure web conferencing application, to connect and share work wih other schools and also to ask questions to experts. FlashMeeting requires no specialist equipment just a basic web camera fitted to a laptop or PC that can access the Internet access.
Ask the Experts – Springwatch at Horton Kirby Environmental Education Centre
Thursday, 14th May 2009 from 1:30
Following on from the success of last years SpringWatch Project, the experts at Horton Kirby Environmental Education Centre are hosting another series of web conferencing sessions, hosted by Swanley and District Local Children Services Partnership, with a focus on Wildlife at the Environmental Centre.
This event is aimed at primary children and adults, and welcomes questions from the audience to make the conference interactive. Our Environmental Centre’s resident expert, Gary Cliffe, will be in the wildlife area to discuss the signs of spring as well as explaining the Centre’s habitat design and how children can help to design their own school wildlife area. We shall look at life cycles of living things as well as creature classification.
Sarah Moy, Kent Eco Schools Officer, will be sharing her expertise in how your school can work towards bronze, silver and Green Flag Eco Schools awards.
Schools may choose from four sessions
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Wildlife habitats at Horton Kirby and creating a school wildlife habitat
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Working towards the Green Flag Eco Awards and discussion with schools who have alread gained an award
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Wildlife habitats at Horton Kirby and creating a school wildlife habitat
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“Drop-in” clinic for teachers and staff involved in Eco-Schools and how they can encourage wildlife to their school grounds with examples from Horton Kirby EEC.
For more information visit
http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/springwatch/
Mandy :)