Using PE to boost cross curricular skills

scameron — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 12:11:46 +0000

CASE STUDY Combs Ford Primary School, Stowmarket, Suffolk

A Suffolk primary used the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority’s PE and School Sport (PESS) initiative to rejuvenate the entire school and boost the skills and independence of pupils with special educational needs.

Overview

Developing primary thinking skills with cricket

scameron — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:40:27 +0000

This Primary Know-How section from PE & Sport Today offers lesson activities for:

Year 3 and 4
Year 5
Year 6

Crispin Andrews first explains how striking and fielding activities can develop children's thinking skills

Inspirational athlete: Desmond Douglas, table tennis player

scameron — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:56:43 +0000

Many billions of balls have pinged and ponged their way over the net since table tennis was invented more than a century ago. What began in Victorian Britain as an after-dinner amusement for the upper classes is, behind football, now one of the most popular sports in the world.

The game made a debut appearance at the Olympics in 1988 and, with London 2012 guaranteeing British participation in the four Olympic events for the first time since 2000, renewed interest in the sport is to be anticipated.

Sport spotlight: Mini-basketball

scameron — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:42:14 +0000

The world development is administered by the Federation Internationale de Basketball (International Basketball Federation; FIBA) with headquarters in the city of Geneva, Switzerland. The international objective is to introduce young people to the world of sport in a spirit of friendship and understanding.

Teaching citizenship in six easy steps

scameron — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:33:50 +0000

The eight millennium development goals (MDGs) were established by the United Nations in 2000. They set out a plan of action to improve global social justice – by eradicating extreme poverty and hunger; achieving universal primary education; promoting gender equality; reducing child mortality; improving maternal health; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases; ensuring environmental sustainability; and developing a global partnership for development.

Monitoring learning and teaching

scameron — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:49:24 +0000

This activity comes from Improve your Leadership Skills, a school resource that tackles the issues that those with leadership positions in schools face.

It contains worksheets, guides and 20-minute activities designed to help middle leaders develop practical and straightforward procedures that will make a contribution to teaching and learning within their school.

Written by Kit Field, Elizabeth Hoult and Simon Hughes

Young children's thinking skills activity

scameron — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:38:28 +0000

The activity provides a teacher with two lists of words which, when they have chosen from them randomly, will describe a weird and wonderful machine (in this case a 'Teenager Waker'), which pupils are then asked to imagine and design.

This activity is taken from The Thoughtful Learner; a course for pupils in Key Stage 2 that helps learners begin to understand how they learn and how to improve their skills as learners, taking an original, vibrant and colourful approach.

Written by Toby Quibell

SEN observation recording sheets

scameron — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:54:13 +0000

A-Z of Special Needs for Every Teacher (2nd edition) is designed to help busy special needs coordinators provide support for pupils, parents, class teachers and teaching assistant across all key stages.

It is an invaluable, quick and comprehensive guide.

Written by Jacquie Buttriss and Ann Callander

Living Geography: mystery cards

scameron — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:16:15 +0000

Living Geography is a resource designed for geography teachers which draws from recent school-focused research, and supports teachers in developing a concept-based curriculum that is relevant, purposeful and exciting for young people.

Edited by David Mitchell

David acknowledges thanks to the teachers of Wycombe High School, St Ivo School and all involved in GA's Geography of Disease project who have developed these activity ideas.

G&T classroom strategies: Science

scameron — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:38:13 +0000

Maps from memory: the underlying theory

Maps from memory is based on research conducted into working memory – the part of our memory that stores and immediately processes information. Unlike long-term memory, which is a vast library of information, working memory is small and information can be retained and processed in it for only short periods of time.

Early Years PiP Cards: 2.4 Key person

scameron — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:43:30 +0000

Theme: Positive Relationships
‘Children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or a key person.’

Commitment 2.4 Key Person
‘A key person has special responsibilities for working with a small number of children, giving them the reassurance to feel safe and cared for and building relationships with parents.’
Areas of knowledge covered:

Early Years PiP Cards: 2.3 Supporting Learning

scameron — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:28:35 +0000

Theme: Positive Relationships
‘Children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or key person.’

Commitment 2.3 Supporting Learning
‘Warm, trusting relationships with knowledgeable adults support children’s learning more effectively than any amount of resources.’ Areas of knowledge covered:

Learning about climate change: lesson ideas

scameron — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:25:12 +0000

The government recently announced a package of measures designed to revitalise geography in schools. During secondary education, interest in geography is declining – and it is an important area of study. While many of the government’s initiatives are designed for the KS3+ classroom, there is no reason why some ‘real-world’ geography issues cannot be introduced in the KS2 classroom.

What is climate change?

Science lessons: the seaside

scameron — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:15:30 +0000

There are few things more quintessentially British, or more evocative of ‘summer’, than a day out at the seaside – and there are also few places in Britain which better lend themselves to scientific study than seaside resorts. Take a look at the picture on this page, for example.

Try showing your class this image or something similar, or get them to draw their own seaside pictures from suggestions made in a class discussion. You can then discuss what the pupils think they could study at the seaside that links to science. Just a few suggestions might be:

Cricket games for primary students

scameron — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:09:02 +0000

Contrary to what certain Australian and Indian cricketers might have you believe, cricket is a striking and fielding, not just a ‘striking’, game. However, the slanging matches and posturing machismo that has taken place Down Under this year provides teachers with an opportunity to take the sort of lighthearted approach to PE that children love.

The origins of the modern Olympic Games

scameron — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:02:09 +0000

Contrary to popular myth, Baron Pierre De Coubertin did not conceive the idea of the modern Olympics in Athens, 1896. So instead let us acknowledge Dr William Penny Brookes, father of the modern Olympian movement, the Games of which first took place in 1850 in Much Wenlock, a town in Shropshire.

Inspirational athlete: Tom Daley, swimmer

scameron — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:48:32 +0000

Tom Daley is an extraordinary boy. As most children prepare to move from the comfort of their primaries up to ‘big school’, 10 year-old Tom was preparing to become British U18 Diving Champion. Then, in February this year, he qualified for the Beijing Olympics: he’ll be just 14 years and 79 days old when he dives for Britain at the world’s greatest sporting showpiece.

The Life Project: developing resourcefulness

scameron — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:35:32 +0000

At the Life Project, we use a range of facilitated exploration techniques to give young people a strong understanding of themselves, their operating systems, their aspirations and the tools to make decision, set goals and plans that suit who they are and what they want to achieve. These methods are suitable for children aged 10 and over. They are also useful in work with adults.

Fostering thinking skills in early years

scameron — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:57:00 +0000

‘When children have opportunities to play with ideas in different situations and with a variety of resources, they discover connections and come to new and better understandings and ways of doing things. Adult support in this process enhances their ability to think critically and ask questions.’
(‘Creativity and Critical Thinking’, EYFS 2007)

Early Years PiP Cards: 2.2 Parents as partners

scameron — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:18:54 +0000

Theme: Positive Relationships
‘Children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or a key person.’

Commitment 2.2 Parents as Partners
‘Parents are children’s first and most enduring educators. When parents and practitioners work together in early years settings, the results have a positive impact on children’s development and learning.’

Areas of knowledge covered:

Christmas maths resources

scameron — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:28:06 +0000

Download and print these lesson activities out for some festive educational fun.

Taken from The Primary Christmas File, edited by Nick Hutchins, David Playfoot and Martin Skelton (no longer published)

Improving your school's G&T provision

scameron — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:14:36 +0000

This downloadable resource includes a structured framework to guide you in developing provision for able pupils, including four key principles, to be used by new G&T coordinators or classroom teachers looking for a fresh perspective on their work.

Staff training material for child protection issues

scameron — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:55:01 +0000

The following case studies are offered to support in-house training or just to provide a topic for discussion in the staff room. They are all based on true cases but no names or details that could identify an actual person are given. These case studies are offered to promote open discussion and debate. No definite answers are given, but points to consider are provided to help staff think about how your school might manage such cases.

Case one: a teacher drinks with students

Early Years PiP Cards: 2.1 Respecting each other

scameron — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:38:56 +0000

Theme: Positive Relationships
‘Children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or a key person.’

Commitment 2.1 Respecting Each Other
‘Every interaction is based on caring professional relationships and respectful acknowledgement of the feelings of children and their families.’
Areas of knowledge covered:

Primary teaching resource: writing skills

scameron — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:38:45 +0100

Writing frames are an indispensable tool in any teacher’s repertoire of activities for developing pupils’ writing.

This free teaching resource includes a number of photocopiable worksheets for students, for them to fill in and work through, and also sets out ideas for class group work.

Written by Steve Higgins with Viv Baumfield and edited by David Leat

Enquiry tools for promoting emotional engagement and ownership

scameron — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:31:26 +0100

Previously, we have looked at resources and practical activities to help students develop their own understanding of what enquiry is and how it might be structured.

Creative thinking in literacy, art and design

scameron — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:49:27 +0100

Pam Smyth provides suggestions for enriching the curriculum in creative ways to help children achieve the National Literacy Strategy objectives.

Taken from The Literacy Coordinator's File, edited by Roger Hurn (no longer published)

Science enrichment activity: Crime scene

scameron — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:16:43 +0100

This 18 page lesson plan looks at forensic science, including forgery and chemical analysis.

It aims to capture the imagination of students by relating science to popular television programmes and films, by examining the different areas of scientific investigation applied when assessing crime scenes.

It also includes a 'student's notes' pack, with diagrams for students to examine fingerprints, and forms for them to print their own.

Written by John Senior and Angela Tuff

Maths resources: Sunshine Game and Rounders

scameron — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:52:17 +0100

Both these maths games encourage Year 3 pupils to understand numbers and the numbers system by engaging them in group activity.

Taken from Maths Games for ages 7 to 11, edited by Godfrey Hall (no longer published)

Maths resources: Addsub dominoes and Decimal Grand Prix

scameron — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:32:33 +0100

Both these maths games encourage KS3 pupils to understand complex addition and subtraction, utilising the laws of arithmetic and inverse operations, by engaging them in group activity.

Taken from Numeracy Games for Key Stage 3, edited by Barbara Clark and Godfrey Hall (no longer published)

Lessons on China

scameron — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:44:45 +0100

With the Olympic flame already making its momentous journey through the world, eyes are now turning towards Beijing in China for this year’s Olympic Games. Newspapers, television news reports and magazines are full of information on the games and China – and with all this stimuli flying about now is the perfect time to look at the topic of China as a source of cross-curricular teaching and learning. Many curriculum subjects can be incorporated into a study of China, with a study of Chinese history and geography offering a wealth of inspiring lesson ideas.

Supporting the learning of maths

scameron — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:25:31 +0100

The impact of the way mathematics was taught to us in school has a great effect on our attitudes and enthusiasm for the subject. If mathematics was a subject you had a natural aptitude for, you may have shone in lessons. But what if maths was a subject you never fully understood? If you were taught it, but did not actually learn or apply it to real life, then your attitude may be somewhat different.

Inspirational athlete: Sharron Davies, swimmer

scameron — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:20:14 +0100

There are so few examples in the UK of swimmers making their mark internationally as young as 13. What was it like as a child to be one of Britain’s best swimmers?
It was normal progression really into that sort of dedication. I started swimming at six and by eight I was training most days. In those days most swimmers started very young. They are older now. I had to grow up quickly I guess in some ways.

Lesson sequences: The Amazon rainforest

scameron — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:28:28 +0100

These lesson plans for geography teachers are taken from our 2005 Geographical Association Gold Award winner, Re-presenting Geography. The pack includes an essay planner, diagram cards and wall display plans, and could be used as part of a geography project on de-forestation. Written by Liz Taylor

Geography lesson plan: Disposal of different kinds of waste

sara — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:28:26 +0100

This exciting and constructive game will help you to successfully implement the geography curriculum in your school.

Pupils are encouraged to think about the implications waste disposal has on the environment and people. Pupils are also encouraged to decide how they would dispose of different kinds of waste. Cut-out cards are included with this resource for geography teachers.

Written by Rex Walford

Geography lesson activity: Should the rainforest be developed?

sara — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:28:26 +0100

This is a geography lesson activity that is available to download, and has been tried and tested by Tividale High School in Sandwell and will help you to achieve these learning objectives:

Geography lesson plan: Improving a shanty town

sara — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:28:26 +0100

This tried and tested geography exercise is stuctured to help pupils to develop their decision-making skills. This award-winning teaching resource contains ready-to-use slides and worksheets to stimulate thinking and discussion.

Creative teaching: Myths and legends numeracy projects

sara — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:28:25 +0100

Myths and legends numeracy projects

Written by Juliet Smith

This ready-to-use and comprehensive classroom resource includes the following:

Geography lesson plan: Caribbean fishermen

scameron — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:28:24 +0100

This game is a simulation activity for all key stages, based around the lives of fishermen on a small Caribbean island.

The game can be used with as few or as many students as desired, and can be managed by a teacher or self-operated by pupils.

Written by Rex Walford

Early Years PiP Cards: 1.4 Health and well-being

scameron — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:21:01 +0100

PiP Card Theme: A Unique Child
‘Every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.’

Commitment 1.4 Health and Wellbeing
‘Children’s health is an integral part of their emotional, mental, social, and spiritual wellbeing and is supported by attention to these aspects.’

Areas of knowledge covered:

Teaching primary languages through fairy tales

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:21:00 +0100

Chris Kington Publishing is excited to introduce Learning Languages Through Fairy Tales, a new resource that will make teaching and learning a new language easy and fun for both you and your pupils.

There are two fairy tales in the book, each translated four times to offer you a language course in French, German, Spanish and Italian.

Inspirational athlete: Nicola Adams, boxer

scameron — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:59 +0100

Arriving at the Middleton campus of Hopwood Hall College near Rochdale and roughly eight miles from Manchester, Nicola Adams isn’t quite what you’d expect in the way of top women’s boxers.

But although she cuts a slight figure, 21-year-old Nicola certainly packs a punch and has been doing just that since the age of 12.

“I started going to the gym with my mum in Leeds and they were running a boxing session for kids,” she explains. “I joined in with that and never looked back really.”

Early Years PiP Cards: 1.3 Keeping safe

scameron — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:55 +0100

PiP Card Theme: A Unique Child
‘Every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.’

Commitment 1.3 Keeping Safe
‘Young children are vulnerable. They develop resilience when their physical and psychological well being is protected by adults.’

Areas of knowledge covered:

Early Years PiP Cards: 1.2 Inclusive practice

scameron — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:52 +0100

PiP Card Theme: A Unique Child
‘Every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.’

Commitment 1.2 Inclusive Practice
‘The diversity of individuals and communities is valued and respected. No child or family is discriminated against.’
Areas of knowledge covered:

Early Years PiP Cards: 1.1 Child development

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:49 +0100

PiP Card Theme: A Unique Child
‘Every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.’

Commitment: 1.1 Child Development
‘Babies and children develop in individual ways and at varying rates. Every area of development – physical, cognitive, linguistic, spiritual, social and emotional is equally important.’
Areas of knowledge covered:

Lesson plans for key stage 2: Olympic Island

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:47 +0100

In 2008 there was a great deal in the media about Beijing and the accompanying human rights issues. Closer to home, the 2012 London Olympics are generating lots of debate on sustainable regeneration v capitalist exploitation. Sport has always been a great vehicle to engage the interest of young people and the Games have the added bonus of a background that goes beyond athletic achievement, encouraging the development of a sense of social justice and moral responsibility, as enshrined in the citizenship curriculum.

Helping students to become storytellers: games and activities

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:46 +0100

Telling stories to children builds their cognitive, social and emotional skills. It also lays the foundation for children to start creating and telling their own stories. In the process, they learn fundamental speaking and listening skills that will help them become confident and competent communicators, with resultant benefits for their wellbeing, behaviour and academic learning.

Inspirational athlete: Sonia O'Sullivan, middle distance runner

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:44 +0100

The track and field athlete Sonia O’Sullivan is Ireland’s most crowned sportswoman. Her illustrious career in middle-distance disciplines spanned the 1990s and culminated with an Olympic silver medal in the 5,000m in Sydney. Along the way, her trophy cabinet amassed titles from the World Athletics Championships (1995), the European Championships (1994 and double gold in 1998, double silver in 1992), the World Cross-Country Championships (double gold in 1998) and the World Indoor Championships (gold in 1997).

Teaching materials

Classroom ideas: studying Darwin

Creative thinking tools for the classroom: Kick Cards, The Inverse, Double Six

Using PE to boost cross curricular skills

Developing primary thinking skills with cricket

Inspirational athlete: Desmond Douglas, table tennis player

Sport spotlight: Mini-basketball

Teaching citizenship in six easy steps

Monitoring learning and teaching

Young children's thinking skills activity

SEN observation recording sheets

Living Geography: mystery cards

G&T classroom strategies: Science

Early Years PiP Cards: 2.4 Key person

Early Years PiP Cards: 2.3 Supporting Learning

Learning about climate change: lesson ideas

Science lessons: the seaside

Cricket games for primary students

The origins of the modern Olympic Games

Inspirational athlete: Tom Daley, swimmer

The Life Project: developing resourcefulness

Fostering thinking skills in early years

Early Years PiP Cards: 2.2 Parents as partners

Christmas maths resources

Taken from The Primary Christmas File, edited by Nick Hutchins, David Playfoot and Martin Skelton (no longer published)

Improving your school's G&T provision

Staff training material for child protection issues

Early Years PiP Cards: 2.1 Respecting each other

Primary teaching resource: writing skills

Enquiry tools for promoting emotional engagement and ownership

Creative thinking in literacy, art and design

Taken from The Literacy Coordinator's File, edited by Roger Hurn (no longer published)

Science enrichment activity: Crime scene

Maths resources: Sunshine Game and Rounders

Taken from Maths Games for ages 7 to 11, edited by Godfrey Hall (no longer published)

Maths resources: Addsub dominoes and Decimal Grand Prix

Taken from Numeracy Games for Key Stage 3, edited by Barbara Clark and Godfrey Hall (no longer published)

Lessons on China

Supporting the learning of maths

Inspirational athlete: Sharron Davies, swimmer

Lesson sequences: The Amazon rainforest

Geography lesson plan: Disposal of different kinds of waste

Geography lesson activity: Should the rainforest be developed?

Geography lesson plan: Improving a shanty town

Creative teaching: Myths and legends numeracy projects

Geography lesson plan: Caribbean fishermen

Early Years PiP Cards: 1.4 Health and well-being

Teaching primary languages through fairy tales

Inspirational athlete: Nicola Adams, boxer

Early Years PiP Cards: 1.3 Keeping safe

Early Years PiP Cards: 1.2 Inclusive practice

Early Years PiP Cards: 1.1 Child development

Lesson plans for key stage 2: Olympic Island

Helping students to become storytellers: games and activities

Inspirational athlete: Sonia O'Sullivan, middle distance runner