Playing outside is an essential part of a child's development. From making mud kitchens, to getting to know nature, learning and playing outside will help little learners form key developmental skills such as physical health & self-confidence!
All About Me Activity CardsAll About Me Family Counters The set of visually appealing double-sided activity cards is a part of our All About Me range and encourage children to learn essential early maths skills whilst learning about themselves and the world around them. Designed to use alongside our award-winning All About Me Family Countersâ„¢. The have been created to meet the needs of teachers and parents following requests for interactive counter activities. The set contains 20 double sided activity cards, one interactive vehicle card and a fold-out, double sided 1-20 number line featuring both UK and European number formations. Activities can be used to teach the following early maths skills, including:
Positional awareness
Patterns and sequencing
Sorting and grouping
Size and colour recognition
Early arithmetic – addition, subtraction and multiplication
The All About Me Activity Cards support a variety of learning styles such as kinaesthetic and visual, with an emphasis on the foundations for learning. Students learn to think mathematically as opposed to reciting formulas or procedures. Parent blogger Colette from We’re Going on Adventure tested the cards with her two children (aged 2,5 & 7) and said:
“I love how brightly coloured they are and how easy they are to handle. You know from the outset that both the counters and cards are going to withstand being used over and over again (either at home or in the classroom). I was immediately struck by just how many ways the counters could be used on their own and then with the addition of the cards you’ve ramped up the opportunities for learning even further.â€
Here are a few examples of the activities included in the set and how they involve the counters to extend the learning opportunities:
Patterns and Sequences Ask children to replicate the pattern on the activity card using the counters. Can they find the missing counter in the sequence? The cards progress in difficulty, moving through the two colour, three colour and four colourm patterns. Once children become confident in completing the colour patterns on the cards encourage them to have a go at making their own, or even try making patterns using the character type.Sorting and Grouping Taking a handful of counters encourage children to sort and match them by colour or type (or both!) by placing them on the corresponding activity cards. To extend their learning, encourage colour recognition and ask children to find things around them that are the same colour and place onto the corresponding colour card? This activity also develops fine motor skills as children hold and release the counters.Early Addition and SubtractionUse the counters to support the concept of addition and subtraction. A number line is included in the set that they can use for support in counting forwards or backwards. Start by telling a story that involves addition and subtraction of family counters and encouraging children to act it out. Once children understand the concept of adding and subtraction, introduce them to what each operation sign means and again encourage them to act out the number sentence using their sequence.SharingSelect an even number of counters to represent families. Ask the children to share the counters equally into the two or three houses that are represented on the activity cards. How many live in each house? Are there any counters remaining? Encourage children to add or subtract more counters. How many more or less would then live in each house? How many would be in each house if there were four houses?Size RecognitionAsk children to create the pattern shown on the activity card. Ask questions such as who is the tallest/shortest to prompt them to find the next character in the sequence. To extend their learning ask children to find their own friends who are taller/shorter within the class or objects that are bigger/smaller than the counters, and organise them in order.Positional LanguageTaking a counter to use as the ‘actor’, ask children if they can put the character in the different situations in the picture scenes on the card, as: under the table, on the swing, next to the dustbin, near the door or far away from the tree. This can also be replicated in real-life on the playground or in the garden. Can they provide instructions to you or a friend? Once they have mastered one-step instructions try a two-step instruction.More or Less?The family counters are waiting patiently for their bus/train. Once it arrives use the purple activity cards to slide beneath the number bus/train card. By sliding in more or less of the card you can represent more or less people on the bus/train. Ask children simple addition/subtraction questions using the visual (for example: “if there are four people on the bus and two get off how many are left?†or “If there are two people on the train and three more get on how many people are now on the train?â€) #LoveLearning
All About Me Activity CardsAll About Me Family Counters The set of visually appealing double-sided activity cards is a part of our All About Me range and encourage children to learn essential early maths skills whilst learning about themselves and the world around them. Designed to use alongside our award-winning All About Me Family Countersâ„¢. The have been created to meet the needs of teachers and parents following requests for interactive counter activities. The set contains 20 double sided activity cards, one interactive vehicle card and a fold-out, double sided 1-20 number line featuring both UK and European number formations. Activities can be used to teach the following early maths skills, including:
Positional awareness
Patterns and sequencing
Sorting and grouping
Size and colour recognition
Early arithmetic – addition, subtraction and multiplication
The All About Me Activity Cards support a variety of learning styles such as kinaesthetic and visual, with an emphasis on the foundations for learning. Students learn to think mathematically as opposed to reciting formulas or procedures. Parent blogger Colette from We’re Going on Adventure tested the cards with her two children (aged 2,5 & 7) and said:
“I love how brightly coloured they are and how easy they are to handle. You know from the outset that both the counters and cards are going to withstand being used over and over again (either at home or in the classroom). I was immediately struck by just how many ways the counters could be used on their own and then with the addition of the cards you’ve ramped up the opportunities for learning even further.â€
Here are a few examples of the activities included in the set and how they involve the counters to extend the learning opportunities:
Patterns and Sequences Ask children to replicate the pattern on the activity card using the counters. Can they find the missing counter in the sequence? The cards progress in difficulty, moving through the two colour, three colour and four colourm patterns. Once children become confident in completing the colour patterns on the cards encourage them to have a go at making their own, or even try making patterns using the character type.Sorting and Grouping Taking a handful of counters encourage children to sort and match them by colour or type (or both!) by placing them on the corresponding activity cards. To extend their learning, encourage colour recognition and ask children to find things around them that are the same colour and place onto the corresponding colour card? This activity also develops fine motor skills as children hold and release the counters.Early Addition and SubtractionUse the counters to support the concept of addition and subtraction. A number line is included in the set that they can use for support in counting forwards or backwards. Start by telling a story that involves addition and subtraction of family counters and encouraging children to act it out. Once children understand the concept of adding and subtraction, introduce them to what each operation sign means and again encourage them to act out the number sentence using their sequence.SharingSelect an even number of counters to represent families. Ask the children to share the counters equally into the two or three houses that are represented on the activity cards. How many live in each house? Are there any counters remaining? Encourage children to add or subtract more counters. How many more or less would then live in each house? How many would be in each house if there were four houses?Size RecognitionAsk children to create the pattern shown on the activity card. Ask questions such as who is the tallest/shortest to prompt them to find the next character in the sequence. To extend their learning ask children to find their own friends who are taller/shorter within the class or objects that are bigger/smaller than the counters, and organise them in order.Positional LanguageTaking a counter to use as the ‘actor’, ask children if they can put the character in the different situations in the picture scenes on the card, as: under the table, on the swing, next to the dustbin, near the door or far away from the tree. This can also be replicated in real-life on the playground or in the garden. Can they provide instructions to you or a friend? Once they have mastered one-step instructions try a two-step instruction.More or Less?The family counters are waiting patiently for their bus/train. Once it arrives use the purple activity cards to slide beneath the number bus/train card. By sliding in more or less of the card you can represent more or less people on the bus/train. Ask children simple addition/subtraction questions using the visual (for example: “if there are four people on the bus and two get off how many are left?†or “If there are two people on the train and three more get on how many people are now on the train?â€) #LoveLearning
Base Ten Blocks are a maths manipulative that help young learners to understand how numbers relate to one another, specifically ones, tens, hundreds and thousands.
Base Ten Blocks are a maths manipulative that help young learners to understand how numbers relate to one another, specifically ones, tens, hundreds and thousands.
Jenny Eaves is a mummy of two small, delightfully energetic boys – five and two - and blogs at Monkey and Mouse. Based in Scotland, she started Monkey and Mouse in February 2015 as a way to share her daily adventures and family play ideas with others. She loves writing about travelling and days out, enjoying the countryside and many places of interest, both in the UK and abroad. Jenny gives us an interesting insight into what can be a controversial aspect of education.
How did you make the decision to home educate?
When my eldest was a year old I had begun to have thoughts about schooling and whether it would be right for our family. I met a local home education group when he was 18 months old and decided there and then that home education would be the way forward for us.
How have you prepared your child to be ready for homeeducation?
We technically already home educate from a young age. Our children learn how to speak, learn their colours and numbers from us and of course they then begin exploring the world around them, learning as they go. So we’re not really preparing anything, we’re simply continuing to aid our son in his own exploration and learning.
How do you encourage your children to socialise with their peers?
This is always the big question for anyone who doesn’t know how the home educated world works. When really it should be the other way round! Who doesn’t remember a teacher telling them in class that they’re ‘not here to socialise’! Or maybe that was just me being a chatterbox?! We attend different home educated groups every week, meet with local friends who are home educated or playing with kids on the street when everyone else has finished school or at weekends. Our five year old will also be joining a few clubs in the evenings too, but he’s still deciding which ones he would like to do.At the moment our five year old has always preferred to play his owngames, keeping away from other kids play. However, very recently I have noticed him going off to join in with other children’s games and playing happily with them, which makes me very proud at how far he’s come.
What support networks do you have in place?
We have lots of home educated friends in the local area, including one of our five year olds best friends. We are also a part of several home education Facebook groups, which are great for any questions we have and meeting new people.
Are there any websites or information sources that you would recommend for other home educating parents?
In Scotland there is Schoolhouse, which has a lot of information about Scottish Home Education (certain things are slightly different to English Home Education). If you simply Google home education in your area or search for home education groups on Facebook you will find someone nearby who can point you in the direction you need.
How have you planned the learning areas you will be focusing on?
We aren’t planning any area, instead we will focus on our five year olds interests and go from there. For example one day he might want to read about the planets (English and Science) and we will take a day trip to the Glasgow Science Centre to visit the planetarium (English, Science, Maths), we might make Saturn collages (Art and Science) and in the evening go outside to look for planets and identify constellations (Science). Of course the next day he might simply want to be Rocky from Paw Patrol, but that’s ok as children need to be able to just play too.
Will you be following the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence?
No, we intend to mostly take the unschooling path (which is when you let your child learn with no set programme and with as much freedom as you can give).
What do you feel are the benefits of home education?
It’s the smallest 'class’ size as you’re going to get! Our eldest will only need to compete for attention with his brother, not with a whole class of children. If there are any problems then he can get help straight away and he will not be pushed on to learn something when he’s not ready or be kept back when he’s ahead.He is free to enjoy learning and has the freedom to learn using what interests him, whether it be space, horses or wizardry. It’s surprising how easily all the different topics can be brought into a day’s fun.There’s so much freedom to enjoy life without restrictions of school, childhood is short and it’s great to be able to learn through play for as long as they wantto.
How will you help your children to differentiate between‘education time’ and ‘home time’?
There won’t be a definition, learning should be fun, if my son enjoys learning he will want to do it whenever he feels like or he may not even realise it’s learning!
What kind of resources have you stocked up on to supportyour child’s learning at home?
I have made sure we have a fully stocked art cupboard and baking cupboard for any projects we need. I also like to have lots of items for exploration such as magnets, maps, magnifying glasses, bug catchers and torches. We have a variety of educational 'toys’ including the Robot Mouse, Gears, Gears, Gears Set and Subscope from Learning Resources. Our other vital piece of equipment is a library card, which opens up a huge world of learning.
What advice would you give other parents thinking about home educating?
Follow your gut instinct, if you think your child would benefit from home education then go for it.
Jenny Eaves is a mummy of two small, delightfully energetic boys – five and two - and blogs at Monkey and Mouse. Based in Scotland, she started Monkey and Mouse in February 2015 as a way to share her daily adventures and family play ideas with others. She loves writing about travelling and days out, enjoying the countryside and many places of interest, both in the UK and abroad. Jenny gives us an interesting insight into what can be a controversial aspect of education.
How did you make the decision to home educate?
When my eldest was a year old I had begun to have thoughts about schooling and whether it would be right for our family. I met a local home education group when he was 18 months old and decided there and then that home education would be the way forward for us.
How have you prepared your child to be ready for homeeducation?
We technically already home educate from a young age. Our children learn how to speak, learn their colours and numbers from us and of course they then begin exploring the world around them, learning as they go. So we’re not really preparing anything, we’re simply continuing to aid our son in his own exploration and learning.
How do you encourage your children to socialise with their peers?
This is always the big question for anyone who doesn’t know how the home educated world works. When really it should be the other way round! Who doesn’t remember a teacher telling them in class that they’re ‘not here to socialise’! Or maybe that was just me being a chatterbox?! We attend different home educated groups every week, meet with local friends who are home educated or playing with kids on the street when everyone else has finished school or at weekends. Our five year old will also be joining a few clubs in the evenings too, but he’s still deciding which ones he would like to do.At the moment our five year old has always preferred to play his owngames, keeping away from other kids play. However, very recently I have noticed him going off to join in with other children’s games and playing happily with them, which makes me very proud at how far he’s come.
What support networks do you have in place?
We have lots of home educated friends in the local area, including one of our five year olds best friends. We are also a part of several home education Facebook groups, which are great for any questions we have and meeting new people.
Are there any websites or information sources that you would recommend for other home educating parents?
In Scotland there is Schoolhouse, which has a lot of information about Scottish Home Education (certain things are slightly different to English Home Education). If you simply Google home education in your area or search for home education groups on Facebook you will find someone nearby who can point you in the direction you need.
How have you planned the learning areas you will be focusing on?
We aren’t planning any area, instead we will focus on our five year olds interests and go from there. For example one day he might want to read about the planets (English and Science) and we will take a day trip to the Glasgow Science Centre to visit the planetarium (English, Science, Maths), we might make Saturn collages (Art and Science) and in the evening go outside to look for planets and identify constellations (Science). Of course the next day he might simply want to be Rocky from Paw Patrol, but that’s ok as children need to be able to just play too.
Will you be following the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence?
No, we intend to mostly take the unschooling path (which is when you let your child learn with no set programme and with as much freedom as you can give).
What do you feel are the benefits of home education?
It’s the smallest 'class’ size as you’re going to get! Our eldest will only need to compete for attention with his brother, not with a whole class of children. If there are any problems then he can get help straight away and he will not be pushed on to learn something when he’s not ready or be kept back when he’s ahead.He is free to enjoy learning and has the freedom to learn using what interests him, whether it be space, horses or wizardry. It’s surprising how easily all the different topics can be brought into a day’s fun.There’s so much freedom to enjoy life without restrictions of school, childhood is short and it’s great to be able to learn through play for as long as they wantto.
How will you help your children to differentiate between‘education time’ and ‘home time’?
There won’t be a definition, learning should be fun, if my son enjoys learning he will want to do it whenever he feels like or he may not even realise it’s learning!
What kind of resources have you stocked up on to supportyour child’s learning at home?
I have made sure we have a fully stocked art cupboard and baking cupboard for any projects we need. I also like to have lots of items for exploration such as magnets, maps, magnifying glasses, bug catchers and torches. We have a variety of educational 'toys’ including the Robot Mouse, Gears, Gears, Gears Set and Subscope from Learning Resources. Our other vital piece of equipment is a library card, which opens up a huge world of learning.
What advice would you give other parents thinking about home educating?
Follow your gut instinct, if you think your child would benefit from home education then go for it.
This month you have loved our award-winning STEM Robot Mouse Activity Set, the low cost solution to coding in primary classrooms! This must-have set provides an introduction to the concepts of coding and STEM learning. We are surrounded by technology like never before including video games, smart phones and tablets. They are all forms of communication that impact our lives every single day and what they have in common is that they all involve coding! This set provides early learners a fun, real-world application of these essential 21st century skills. Children can programme the sequence of steps, and then watch the mouse race to find the cheese!
What skills does the set promote?
Problem solving
Self-correcting errors
Critical thinking
Analytical thinking
Understanding cause and effect
Working collaboratively with others
Discussion and communication skills
Calculating distance
Spatial concepts
Perfect for individual or group play, children can create their own maze board using 16 interlocking tiles and then add obstacles such as walls and tunnel pieces. The block of cheese can be placed anywhere on the board, with the challenge of programming the mouse to find it! The mouse has two speeds to enable tabletop and floor play. Before programming the mouse, children can map out his journey using colourful coding cards provided. They are colour co-ordinated to match the buttons on the mouse featuring forward, reverse, left and right commands. They also feature an action card, which programmes the mouse to perform one of three random acts:
Move forward and back
Loud “SQUEAAKKâ€
CHIRP-CHIRP-CHIRP (and light-up eyes!)
The Robot Mouse has won the 2016 Education Resources Award for Best Primary Curriculum Resource (including ICT). The awards honour the quality and diversity of products, schools and the most dedicated members of the education sector. In their eighteenth successful year, the awards are organised by BESA, the trade association representing educational suppliers in the UK sector, and Brilliant Marketing Solutions. The judges, an independent panel of experienced educational professionals, most of whom are classroom teachers said “the STEM Robot Mouse Activity Set would encourage children to build hands-on coding skills in a fun and enjoyable way. It was very easy to construct and represented excellent value for money!â€
Testimonials
Mrs Chimes, Class Teacher at South Wootton Infant School, said “this product is absolutely fantastic for the new Key Stage 1 ICT curriculum and requirements for children to create a series of instructions and plan a journey for a programmable toy. The children could use the product without adult support and really enjoyed itâ€. Emma Vanstone, blogger at Science Sparks, trialled the mouse with her coding club and said “Colby the Robot Mouse is a fantastic, hands on and visually appealing way to introduce coding to kids as well as helping to develop critical, logical and analytical thinking, spatial skills, teamwork and lots more. It’s been a big hit, both in my house and in a coding club I have been running at a local schoolâ€. Read her full review here.
This month you have loved our award-winning STEM Robot Mouse Activity Set, the low cost solution to coding in primary classrooms! This must-have set provides an introduction to the concepts of coding and STEM learning. We are surrounded by technology like never before including video games, smart phones and tablets. They are all forms of communication that impact our lives every single day and what they have in common is that they all involve coding! This set provides early learners a fun, real-world application of these essential 21st century skills. Children can programme the sequence of steps, and then watch the mouse race to find the cheese!
What skills does the set promote?
Problem solving
Self-correcting errors
Critical thinking
Analytical thinking
Understanding cause and effect
Working collaboratively with others
Discussion and communication skills
Calculating distance
Spatial concepts
Perfect for individual or group play, children can create their own maze board using 16 interlocking tiles and then add obstacles such as walls and tunnel pieces. The block of cheese can be placed anywhere on the board, with the challenge of programming the mouse to find it! The mouse has two speeds to enable tabletop and floor play. Before programming the mouse, children can map out his journey using colourful coding cards provided. They are colour co-ordinated to match the buttons on the mouse featuring forward, reverse, left and right commands. They also feature an action card, which programmes the mouse to perform one of three random acts:
Move forward and back
Loud “SQUEAAKKâ€
CHIRP-CHIRP-CHIRP (and light-up eyes!)
The Robot Mouse has won the 2016 Education Resources Award for Best Primary Curriculum Resource (including ICT). The awards honour the quality and diversity of products, schools and the most dedicated members of the education sector. In their eighteenth successful year, the awards are organised by BESA, the trade association representing educational suppliers in the UK sector, and Brilliant Marketing Solutions. The judges, an independent panel of experienced educational professionals, most of whom are classroom teachers said “the STEM Robot Mouse Activity Set would encourage children to build hands-on coding skills in a fun and enjoyable way. It was very easy to construct and represented excellent value for money!â€
Testimonials
Mrs Chimes, Class Teacher at South Wootton Infant School, said “this product is absolutely fantastic for the new Key Stage 1 ICT curriculum and requirements for children to create a series of instructions and plan a journey for a programmable toy. The children could use the product without adult support and really enjoyed itâ€. Emma Vanstone, blogger at Science Sparks, trialled the mouse with her coding club and said “Colby the Robot Mouse is a fantastic, hands on and visually appealing way to introduce coding to kids as well as helping to develop critical, logical and analytical thinking, spatial skills, teamwork and lots more. It’s been a big hit, both in my house and in a coding club I have been running at a local schoolâ€. Read her full review here.
