Tagged with 'learning resources'

Learn through fun outdoor play!

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!

BROWSE THE CATEGORY

What’s Hot? STEM Robot Mouse

Learning Resources Posted On Jun 27, 2016 | Learn

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 21^stcentury 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 â€œSQUEAAKKâ€
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 â€œthe 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 â€œthis 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 â€œColby 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. Itâ€™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.

What’s Hot? STEM Robot Mouse

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

Move forward and back
Loud â€œSQUEAAKKâ€
CHIRP-CHIRP-CHIRP (and light-up eyes!)

Testimonials

Learning Resources Posted On May 27, 2016

Did you know that Friday 27^th May is Big Board Game Day? Organised by the NSPCC, the day invites people of all ages to play their favourite board games and raise money to support the fight for every childhood.Here at Learning Resources, we have hosted our very own Big Board Game Day, with a game tournament featuring six of our favourite family games, all new for 2016! Board games are a great way to enjoy uninterrupted family time and also introduce children to social constructs such as turn taking, listening, winning and losing.

Board games help to build valuable early learning skills such as:

Vocabulary
Communication
Problem solving
Connecting prior knowledge
Turn taking
Critical thinking

Weâ€™ve put together some mini challenges, based upon our board game tournament, for you to try at home!

Â Ready, Set, Woof! Colour Matching Game

This is a game of observation and colour matching; can you spot the puppy that matches the colours on the randomiser? Hint: you are looking for yellow ears and a red collar!

Sophieâ€™s Seashell Scrambleâ„¢

This is a game of fine motor skills and pattern matching. Players select the shells that match what the spinner is showing; can you find the shell that Sophie needs?

Brownie Matchâ„¢ Attribute Game

This game is a tasty take on early numeracy skills! The brownies are cooling in the tray and each one has a number underneath. Can you guess which brownie will show the number on the spinner?

Ten To The Top Number Game

The race is on to make ten with this colourful stacking game. Â Players each face a different angle of the tower and make ten from the last number placed on. Can you work out which number comes next in the sequence?

Alphabet Island Letter Recognition Game

This is an early literacy game, with two levels of play; letter recognition and beginning sounds. Can you spot the picture disc that matches the letter shown below?

Colour Cubed Strategy Game

This is a game of strategy and critical thinking. Players connect colour tiles made up of 4 squares, trying to match as many as possible with squares already placed down. Where would you place the next tile for the most points?

Answers

Ready, Set, Woof! Colour Matching Game

Sophieâ€™s Seashell Scramble

Brownie Match Attribute Game

10 to the Top

Alphabet Island

Colour Cubed

Let us know how many you got right on twitter: @LRUK#LoveLearning

Are you Big Board Game ready?

Board games help to build valuable early learning skills such as:

Vocabulary
Communication
Problem solving
Connecting prior knowledge
Turn taking
Critical thinking

Weâ€™ve put together some mini challenges, based upon our board game tournament, for you to try at home!

Â Ready, Set, Woof! Colour Matching Game

This is a game of observation and colour matching; can you spot the puppy that matches the colours on the randomiser? Hint: you are looking for yellow ears and a red collar!

Sophieâ€™s Seashell Scrambleâ„¢

This is a game of fine motor skills and pattern matching. Players select the shells that match what the spinner is showing; can you find the shell that Sophie needs?

Brownie Matchâ„¢ Attribute Game

This game is a tasty take on early numeracy skills! The brownies are cooling in the tray and each one has a number underneath. Can you guess which brownie will show the number on the spinner?

Ten To The Top Number Game

Alphabet Island Letter Recognition Game

This is an early literacy game, with two levels of play; letter recognition and beginning sounds. Can you spot the picture disc that matches the letter shown below?

Colour Cubed Strategy Game

Answers

Ready, Set, Woof! Colour Matching Game

Sophieâ€™s Seashell Scramble

Brownie Match Attribute Game

10 to the Top

Alphabet Island

Colour Cubed

Let us know how many you got right on twitter: @LRUK#LoveLearning

Learning Resources Posted On May 17, 2016 | Community

Pictured: Louise Benstead (right), Learning ResourcesÂ®, accepting the award from Chris Mahady (left), MD of Findel. Learning Resourcesâ€™ pioneering work in developing hands-on STEM resources, has been recognised for the second time this year with a Findel â€˜Best Product Innovationâ€™ Award!Launched in January, the range comprises of six teacher-friendly kits meeting the STEM needs of primary classrooms. STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, and defines an approach to learning that asks children to solve real-world problems through enquiry based processes.Each Key Stage 1 STEM in Action kit includes:

Pre-printed worksheets and homework activities
The materials needed for up to 30 students
Double-sided teacher-led activity cards
â€˜Quick startâ€™ preparation cards with helpful hints
A colourful story poster

Held at the Manchester United Football Conference Centre, eight awards were presented on the night, each recognising exceptional UK suppliers. Learning ResourcesÂ® were commended for bringing a range to the UK education market ahead of the field, working closely with Findel in a highly valued partnership.Darren Baxendale, Purchasing Manager at Findel Education said: â€œFindel acknowledged the STEM in Action range from Learning Resources in this award as it was everything we were looking for in a supplier. The partnership and product innovation displayed in the STEM in Action range is a perfect fit for Findelâ€™s customers, and the close working relationship Learning Resources has with Findel is of great benefit to both parties.â€Hannah Searle, STEM in Action Manager, said:

â€œOur exciting STEM in Action range of comprehensive hands-on kits for primary school children provide Key Stage 1 and 2 teachers with digestible and intuitive STEM projects. Each ready-to-use kit will save teachers up to 12 hours in preparation and planning, by providing teachers with everything they need right out of the box including: lesson plans, activity sheets, homework ideas and assessment tools. Primary teachers will not only save valuable time, but will see their confidence grow and the studentâ€™s attainment levels increase in the ever important area of STEM learning. Working in close partnership, Learning Resources and Findel Education have mutually benefitted from each otherâ€™s product development experience, distribution channels and sales & marketing expertise, to be the first to bring such an innovative range to market.â€

Find out more about the STEM in Action range and how it can help in your classroom.

Our STEM in Action range has been recognised as ‘Best Product Innovation’ at the Findel Supplier Awards!

Pre-printed worksheets and homework activities
The materials needed for up to 30 students
Double-sided teacher-led activity cards
â€˜Quick startâ€™ preparation cards with helpful hints
A colourful story poster

â€œOur exciting STEM in Action range of comprehensive hands-on kits for primary school children provide Key Stage 1 and 2 teachers with digestible and intuitive STEM projects. Each ready-to-use kit will save teachers up to 12 hours in preparation and planning, by providing teachers with everything they need right out of the box including: lesson plans, activity sheets, homework ideas and assessment tools. Primary teachers will not only save valuable time, but will see their confidence grow and the studentâ€™s attainment levels increase in the ever important area of STEM learning. Working in close partnership, Learning Resources and Findel Education have mutually benefitted from each otherâ€™s product development experience, distribution channels and sales & marketing expertise, to be the first to bring such an innovative range to market.â€

Find out more about the STEM in Action range and how it can help in your classroom.

Learning Resources Posted On May 16, 2016 | Community

Product:Â Plot Blocksâ„¢ Story Building Activity SetReviewed by: Belinda Robertson, Specialist Speech and Language TherapistEstablishment:Â Hitchin Speech Therapy

How did you use the product?

1:1 in a quiet speech and language therapy session, school based.

What was the agerange of the children you used it with?

I used these cubes and composite picture cards with KS1 children â€“ aged 6 - 8 year olds as well as a Year 4, 9-year-old.

What are the benefits of the resource?

Very portable â€“ strong, well made picture cards and I put the cubes in a draw-string â€˜feely bagâ€™.
Some familiar and some less familiar scenes which promoted further discussion.
A fabulous resource to develop understanding and use of â€˜narrativeâ€™ and storytelling. The visuals were superb at supporting the logical sequencing of events to enable students to a) plan and then b) tell their narrative.
I used this resource with individual students, but I can easily see how this would be a fantastic resource for group therapy as well; it would encourage and target turn-taking, social skills, focus, eye contact, listening to others, negotiation, vocabulary, narrative, higher level thinking, asking questions and inferenceâ€¦all in one!

Â

Resource Review â€“ Benefits of the product

This resource was so interactive, fun and tactile!
The complete and clear pictures, with good size cubes to roll (for smallish hands). The cubes have a lovely tactile feel that my students really liked.
I think I would like some more familiar or everyday scenes for younger children eg; fair/zoo/park/football pitch/classroom etc.
Â Although there were suggestions for ideas how to use the resource, which were easy to follow, I was able to use further ideas and/or customise its use with individual children easily i.e. using less cubes initially.
The colour coding of the cubes was excellent (as was having the crib sheet on the back of the instructions).

What is the long term appeal of the resource?

One of the most useful aspects of this resource was that it could be used with a huge age range. EYFS students would like the cubes and pictures, my KS1 and KS2 children loved it. I could also see it working well with EAL, KS3 and older students and adults with learning difficulties.

Is the product unique?

The idea of story cubes isnâ€™t unique, but coupling them with the overlays is. Very ingenious.

Tried & Tested - Plot Blocks™ Story Building Activity Set

Product:Â Plot Blocksâ„¢ Story Building Activity SetReviewed by: Belinda Robertson, Specialist Speech and Language TherapistEstablishment:Â Hitchin Speech Therapy

How did you use the product?

1:1 in a quiet speech and language therapy session, school based.

What was the agerange of the children you used it with?

I used these cubes and composite picture cards with KS1 children â€“ aged 6 - 8 year olds as well as a Year 4, 9-year-old.

What are the benefits of the resource?

Very portable â€“ strong, well made picture cards and I put the cubes in a draw-string â€˜feely bagâ€™.
Some familiar and some less familiar scenes which promoted further discussion.
A fabulous resource to develop understanding and use of â€˜narrativeâ€™ and storytelling. The visuals were superb at supporting the logical sequencing of events to enable students to a) plan and then b) tell their narrative.
I used this resource with individual students, but I can easily see how this would be a fantastic resource for group therapy as well; it would encourage and target turn-taking, social skills, focus, eye contact, listening to others, negotiation, vocabulary, narrative, higher level thinking, asking questions and inferenceâ€¦all in one!

Â

Resource Review â€“ Benefits of the product

This resource was so interactive, fun and tactile!
The complete and clear pictures, with good size cubes to roll (for smallish hands). The cubes have a lovely tactile feel that my students really liked.
I think I would like some more familiar or everyday scenes for younger children eg; fair/zoo/park/football pitch/classroom etc.
Â Although there were suggestions for ideas how to use the resource, which were easy to follow, I was able to use further ideas and/or customise its use with individual children easily i.e. using less cubes initially.
The colour coding of the cubes was excellent (as was having the crib sheet on the back of the instructions).

What is the long term appeal of the resource?

Is the product unique?

The idea of story cubes isnâ€™t unique, but coupling them with the overlays is. Very ingenious. READ MORE

Better Hearing and Speech Month

Learning Resources Posted On May 16, 2016 | National Holidays

May is â€œBetter Hearing and Speech Monthâ€, an annual awareness campaign organised by ASHA.Learning Resources provide an array of communication resources designed to build confidence in early vocabulary and oral language skills. In order to raise awareness of this campaign and its goals, weâ€™ve teamed up with Belinda Robertson, Specialist Speech and Language Therapist atÂ Hitchin Speech Therapy, to ask some key questions about communication and social development in young learners.

Mrs Belinda RobertsonIndependent Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (SLT)Belinda is a qualified Speech and Language Therapist who has had an extensive and enjoyable 32 years working with children of all ages and personalities, in a wide range of different locations and establishments.She has been an SLT manager in the NHS, tutored nursing students, a community governor of an â€˜outstandingâ€™ nursery school, is a mother herself and now works in her own private Speech and Language Therapy practice (www.hitchinspeechtherapy.com).She has a huge wealth of experience working with children with many different speech and language difficulties and special needs; including autism, Downs Syndrome, stammering, feeding & swallowing difficulties, dyspraxia, learning difficulties, voice problems, brain injury and cerebral palsy.At â€˜Hitchin Speech Therapyâ€™ she feels extremely lucky to work with children of all different ages and therefore with a huge range of toys and resources on a daily basis!

How can parents and childminders support their childrenâ€™s verbal communication at home?

0-2 years

Look at books together, sing songs and traditional rhymes, stacking toys to develop turn-taking, hand and action rhymes. No screen time/media for under 2â€™s is often recommended by many paediatricians

Pre-school

Play, play, play! Remember you are your childâ€™s favourite plaything/toy!
Get down to your childâ€™s level â€“ play and talk so they can really see your face.
More books, more songs, more action songs & rhymes, more traditional nursery rhymes. Their benefit for speech and language development cannot be stressed enough.
Turn-taking puzzles and gamesâ€“ COMMUNICATION is all about verbal turn taking.
Play what we call â€˜The Childâ€™s Gameâ€™ where you follow your childâ€™s lead and not your own agenda.
Turn off the T. V, media and iPad/iPhoneâ€¦limit it to national guidelines.
Develop your childâ€™s understanding of letters and sounds by teaching them both the letter as in â€˜gâ€™ (gee) and the phonic sound â€˜gâ€™.
Support your childâ€™s language by remembering the â€˜Rule of handâ€™ = make 4 comments (fingers) to one question (thumb). Your child is more likely to continue and develop a conversation this way than just answering your yes/no QUESTION.

What style of game would you recommend to support childrenâ€™s social development?

Peek-a-boo, row-row-row-the-boat â€“ action songs and rhymes
I-spy type games
Verbal turn-taking of any sort
Remember to â€˜role-reverseâ€™ when playing games so that your child becomes â€˜the teacherâ€™!
Develop the rules of turn-taking from quite early on. You can do this with siblings, family members and friends. Eg: ball rolling to each other, putting pieces in a puzzle or putting the next brick on a tower.
Ready, steadyâ€¦go games! Always a winner!
A Speech and Language Therapist is never seen without her bubbles â€“ great for getting social skills and interaction going.

What is the value of hands-on games?

With hands on games your child SEES and HEARS and UNDERSTANDS (at a very basic level) that you want to spend time with them, that you cherish them and that you want to spend your valuable time with them.
These types of games develop speech, language, communication, turn-taking, interaction, patience, fine-motor, thought, logic, numeracy, concepts and ideasâ€¦the young brain is like a sponge and wants to soak all these skills up each and every day.
They are fun and enjoyable â€“ you can laugh and laugh and laugh.
They relax you and your child.
You develop reciprocal (shared) experiences â€“ so essential for attachment, Â bonding and nurturing.
You can play hands on games at any age from 6 months â€“ 100. Get the whole family involved!

Â

Have you noticed any consequences ofchildren living in the digital age?

Research is showing that in some areas language/talking/listening is less well developed on entry to pre-school, nursery and reception.
Head Teachers are telling me they are noticing this more and more, and that it is having a detrimental effect on early language, social skills, listening and attention skills, which have a knock on effect on a childâ€™s early literacy (reading, writing and spelling).

Do you have any advice for the prevention of hearing and speech difficulties in young children?

Offer as many listening and speaking opportunities as you can - throughout the day and every day.
If you know of any speech, language, autistic spectrum disorder, stammering or hearing loss in your family history â€“ get early advice if you can.
If you are concerned, follow your mum/dad instinct and request advice or an assessment early. Early intervention is recommended in the literature.
Reduce and stop dummy use as soon as you can. Persistent and habitual use is linked to Glue Ear and suspected hearing difficulties.
Turn the TV, radio, tablet down rather that up â€“ even better, off.
Do not give young children headphones unless advised by a professional to do so.
Attend professional appointments if you are offered them â€“ others may be concerned about your childâ€™s development, even if you feel they are coming on well.

(Parents are advised to look up the latest research on the internet for further information. Guidelines and advice change frequently with updatedresearch).Belinda does not have anything against ipads when used sensibly/limited and also uses them in some therapy sessions.Belinda has tested out some of our communication resources within a therapy setting including Plot Blocksâ„¢ Story Building Activity Set and Wild About Animals Snapshotsâ„¢ Critical Thinking Photo Cards. â€œThe fierce animals looked fierce (which my boy students loved) and the more gentle animals did look really gentle and appealing. Many of the cards created a sense of animation, movement, humour and anticipation â€“ just like wild animals should!â€ Read the full reviews above.