Christmas Resources
As Christmas is almost upon us, Topmarks Christmas pages have been bustling with traffic. This year we have added instructions for making four new Christmas Cards designs that you could try in the classroom and a new page, featuring Christmas games and Advent Calendars for young children, which is proving to be one of the busiest on Topmarks already!
Parents' Articles
We have added two new parents' articles, 'Learning through Cooking' and 'Choosing a Primary or Secondary School'. We explain the many beneficial learning experiences that cooking activities provide, including developing mathematical vocabulary and give guidance to parents on how they can promote their child's learning. Early years practioners may like to tell parents about this.
Additions to Our Search Engine
As usual we have been adding lots of sites to our search engine and our interactive whiteboard pages. There are too many for me to mention here but I have selected some of my favourites from the latest additions to tell you about.
Early Years - Ages 3 - 6
Mr Tumble and the Minibeasts
A CBeebies story on the theme of minibeasts. Children need to help the character Mr Tumble on his way to find his missing juggling ball. By clicking on the minibeasts children can hear familiar songs. This is a delightful, animated story includes Makaton signs.
Maths - Key Stage 1, P2 - P3, Ages 6 - 7
Shark Numbers
A tens and units maths game. Children need to count carefully otherwise the shark will bite their boat.
Maths Key Stages 2, P6 - P7 Ages 9 - 11
Little Ernie's Daily Maths Tasks
Here you can create unlimited printable daily maths tasks for your pupils. Select the topics you want to cover, print it off and photocopy for your class. Good for SATs revision too.
Maths KS3, S1 - S2, Ages 11 - 12
Addition and Subtraction of Integers
Do your pupils have trouble with addition and subtraction of integers especially involving positive and negative numbers? This site will allow them to visually understand the concepts that are in place behind the scenes. It works well on an interactive whiteboard.
English KS3 KS4, S1-S5, Ages 11 - 16
Short Story
An animated, interactive teaching unit which looks at the elements of a short story and then provides a breakdown of three popular short stories. Students and teachers can use all or part of the resource. Includes teachers' notes.
English - Key Stage 3, S1- S3, Ages 11 - 14
What is a Clause?
This interactive animated tutorial explains the difference between independent and dependent clauses. There are activities where pupils need to identify types of clauses and to make sentences involving clauses. It is suitable for use on an interactive whiteboard.
Biology/Science - Key Stage 2, P4 - P7, Ages 8 - 11
Parts of a Flower and Pollination Activity
An animated matching activity about the parts of a flower which has a narrated explanation and a drag and drop matching activity. It also illustrates the pollination process.
Physics/Science - Key Stage 2, P3 - P7, Ages 7 - 11
Light and Shadows
A series of animations showing how light and shadows behave. A useful teaching aid particularly on an interactive whiteboard. It has teachers' notes.
Look out for more new additions next month in my Best of December post.