2020 - 2021 Newsletters & Timetables
After consultation with the parents / carers of Woodpecker pupils and the responses that were received this is how we are going to share home schooling activities at present.
Woodpeckers Class Home – School Pack
In the event that your child or family needs to self-isolate and your child is not able to attend school, the Woodpeckers Class staff have put together a pack of resources for you to use at home with your child.
In class we follow a routine of:
Lesson
Snack & outdoor play
Lesson
Lunch & outdoor play
Lesson
If you want to maintain your child’s routine, then you may wish to do something similar at home.
You may want to also use this time to teach your child a life skill such as cooking a special dish, learning how to sew, get outside in the garden together, all life skills worth teaching.
All subjects
Purple Mash – every child has their own log on
https://www.purplemash.com/login/
Education city – every child has their own log on
You can access age appropriate games for English, Phonics, Maths and Science.
https://ec1.educationcity.com/?_ga=2.44133412.1841357346.1584545561-768714290.1579880180
Links to a variety of websites covering different subjects can be found on the Rocklands School website. Follow – Children – Kid’s Zone
Primary Resources - Free lessons plans, activity ideas and resources covering all subjects.
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/
BBC Bitesize has lots of online learning with games to do for each subject and lesson ideas.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
Twinkl are offering a month free subscription in light of the current situation affecting education. All you need to do is enter the code UKTWINKLHELPS. Woodpecker Class suggest that you save any resources that you download onto your own home computer hard drive. Twinkl covers all subjects. There are variety of sequenced lessons plans in different subjects that you can download, which will include the resources needed to support the lessons.
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/sign-in
Top Marks has links to online education games for the following subjects; Early Years, English, Geography, History, Maths, Music, R.E and Science.
English, Reading & Phonics
Phonics Play
Phonics Play have made it free to access a variety of phonics resources. The user name and password can be found on the link.
https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/
You do not need to leave the house to visit the nearest library. Sign up for an online account and download as many e-books as you can read! Just type in Staffordshire library ebooks into Google.
https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Libraries/Library-services/eLibrary/eBooks.aspx
Oxford Owl has free online reading books for your child to read. There are also questions about the book for your child to answer.
At Rocklands School we follow Letter and Sounds to teach phonics. On the website there is a variety of resources and online games that range from phase 1 to phase 6.
http://www.letters-and-sounds.com/
Maths
Maths Worksheets 4 Kids has lots of free worksheets that you can download and print off.
https://www.mathworksheets4kids.com/math.php
Math Game Time can make learning more fun and engaging. When children play games, they can apply their maths skills to new and unique scenarios while building logic and critical thinking skills. They also get a chance to practice maths in a way that is fun and appeals to their interests.
http://www.mathgametime.com/math-games
Science
Maths Worksheets 4 Kids also has Science worksheets that can be downloaded and printed off for free.
https://www.mathworksheets4kids.com/science.php
Mysterscience.com over a range of mini lessons to do which will spark discussions with mini clips and questions.
Little Bins Little Hands. Calling all junior scientists, engineers, explorers, inventors, and the like to dive into our INCREDIBLE list of best ever STEM projects for kids.
https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/stem-projects-for-kids/
Science Kids. Enjoy fun science games for kids while learning more about science and technology. There's a range of free online activities to try with something for everyone whether you're interested in animals, plants, chemistry, biology, physics, space, magnets, electricity, forces, light, sounds, gases or other science related topics. Put yourself to the test by trying to complete as many of the interactive challenges as you can, the games start off easy but will be fully testing your technology skills and understanding of the science behind the game in no time.
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities.html
History
Planeta 42 History games to explore and study the past and civilization progress. More than 40 online games to learn history, related to different historical subjects, that may be used for fun, interactive education.
D&T
Little Bins Little Hands. LEGO® is one of the most awesome and versatile play materials out there.
https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/kids-lego-activities/
Geography
Play Geography. It’s so important to know the world we live in. But it’s so huge! There are so many countries, cities, flags, rivers, seas and more than 7 billions of people. There are lots of education games to play to learn about the world that we live in.
https://www.playgeography.com/
R.E
National association of teachers of religious education
http://www.natre.org.uk/about-natre/free-resources-for-you-and-your-pupils/
P.E
Down Dog. Anyone who wants to do exercise at home can do so. Down Dog are making all of their apps - Down Dog, Yoga for Beginners, HIIT, Barre, and 7 Minute Workout - completely free until April 1st.
On YouTube you can find Joe Wicks Body Coach. There are a variety of 5 minute sessions aimed at primary school children.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3LPrhI0v-w&list=PLyCLoPd4VxBvPHOpzoEk5onAEbq40g2-k&safe=active
On YouTube there is CosmicKids. On there you can find lots of different themed yoga videos.
https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga
Moovlee Yoga & Meditation
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsSS5kMpKCaJ_HhTM9-HKHg
5 – a – day dances
https://www.youtube.com/user/5adayTV
PHSE - There is also a section called Cosmic Kids Zen Den. Here you can find a fun series of videos about mindfulness for children. The presenter Jaime makes mindfulness relevant for kids, helping them develop awareness of their emotions and sharing techniques for self-regulation.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8snGkhBF7ngDp1oJtx5VcjwatxZn8xLK
Music - Singing Hands UK
https://www.youtube.com/user/SingingHandsUK
List of Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions
Below is a link to a list of education companies offering free subscriptions. All you need to do is click the link and follow the instructions on that website to sign-up.
https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/135609/list-of-education-companies-offering-free-subscriptions/
Plan Bee
Plan Bee is the hive of ready-to-use primary resources for KS1 and KS2, including time-saving lesson plans and complete schemes of work. On the link you can find free home learning packs which include a range of resources that you can either print or transfer to your tablet so that children can draw/annotate on them. They also include instructions and advice for parents about how to use them.
https://www.planbee.com/free-teaching-resources/free-home-learning-packs
YouTube – please be aware of the amount of time that your child spends on YouTube. Also please be aware of age restrictions of certain videos that are posted on YouTube.
We in the Woodpeckers Class hope that you find all of these resources helpful in keeping your child’s education active at home.
The Woodpeckers Class Team