This year the Prep Department are using a new scheme called White Rose Maths to support our maths teaching. This is after a successful trial last year with our current Prep II class.
White Rose Maths helps children develop their conceptual understanding of mathematics by using concrete objects, pictorial representations and abstract thinking. It is an inclusive approach to maths and aims to develop deeper mathematical thinking skills so that children can think mathematically and solve problems with more confidence.
The scheme encourages children to explain their methods and thinking processes and apply skills in context.
At present we will not be using the online Abacus maths homework games. Class teachers will set their maths homework to work alongside the maths the children will be focusing on in lessons each week to consolidate the areas being taught.
The children from Prep II to Prep VI will continue to use TTRockstars to learn and consolidate their times table facts.
There is a White Rose Maths app that is available to download for free with various maths games available should parents and children wish to download this.
Enrichment activities
Times Tables resources
National Curriculum Times Tables Expectations
Touch Typing Resources
All children from Prep III to Prep VI should be regularly practising their touch typing skills by using Typing Club. Click on this link and sign in with your school Google account.
Dance Mat Typing – a great site for younger children to help practise their typing skills: Dance Mat Typing
Other useful sites
We have also included some web links to sites you may find interesting or useful, especially during these current unprecedented times. If you have found any others, please let us know by commenting below and we can share them with other parents.
Reading
Want somebody else to read your children a story? Children’s author David Walliams is releasing a free audio book a day for the next 30 days.
Lots of free resources on Oxford Owl for Home – you just need to sign up for a free account.
If you are looking for appropriate age related reading for your child, you can find suggestions on this suggested reading list Suggested reading lists. There are more of these here: if you can’t get to your library, you have the chance to order them online.
Maths
Topmarks gives children the opportunity to learn online, through safe, fun and engaging games and activities. Our particular favourite is the Times Tables games on the site. There are also parent guides for helping your child: Top Marks
Abacus has the files you’ll need for your Maths homework: Abacus
PlanBee have released free home learning packs for Maths for different age groups: key stage 1, lower key stage 2 (year 3 and 4) and upper key stage 2 (year 5 and 6)
Literacy
PlanBee have also released free home learning packs for Literacy for different age groups: key stage 1, lower key stage 2 (year 3 and 4) and upper key stage 2 (year 5 and 6)
Use this free website to work with famous authors to create a free video blog book review: Reading Rocks Reviews is a 5 lesson English project in which students write, video and share their own vlog-style book reviews with the help of some well known authors including Michael Rosen.
Topic
National Geographic for Kids has a wealth of information on all things natural: National Geographic for Kids
Lots of geography games available on the World Geography Games site.
Computing
With ScratchJr, young children (ages 5-7) can program their own interactive stories and games. In the process, they learn to solve problems, design projects, and express themselves creatively on the computer: Scratch Junior
With Scratch, you can program your own interactive stories, games, and animations to reinforce the programming children undertake in KS2: Scratch
These games at Blockly have simple programming activities for younger children.
Arts and crafts
This is a German Facebook page (so good for your language skills too!) but there are lots of fun activities here for art and craft ideas.
The Artful Parent is another Facebook page full of arts and crafts ideas.
Science
Science Kids has lots of scientific information and fun experiments for you to try at home: Science Kids
Younger Children
Kids’ Pages for Small Ages has a variety of games and activities for younger children: Kids’ Pages for Small Ages
This website, The Imagination Tree, has games and activities for younger children, including a Stay At Home pack.
Language
Duolingo gives you the chance to practise your language skills.
General resources
The BBC Bitesize website has wonderful resources for many different Primary topics: BBC Bitesize KS1 and BBC Bitesize KS2
Woodlands Junior School is an award winning school site that has hundreds of online resources in all curriculum areas: Woodlands resources
TTS have created home learning resources for all ages, including EYFS. You can download these here.
There are lots of general activities and quizzes on a range of subjects on the DK Findout site.