The Early Surfers' Zone is now live within the "I work with Kids" section of Childnet International's Kidsmart website.
Internet safety presentations for Nursery, Reception and KS1 aged children
The Early Surfers’ Zone is designed for the parents and carers and educators of 3-7 year olds, to help introduce young children to the idea of internet safety, in an age-appropriate, fun and engaging way. The site introduces the character of Smartie the Penguin, who learns to be safe online, by asking his family for help whenever anything happens to make him feel upset, confused or worried.
The resources include a new printable E-book, accompanying questions for discussion (for parents / carers / school staff who are reading the story), a lesson plan with relevant curriculum links, and subsequent follow-up activity ideas for children to complete at home. There is also an art gallery for children to submit their posters and creative work.
The new resources can be found at Kidsmart website, where you now have the chance to select resources for Foundation Stage KS1 and KS2 children.
A head teacher from a primary school in one of the Northern Grid partner LAs recently asked about teaching Control Technology and what equipment was needed. Susie Arnott, who has worked with Northern Grid regularly over the last few years, has produced this helpful guide.
Teaching Control Technology in the Primary Curricuum
Teaching control technology starts in Early Years.
Many Early Years settings will have lots of role play toys such as microwave ovens etc. that have buttons to start timers, noises etc. Old “real’ items, such as old mobile phones also offer opportunities for important play and talk. Adults should draw attention to the “cause and effect” of pressing buttons etc., and also discuss the control switches, dials etc. on real-life machines and gadgets.
The most frequently seen “formal” equipment is the BeeBot which has a simple set of control buttons to make it move forwards, backwards, turn to right or left and make a sound. There are lots of accessories to add, such as additional shell tops to transform your BeeBot into a variety of different characters/colours, and play mats that encourage the planning of routes.
Play with BeeBots (and other programmable toys) begins in an...
Esafety Ideas For Teaching Esafety to Primary School Learners
A local primary school contacted Northern Grid and asked for a session on resources for teaching esafety to their pupils, and it was agreed that I would deliver a session during their weekly staff meeting.
This is an interesting area for staff development and on one level is a fairly basic task in identifying (often online) activities for children to try. There are many useful and accessible online activities available on websites across the world and for local examples we need look no further than and www.childnet.com and CEOP's www.thinkuknow.co.uk.
Whilst these activities and associated resources will provide some support for the young people in our care I feel that esafety and safeguarding support needs to move beyond specific focused and sometimes isolated activities at the computer in the ICT suite. Our challenge is to ensure that we help our youngsters become confident, safe and considerate digital citizens, unlike many of the adults online across the world, who currently model inappropriate and irresponsible behaviour for our youngsters to emulate.
We can see the most inappropriate and unsafe online behaviour by adults of all ages on forums, newspaper and media websites and across social media including Twitter and Facebook. If the children in our primary schools are to mature to become responsible, thoughtful and valued digital citizens then our esafety support must extend through all our teaching and not be seen as something that is only addressed in the ICT...
Northern Grid has been working with Northumbria Police to develop teacher resources within a web resource that contains a wealth of crime prevention information and personal safety advice aimed at youngsters. Issues such as alcohol, awareness, drug misuse and bullying are all featured on the site, with information on where to get help and what is and isn't legal.
More about ebeat
Young people, parents and teachers can now get information about Northumbria Police at the touch of a button after the launch of a new youth website.
Called ebeat, it's been designed with help from school pupils and teachers and features interactive sections, advice and information and a range of educational resources.
Resources available include specially developed lesson plans which teachers can use in school. The first lesson plan, covering alcohol awareness was launched earlier this year, with an interactive tie-in game also available on the site.
The second set of lesson plans have just been added and cover anti-social behaviour.
The new site also contains a wealth of crime prevention information and personal safety advice aimed at youngsters. Issues such as alcohol, awareness, drug misuse and bullying are all featured on the site, with information on where to get help and what is and isn't legal.
There is also advice on a career with the force, including how to go about becoming a Northumbria Police officer.
Web Services Team Leader Ian Sparham, said: "We're always looking at ways of making our information as accessible to as many as possible but...
It has never been easier to use audio resources in schools. Eleanor Johnson, the creator of StoryPhones will explain how MP3 players are opening up the world of audio for children and allowing practitioners to be more creative than ever in their use of audio stories, songs and resources across the curriculum.
The seminar is on Tuesday 1st November 2011
Join us for the presentation at either 2.00pm or 4.15pm
At The Greenhouse, Greencroft Park,
Annfield Plain, Co. Durham, DH9 7XN
Every Setting attending will receive free StoryPhones software, an audio book, and an information pack.
The Seminar
Book your space for a 30 minute seminar delivered by Eleanor Johnson the creator of StoryPhones on:
"Create Ways of Using Digital Audio Resources for EYFS and KS1"
First presented at TES Education 2010 and covers the topics:
Guided Reading
Role Play
Outdoor Learning
Communication Skills
Phonics
Other Curriculum Areas
Book your place by calling us on 01207524877, or email us at sales@ameeca.co.uk
Alternatively please print the Booking Form, complete indicate whether you wish to come along 30 minutes prior to the presentation for a demonstration of StoryPhones, then simply fax back to 01207524868.
Spaces are limited - to ensure your place please RSVP by Friday 21st October.
Parliament's Education Service works with schools and Members of both houses of parliament to support pupils to develop their understanding of Parliament and democracy.
They provide free online resources to support citizenship for teachers and pupils from 5 to 18 years old. These include games, videos, whiteboard resources and lesson plans.
They also provide school visits, an outreach programme and printed resources.
Get Involved and promote good practice in this region.
Childnet’s Film Challenge was launched last year and received some great entries from young people. Childnet are hoping to build on last year’s success and see another batch of fantastic 60 second films promoting the positive uses of the internet (previous winners can be seen on at http://www.childnet.com/film/).
Positive and inspiring use of the internet is at the heart of Film Challenge 2011 and we at Northern Grid know from our visits to schools and entries to our awards that there are many great examples of this going on in the region.
Childnet is inviting all schools and youth organisations in the UK to enter the challenge. Two separate projects are in place for primary and secondary aged children. The theme will be revealed to entrants on Tuesday 26th April 2011.
All shortlisted finalists will then be invited to a private screening of their film with a judging panel at a cinema in London and will be awarded some fantastic prizes!
For your information the dates for the competition are as follows:
Competition opens: Tuesday 26th April 2011 @ 9am
Competition closes: Monday 6th June 2011 @5pm
Finalists notified: Monday 13th June 2011
Screening & finalist event: Monday 11th July 2011
If you would like to register a group of young people for the challenge please do so at
On March 27th 2011 the great census was taken and schools connected to the National Education Network are invited to join a project where they can compare the present with the census of 1911, undertaking their own research with online support and guidance. This is a great opportunity for schools to take advantage of broadband provision and join in this census based research project, that encourages schools to look not just at the census for 1911 but at their own communities in 2011. Free access for schools to the 1911 census online database is kindly provided by findmypast.co.uk until the 31st July, 2011.
The census 2011 project is a History / Literacy project where access to census data will enable pupils to explore changes linked to a range of topics including employment, transport, families and the role of women. It is an exciting opportunity for pupils to investigate and discover how their local area has changed over the past 100 years. It is also an opportunity for pupils to develop their literacy skills with a nationally recognized team of tutors and authors. Pupils taking part in the project are invited to use their local area to explore the characteristic features of Edwardian times. The children will be challenged to write effectively and make links between past and recent events. To support their written presentation, pupils will also have the opportunity to take part in “themed” web conferences and work with the famous author...
This is the latest in the very popular Young Science Investigatorsseries (see the other resources in the series here:www.bp.com/bpes/ysi) of free teachingresources for 7-11 year olds/KS2
YSI: Cool Creations is an online set ofmaterials to teach Science through exciting Design and Technologyprojects such as Paper Spinners and Electric Helicopters. The materialsinclude skill-builder videos, animations, worksheets, photos anddetailed teacher guidance and curriculum links
This is a highly interactive free teaching resource for 11-16 year olds / Key Stages 3 and 4 to develop science skills such as making predictions, planning investigations, working with variables etc.
Students are presented with six real-life science challenges from BP's business. Video briefings, interactive experiment labs and information sheets help them to answer questions and ultimately solve the challenges. Each...
Choices is an e-safety film for young people, which forms part of a comprehensive e-safety pack. Following the on-line exploits of Chloe and her mum, the film centres around the activities and choices that many of our teenagers make and deal with on an everyday basis. Written, acted and directed by industry professionals, the whole process has involved the young people from Darlington secondary schools throughout.
After months of planning, doing and polishing, Choices is now a "wrap!"
The film package, including a framework of teaching and learning materials with over 60 lessons for students from EYFS to KS4/5 sourced from best practice providers, is priced at £45, inc VAT
The Met Office is hosting a series of free video conferences for schools and colleges in England. Offering a unique and interactive aid to learning in the classroom, each 45 minute presentation is bespoke, having been tailored around the questions your students want to put us and is delivered by our own weather and climate experts.
Find out more about the Met Office VC sessions and how to book here: Met Office VC
The Northern Grid for Learning Annual Conference 2010, held on the 25th June 2010 at Newcastle, was a great day for all!
Over 140 great delegates, over 30 exciting exhibitors, over 20 amazing sponsors, 10 enthralling workshops and 2 incredible keynote sessions all packed into 1 day!
Mark Hickson wrote an extremely positive summary of the event over at MerlinJohnOnline which highlighted that the conference helping to lift the current feeling of uncertainty in ICT and education by showcasing the amazing use of technology throughout the curriculum.
For those of you who couldn't make it, or for those who want more information about the other workshops that were on during the day, we've compiled a list of presentations and notes from the workshops.
Workshop Presentations & Notes
Workshop 1a - Creativity & Communication Made Accessible Through ICT
Carol Allen SEN & ICT Advisor, North Tyneside
All learners have the capacity to express their ideas, thoughts and dreams and gain pleasure and enjoymentfrom doing so, but how are...
Wondering what to do with your Summer Holidays? Want to head to a festival but don’t have the cash? Well look no further as Rob da Bank and his team have joined forces with BRIT Class Act to offer you the ultimate summer holiday music prize.
Enter BRIT Class Act's video competition and you could be playing on stage at Camp Bestival this summer. Not only that, but you’ll also win weekend passes to the festival for yourselves and your family!
Check out the Camp Bestival website and look at all the acts you could be performing alongside. Then it’s time to get cracking and enter your music video into the competition. All you need to do to enter is head to www.britclassact.co.uk and follow a few simple steps.
Also labeled: 
More about ebeat
Parliament's Education Service works with schools and Members of both houses of parliament to support pupils to develop their understanding of Parliament and democracy.
Oddizzi is a new, primary school focused, multimedia website. We wanted to find out more so we asked the creators to tell us a bit more about it.
Download PDF of Tweets
Wondering what to do with your Summer Holidays? Want to head to a festival but don’t have the cash? Well look no further as Rob da Bank and his team have joined forces with 
