Resources to support your child's learning & wellbeing
Here are some websites, resources and apps we recommend to help support learning and wellbeing at home.
Many items were added to this list during lockdown. If you and your child find other useful resources, do let us know and we'll add them.
Please note that we advise parents to visit new websites together with your children to ensure their safety.
For all apps – go to the App Store on your device and search for the title (some are to be purchased but most are free).
English
www.oxfordowl.co.uk (Free Oxford Reading Tree Online Books and More!)
Lego Movie Maker app
www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk (Lots of Learning – but the Adjective Detective is particularly fun!)
https://authorfy.com/ (excellent free resources and short story masterclasses by amazing children’s authors)
www.makebeliefscomix.com (Comic Strip Maker – Write in different languages as well!)
Harper Collins, the publishers, are giving free access to their ebooks on their website. This is for all the reading levels from pink to lime (levels 1-26 - the same as the scheme we use at Hillcrest) and there are several hundred books available!
Go to https://connect.collins.co.uk/school/Portal.aspx
Click at the top of the page to access free resources and log in as a teacher with :
Username: parents@harpercollins.co.uk
Password: Parents20!
https://worldbook.kitaboo.com/reader/worldbook/#!/ (More free ebooks)
https://www.oliverjeffers.com/books#/abookaday/ (Oliver Jeffers reads a story each day)
https://www.worldbookday.com/world-of-stories/#young-fiction (A collection of free audio books for various ages. Some favourites as well as lesser known titles to discover.)
https://www.wizardingworld.com (JK Rowling has launched her own Harry Potter website, full of activities, quizzes and drawing tutorials as well as the first book to listen to, in several languages. The second book, with various famous people reading, is on the way - so far there is Daniel Radcliffe reading Chapter 1.)
https://www.worldofdavidwalliams.com/elevenses-catch-up/ (David Williams’ website with audio extracts for you to listen to under the ‘elevenses’ tab. They change each Friday so keep checking! There might be short stories or chapters working through a book.)
Reading Level Correlation Chart Useful to refer to when using books from different reading schemes.
We also recommend the Oxford Primary Punctuation, Grammar and Spelling Dictionary Book. Please click here to view its online description.
NEW from the National Literacy Trust:
Words for Life - funded by Kindred², the Department for Education, and supported by UK publishers. This website provides parents, children and young people with activities and support to improve their language, literacy and communication skills from home.
Virtual School Library - School libraries nurture a love of reading that can enrich children’s literacy skills, academic achievements and mental wellbeing. The Virtual School Library will complement existing school libraries and will ensure that children have access to the magical world of stories all year round, whether they are learning at school or at home.
Each week a popular children's author or illustrator will provide you with free books on line, exclusive videos and their top three recommended reads.
Maths
ixl Maths (For all year groups – great practice!)
Sushi Monster app (For all ages to help reinforce and build up calculation fluency)
Maths One Billion app (Recommended for ages 4 to 6 – Brilliant to build up core foundations!)
French
Duolingo app
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z39d7ty
https://www.french-games.net/frenchtopics
https://www.french-games.net/frenchgames
http://www.digitaldialects.com/French.htm - French games: online language learning for kids. All French language learning exercises are completely free to use, do not require registration, and are suitable for both school kids and adult language learners.
Some French learning songs
Greetings song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXkJ88ygPY0&list=PLHAxI4jZnaIMT4oquMsClZDde8PzM_poU&index=5&t=0s
Fruits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ03KjwiIVM
Numbers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsEz58BblMY
Numbers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsc3qLMaCu8
German
www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2cxfngNyPM (Gruffalo in German)
www.languageguide.org/german/vocabulary (German online dictionary)
www.goethe.de/en/spr/ueb/led.html (Goethe Website – great information – links to German Apps)
www.lingonetz.de (Fun and Games all in German)
Computing
http://www.keybr.com/ (Touch Typing)
Bee Bot app (Age 4+ to help children with simple programming)
E-Safety
www.thinkuknow.co.uk (Internet Safety)
www.kidrex.org (Google Safe Search Site for Kids)
SPESCH
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/you-your-body/puberty/periods/
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/friends-relationships-sex/friends/friendships/
Racism
Reports in the media may spark questions about racism from children. It's OK not to have all the answers but it's important to have the conversation. Not shying away from those conversations is the first step in raising an anti-racist child.
Racism - CBBC Newsround
I Don't Like Racism - This girl explains how she is sad when she sees people being racist. CBBC
Racism and racial bullying - ChildLine
Articles that may be useful for parents:
How to talk to your children about Race and Racism - BBC
How to talk to kids about racism, protests and injustice - Today.com
Books that may help you explain Racism and protest to Your Kids - New York Times
Talking to kids about race – National Geographic resource
Philosophy
www.quandarygame.org (Game for age 8+ where children have to make ethical and moral decisions)
Science
www.theforestacademy.com (Learn about trees)
www.hunkinsexperiments.com (Fun experiments)
http://planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov/system/interactable/1/ (Investigate how to make a planet work)
https://images.nasa.gov/ (Free access to Nasa's media library)
www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/index.html (Science of Cooking)
https://www.bristolwater.co.uk/education-toolkit (Clouds, water, water saving etc.)
Art, Design and Technology
www.spatulatta.com (Cooking Website for Children)
www.artsconnected.org/toolkit/index.html (Artist’s Toolkit – Learn about different artistic styles and techniques)
www.whatimade.com (Some fun and quirky projects found in this online blog with illustrations)
www.ldd.lego.com/en-gb (Lego Digital Designer)
Music
www.keepingscore.org/interactive (Explore music interactively!)
www.sfskids.org (San Francisco Symphony – Fun and Games with music)
https://www.musicmark.org.uk/resources/home-learning-resources/ (links to a good range of music resources)
History/Geography
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/films/view_all_films.htm (Excellent historical short public information clips)
http://www.ancientcivilizations.co.uk/home_set.html (Discover ancient civilizations)
http://www.operationwardiary.org/ (World War I)
http://www.ngkids.co.uk/ (National Geographic for Kids)
All Learning!
www.thekidshouldseethis.com (An excellent video website for curious young minds!)
www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/games/questionaut (Fun KS2 game testing English, Maths and Science - go on a magical journey to uncover your friend’s hat.)
www.splash.abc.net.au/home (Australian website for all subjects)
https://www.holidaypirates.com/travel-magazine/13-zoos-that-offer-live-streams-see-giraffes-koalas-pandas-tigers-penguins-more_35765 (Zoo live streams)
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/75809/12-world-class-museums-you-can-visit-online (Free virtual museum tours)
https://www.willowsmusical.com/ (Wind in the Willows musical)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zf2f9j6/articles/z3c6tfr (A fun way to learn touch typing)
HERE are some useful and fun websites and resources recommended by our Children's Occupational Therapist. Most of them are free to access and can help your child develop the following skills;
- Gross Motor- Large body movements; coordination, strength and stability
- Fine motor skills- Hand dexterity, manipulation and strength e.g. Using pens, pencils, zips, buttons and cutlery
- Visual Perception- Hand eye coordination, Handwriting and laying out their work.
- Sensory processing- Concentration, Attention, Keeping calm and Sleep.
PE
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAxW1XT0iEJo0TYlRfn6rYQ Free PE lessons/ exercise sessions
Wellbeing
Worried about your child's behaviour, emotional wellbeing or mental health? Not sure what's normal? Wondering whether to see your GP? Perhaps you've been referred to specialist services but there is a long wait..... or perhaps you've been told the problem isn't quite serious enough to be referred.
Happy Maps is an amazing website to support parents, with a wealth of information, resources and advice on a range of issues, including anxiety, problems with sleep, ADHD and much more, from babyhood right through to young adulthood. https://www.happymaps.co.uk/
Yoga and mindfulness videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7FUbTac_ds&vl=en-GB
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH292dRzkec Children's meditation for confidence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkcsWcob294 Kids Sleep Meditation to Let Go of Anxiety | YOUR HAPPY PLACE | Bedtime Story for Children to Sleep - Welcome to Your Happy Place, a sleep meditation for anxiety relief to help all kids, children and young ones of all ages (and yes, including grown ups!) to relax into calm happiness with total inner peace!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pZeLOHBScw Morning Meditation for Kids POSITIVE ENERGY Feel on Top of the World! - Morning Affirmations for Confidence, Focus and Success Meditation for Kids MORNING MEDITATION for POSITIVE ENERGY is a powerful guided meditation to wake up after sleep, so that children will start the day with awesome feelings of success, confidence and calm self control.
There have been many online articles and videos which have been published in response to the brutal killing of George Floyd by police in the US, and the demonstrations in response. Reading and seeing these can be distressing and upsetting. This is natural and it is important to recognise that racism IS distressing and upsetting. But look after yourselves.
If you cannot speak to loved ones, there are other platforms you can use.
Childline - Telephone number 0800 1111
Samaritans- Telephone number 116 123
For local resources please see Bristol Mind - https://bristolmind.org.uk/support_type/local-helplines/
- Reading lists suggestions
- Reading Comprehension Question Bank
- Spelling Strategies
- More no nonsense spelling strategies.pdf
- Handwriting Tips
- Handwriting rhymes for Reception
- Having fun with French
- Times Table Strategies
- Kangaroo times tables 21 facts
- Year 6 Calculation Methods crib sheet
Times Tables
Below are the Times Table Booklets we use in Year 4.
You get 2 minutes to answer the questions - don't move onto the next one before you have answered the previous.
You are allowed to look at the front of the booklet to help you find the answer, or if you are doing another test, look back at previous ones. The idea is to practise, practise, practise and as you do you will start remembering the facts,
Why not have a practise of the times table you don't feel as confident with? Keep at it each day, can you improve your score?
The order below shows an easy way to learn new times tables. In Key Stage 1, children learn to count in 2's,5's and 10's, in Year 3 they learn the 3,4,6 and 8 times tables, then the rest in Year 4 as the expectation is children will know all times table and division facts up to 12x12 by the end of Year 4.