Minecraft - if you can't beat them, join them. A short video with letters a-z and a phonetic Minecraft word to help children learn them. Images and words which will excite your students while still helping them learn the phonetic sounds and formation of all 26 letters. a - apple, b - bricks, c - cake, d - door, e - enchantment table, f - furnace g - glow stone, h - hopper, i - iron bars, j - jack o'Lantern, k - kitten, l - lever m - minecart, n - nether portal, o - obsidian, p - piston, q - quartz stairs r - redstone torch, s - sign, t - tripwire, u - update, v- vines, w - water, x - xbox, y - yellow wool, z - zombie pigman!

Minecraft - you may have heard of it, it's "a thing". Minecraft phonics. Letters a-z and a corresponding Minecraft term to accompany them. Images and words which will excite your students while still helping them learn the phonetic sounds and formation of all 26 letters. a - apple, b - bricks, c - cake, d - door, e - enchantment table, f - furnace g - glow stone, h - hopper, i - iron bars, j - jack o'Lantern, k - kitten, l - lever m - minecart, n - nether portal, o - obsidian, p - piston, q - quartz stairs r - redstone torch, s - sign, t - tripwire, u - update, v- vines, w - water, x - xbox, y - yellow wool, z - zombie pigman! Fully editable for you to adapt and fit to your students!

Activity sheet with a drawn body in the centre. Labels for the upper, lower body and face provided. Students can cut and stick or link up with lines. Great to photocopy onto A3 to increase the image size. Individual, paired or group activity!

Each slide has a letter/grapheme hidden behind four panels which dissolve when they are clicked on. Can be displayed on IWB for group activity or Desktop/Laptop for more independent learning The graphemes are in UK phonics phase order. Phase 2 - s, a, t, p, i, n, m, d, g,o,c,k, ck,e,u,r, h, b, f, ff, l, ll, ss Phase 3 - j, v, w, x, y, z, zz, qu, ch, sh ,th , ng, ai ee, oa, oo, ar, or, ur, ow, oi, er, igh, ear, air, ure Phase 4 - st, nd, mp, nt, nk, ft, sk, lt, lp, lf, lk, pt, xt, tr, dr, gr, cr, br, fr, bl, fl, gl, pl, cl Phase 5 - ay, ou, ie, ea, oy, ir, ue, aw, ew, oe, au, ey, wh, ph, a-e, e-e, i-e, o-e, u-e Slides can be easily rearranged to extend challenge and reuse resource as a game/team quiz/ starter or independent activity. Children begin to predict while only seeing 1/4 of the grapheme thus truly embedding their grapheme recognition and speed recall. Great fun way to learn with young readers.

Banner and bunting showing the Scratch Jr blocks and icons. Grouped by category and great as an additional teaching resource or as decoration as part of a IT storage space, coding area or classroom display. ScratchJr serves as a beginner’s coding language, empowering children between the ages of 5 and 7 to craft their own captivating stories and animations. By simply connecting graphical programming blocks, kids can bring characters to life, making them move, speak, dance, and interact. With the paint editor, children can customize characters, incorporating their unique voices, sounds, and even personal photos. The programming blocks serve as the magic wand, enabling children to animate their characters and unleash their imagination. ScratchJr is available free from the Apple and Android stores, plus on desktops using this site Scratch Desktop from GitHub Great starter projects can be found at ScratchJr’s website.

These differentiated Scratch Jr sequence sheets challenge children to convert from block commands to pseudo code and back again. Explaining what a command will do and in turn how a sequence (algorithm) works, step by step, is a great way to build fluency and confidence in computational thinking. Reordering commands into the correct sequence builds a greater understanding of the way algorithms work and logical thinking skills. Prepared on A4 sheets and with various challenges (Sequencing, writing pseudo code, drawing what happens in order, completing cloze missing word challenges and describing the commands) Scratch Jr projects on paper before building them with the device. Decomposition - the task of breaking something down into small steps is a key skill when learning to use code and solve problems. These activites to make this into a fun and enjoyable experience for young learners who can then test the scripts on the App to see what they do. This reflective process can really open up quality discussions and opportunities for children to explain their thinking. ScratchJr serves as a beginner’s coding language, empowering children between the ages of 5 and 7 to craft their own captivating stories and animations. By simply connecting graphical programming blocks, kids can bring characters to life, making them move, speak, dance, and interact. With the paint editor, children can customize characters, incorporating their unique voices, sounds, and even personal photos. The programming blocks serve as the magic wand, enabling children to animate their characters and unleash their imagination. ScratchJr is available free from the Apple and Android stores,plus on desktops using the GitHub site. Great starter projects can be found by searching for ScrathJr’s own site too, to help students learn what the blocks can do.

21 pages Two commands on each A4 page Plus three sizes of cut outs (Small, Medium. Large) Using cut-out blocks to teach coding and sequencing skills relevant to Scratch Junior can be a hands-on and engaging approach for children. Here’s how it can be done: Mental Recall: Provide children with physical printed “blocks” representing different Scratch Jr commands and actions. Challenge students to pick a card and then explain the action it represents. Sequencing Activities: Encourage children to arrange the cards in a sequence to create a series of actions or commands. Start with simple sequences, such as moving a character from one point to another, and gradually increase complexity as children become more proficient. Algorithm Design: Teach children to design algorithms using the blocks to solve specific tasks or challenges. For example, they can design algorithms to navigate a maze, collect items, or complete a puzzle within Scratch Junior. Debugging Practice: Introduce the concept of debugging by intentionally introducing errors into the sequences of blocks. Encourage children to identify and correct these errors to achieve the desired outcome. Storytelling and Creativity: Encourage children to use the blocks to create interactive stories, games, or animations within Scratch Junior. They can sequence events, movements, and dialogues to bring their creative ideas to life. Collaborative Projects: Foster collaboration among children by assigning group projects where they work together to design and implement coding sequences using the blocks. Collaboration not only enhances coding skills but also promotes teamwork and communication. Reflection and Iteration: After completing coding activities using the blocks, encourage children to reflect on their process. Ask questions such as what worked well, what challenges they encountered, and how they could improve their sequences. Encourage iterative refinement of their coding designs based on reflection. Integration with Scratch Junior: Once children are comfortable with coding concepts using the cards and manipulatives, transition to using Scratch Junior on a device. They can apply their understanding of sequencing and coding to create projects digitally within the Scratch Junior environment. By using cut outs and flash cards to teach coding and sequencing skills, children can develop a strong foundation in computational thinking and problem-solving while having fun and being actively engaged in the learning process. This approach also provides a tangible and accessible way for children to understand abstract coding concepts before transitioning to digital platforms like Scratch Junior.

Activity sheet with a large world map in the centre. Labels for the continents and oceans at the top and bottom, students can cut and stick or link up with lines. They're then asked to find their home country and label it to understand where it is in the world. Great to photocopy onto A3 to increase the map size.

5 x sheets to help learn simple CVC spelling patterns 1 x Smart Notebook with the CVC words on to display on an IWB Each sheet looking at a particular vowel in CVC words. Children asked to complete the three words and then think of (draw and write) their own word with the vowel in the middle. A - cat, tap, pan E - net, ten, hen I - dig, pin, bin O - dog, mop, pot U - hut, duck, sun

This great new resource is designed to assist teachers in introducing young children to coding using Scratch Jr. It provides detailed and well structured tutorials that can be used throughout the first term of elementary classes. It focuses on engaging students in creative learning through exploration and play, using iPads, Chromebooks, or PCs. Projects included All about me Places and people in my school Catching the bus Sound Buttons - (graphemes and phonemes) Frog’s Adventure Looping Birds Jungle Dinner Happy Sun A Space Story Suggested Lesson Uses Introduction to Coding: Start with basic demos on how to use Scratch Jr., focusing on the interface and basic commands. Storytelling and Animation: Encourage students to create simple animations and stories, enhancing their understanding of sequences and events. Problem Solving: Use puzzles and challenges within Scratch Jr. to develop logical thinking and problem-solving skills. Project-Based Learning: Assign projects that require students to design their own stories, advertisements or reports on current topics, promoting creativity and application of learned concepts. School Routine Learning Incorporate Scratch Jr. lessons into the regular school routine by dedicating specific times each week for coding activities. Begin with short, focused sessions that gradually increase in complexity. Integrate coding with other subjects, such as math and language arts, to provide a multidisciplinary approach to learning. Peer-to-Peer Tutorials Encourage peer-to-peer learning by having students who grasp the concepts quickly tutor their classmates. Create small groups where students can collaborate on projects and share their knowledge. This not only reinforces their own understanding but also fosters a collaborative learning environment. Handouts Provide students with these sheets as handouts that serve as quick reference guides and help students independently navigate through their projects. Students can confidently follow the step-by-step instructions which cater to various learning styles. Student Innovation Opportunities Promote innovation by allowing students to explore Scratch Jr. beyond the structured lessons. Encourage them to experiment with different commands and features to create unique projects. Provide opportunities for students to present their projects to the class, highlighting their creativity and problem-solving skills. Use these presentations as a platform for constructive feedback and further learning. Exploration and Play Emphasise the importance of play in learning by allowing students to freely explore Scratch Jr. Encourage them to try new things, make mistakes, and learn from them. Use play-based activities to teach coding concepts in a fun and engaging way. By incorporating these strategies, you can introduce young children to the world of coding, fostering a love for technology and creativity in their early education.

Scratch Jr. Assessment Activity Worksheets which challenge your students to decode simple Scratch Jr. Scripts by either drawing or writing what they think will happen. 18 scenarios in each set plus example answers and blank templates for students to design their own. Combine literacy learning and sequencing language with logic and reasoning to improve your students understanding of computer coding and give them chances to practice how to explain a sequence of events or commands. Differentiated for all abilities, covering Sequencing Logic Green Flag, finger tap and bump triggers Movement Speed control Loops and repeats Size effects Appearance - Hide and show Messages Sound Linear and Parallel progression

These A4 vocabulary and command block matching excercise give students an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the Scratch Jr blocks, their names and their functions. These differentiated worksheets, offer matching task, with icon and name, icon and function, opposites, icon only, name only, and function only alternatives, plus editable blank pages so you can create cut and paste activities too. Using these as a whole class on in smaller groups can really open up quality discussions and opportunities for children to explain their thinking and record their learning. Scratch Jr serves as a beginner’s coding language, empowering children between the ages of 5 and 7 to craft their own captivating stories and animations. By simply connecting graphical programming blocks, kids can bring characters to life, making them move, speak, dance, and interact. With the paint editor, children can customize characters, incorporating their unique voices, sounds, and even personal photos. The programming blocks serve as the magic wand, enabling children to animate their characters and unleash their imagination. ScratchJr is available free from the Apple and Android stores, plus on desktops using the GitHub site. Great starter projects can be found on the ScratchJr Site for free help showing students what the blocks can do.

These quick write starter pages help students practice their writing skills by overcoming the first hurdle of What do I write about? 118 Amazing Science Fiction settings to choose from. Beautiful images to stretch the imagination Simple “sense” icons to help prompt full descriptions “If you visited this place, what would you feel, see, hear, smell, think?” Who would you meet? What would happen? Lesson structure and guidance information also provided Question prompts and planning ideas included With an abundance of choice available students can select their favourite images. Used regularly, these inspiring pages can help young writers get started, building better descriptions and longer more detailed sentences. Once these ideas are flowing students can be encouraged to go on to imagine answers to more open questions like - Why is this place like it is? Who made it? What is it’s purpose? Who does it belong to? Why are “you” here too? Another good approach is to spend time as a class or in small groups sharing ideas, thinking of powerful vocabulary, phrases and even mapping out a mini story plan, before asking the students to start writing independently. Responding to your student’s ideas and scaffolding them in a group is a great way to help build confidence and foster a culture where all ideas are valuable. These fantastically detailed images will help stimulate everyones imagination, setting the stage for more elaborate creative writing.

This quick write images and writing prompt sheets help students practice their writing skills by answering the first question of “What should I write about?”. These fantastically detailed images will help stimulate everyones imagination, setting the stage for more elaborate creative writing. 150 Fantasy settings to choose from Beautiful images to stretch the imagination Simple sense icons to help develop better descriptions Lesson structure and guidance information Question prompts and planning ideas included With so many image prompts to choose from, students will find many options that they like. Having this choice is a great way to offer ownership and ensure the writing produced is meaningful to each young writer. Spend time as a class or in small groups sharing ideas, thinking of powerful vocabulary, writing down phrases and even mapping out a mini story plan, before then starting to write independently. Verbally building up ideas and powerful vocabulary as a group really helps everyone get started. “Imagine you walked into this place, what would you feel, see, hear, smell, touch?” Once these ideas are flowing students can go on to independently imagine answers to more open questions like - Who lives here? Why is this place like it is? Who made it? What will happen here?

Ignite the Spirit of the Olympics in Your Classroom with MakeCode Arcade! Introduce your students to the thrilling world of coding and game development with the Summer Olympics 100 Meters Sprint Simulator. This comprehensive tutorial is tailored for primary school teachers and designed for beginners, making it an ideal resource to engage young minds in a fun and educational experience. Files included Student Self Assessment Before / After Predict Phase - Detailed explanations to share with students as they look at the game code Make Phase - Step by Step guides to create working programs Opportunities to debug, innovate and iterate the design Why Choose the Summer Olympics 100 Meters Sprint Simulator? Engaging and Educational: Combines the excitement of the Olympic Games with the foundational principles of coding, ensuring students are captivated while they learn. Easy-to-Follow Tutorial: Step-by-step instructions guide students through the creation of their very own 100 meters sprint game, fostering independence and creativity. Innovative Learning: Encourages students to innovate and develop their game further, sparking their imagination and problem-solving skills. PRIMM Coding Lessons: Integrates the PRIMM (Predict, Run, Investigate, Modify, Make) approach, ensuring a structured and effective learning process. Flexible and Adaptable: Perfect for classroom settings or individual learning, with ample opportunities for customization and enhancement. Transform your classroom into an Olympic arena of coding champions with the Summer Olympics 100 Meters Sprint Simulator! Summary of the Tutorial The Summer Olympics 100 Meters Sprint Simulator tutorial provides a structured, step-by-step guide for primary students to create a playable sprint game using MakeCode Arcade. The tutorial is designed to be beginner-friendly, ensuring that students with no prior coding experience can successfully build and enjoy their game. Key Features: User-Friendly Instructions: Detailed steps with visual aids to guide students through each phase of game development. Interactive Learning: Hands-on coding exercises that reinforce learning through practical application. Creative Freedom: Opportunities for students to customize and enhance their game, fostering innovation and creativity.

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The “OctoStudio - Back to School - Differentiated Projects” guide is an invaluable resource designed to support primary school teachers and children learn basic coding skills. This resource leverages visual cues, step-by-step instructions, and the PRIMM (Predict, Run, Investigate, Modify, Make) teaching methodologies to create an engaging and effective learning experience. Project titles All about me Disco Dancing Collecting Coins Class Tally Chart Virtual Pet Maze Game Each of the six projects in the guide is designed to be initially built by following the provided step-by-step instructions, allowing students to grasp the fundamental coding concepts. Once they complete the guided project, students are encouraged to innovate by modifying and expanding the project, giving them the agency to explore their creativity and personalize their learning experience. This approach not only reinforces the coding skills they’ve learned but also fosters critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Additionally, the guide includes blank planning sheets, offering students or teachers the opportunity to design and document their own unique projects, further empowering students to take ownership of their learning journey as they progress from beginner to more advanced levels. Key Benefits: Differentiated Learning: The guide provides projects that cater to various skill levels, ensuring all students can progress at their own pace. This differentiation makes it suitable for diverse classrooms, where students may have varying degrees of familiarity with coding. PRIMM Methodology: By using the PRIMM approach, the guide helps students develop a deep understanding of coding concepts. This methodology encourages students to predict outcomes, run code, investigate errors, modify code, and finally make their own projects, fostering a thorough learning process. Visual and Interactive Learning: The use of visual cues and interactive elements in OctoStudio makes coding accessible and engaging for young learners. This approach reduces the cognitive load on students, making it easier for them to grasp abstract concepts. Thematic Relevance: The projects are centered around a back-to-school theme, starting with an “All about me” project and a “Classroom Pet” project, making the content relatable and interesting for students. This thematic approach helps to maintain student engagement while teaching essential coding skills. Teacher-Friendly: The guide is designed to be easy for teachers to implement, even those with limited coding experience. It provides clear instructions and support, enabling teachers to confidently lead coding lessons and support their students effectively.