Category Archives: Literacy

Huey, Louie & Melvil Dewey in: the Quest for the Missing Duck an Introduction to Using the Library

August 7, 2014 4:18 pm ,

Many of you may recognize this slide presentation as it was originally an introduction to using the Dewey Decimal Classification System, but owing to a lot of feedback I received I decided to redo it as a general introduction to using the library as it was too cumbersome and complicated in it’s original form.

So with a few tweaks, language and slide changes may I present:

 

An Intro-duck-tion to Using the Library

 

[slideshare id=42056990&doc=the-quest-for-the-missing-duck-an-introduction-to-using-the-library-141126111308-conversion-gate02]
Posted in: Activities, Libraries, Literacy

Improve your Grammar with Word Crimes

July 17, 2014 9:24 pm ,

I think that this is the only good thing to come from Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke.

Word Crimes by “Weird Al” Yankovic is a brilliant parody of the above song and an excellent introduction to proper grammar.

I will be adding it to my pop culture educational arsenal for my students in September as there are a large number of them that treat grammar as an optional extra.

There is one instance of the term spastic at 3:10 into the song so if you do show this in class maybe stop it there or find some way of cutting that short segment out but it is near the end.

Posted in: i-Brarian, Literacy

Introduction to the Lego StoryStarter Set

June 5, 2014 4:20 pm ,

I was fortunate enough to win a Lego StoryStarter Set from Lego Education and it arrived yesterday.

Below is a photo by photo of the unboxing

lego11 The brilliant box
 
lego12The curriculum pack preview documents. You can read more about the curriculum pack here
 
lego13
 
lego14Storage compartment
 
lego15Pictures and quantities of every Lego piece included
 
lego17The spinner bases and stickers for the storage compartments
 
lego16Bagged up Lego pieces in another storage compartment
 
lego18All the Lego pieces spread out
 
Introducing LEGO Education StoryStarter

I had thought about making a video but there is already an official introductory video

Storystarter is designed for Key Stages 1 and 2, targeting the English curriculum. It develops skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening, as well as soft skills such as collaboration and communication – all while having fun!

LEGO Education StoryStarter – Instant Success Introduction

You can watch more videos here

Posted in: Lego, Literacy

Request a FREE Lego StoryStarter sample kit for your school!

June 4, 2014 10:07 am ,

The sample kit is a great way of finding out a bit more about StoryStarter, the new literacy resource for Key Stages 1 & 2, because it contains a selection of bricks, special elements and Minifigures that you’ll find in the full set as well as three small base plates on which to build your story.

legopic

Once you have your sample kit, use it to build a story of your choice, then video yourself or your pupils telling the story for your chance to win a class pack of StoryStarter worth £649.99*. Simply upload your video to YouTube then visit LEGOeducation.co.uk/StoryStarter to enter the competition. PLUS, the winning stories will all be made into a book and one overall winner will have their story made into a LEGO® animation!

You can find the request form here

Posted in: Libraries, Literacy, News