Parents and carers have a crucial role to play in home learning. Managing distractions and forward planning is key to being able to work from home. For the initial few days, your child will need support to navigate Teams, learn how to access their lessons and upload completed work. Taking 10 minutes each day to discuss the points below will give your child the best chance of maximising their learning in this environment and help them develop the skills they will need to be ale to work from home successfully.
Planning their Learning
Pupils should use their weekly timetables as a guide to plan their day and to prioritise which tasks they need to complete first. Younger pupils will need more support with this and this is a good opportunity for parents and carers to talk about learning with their child. The class teacher will have planned dates and times to invite your child for a ‘live lesson’. Your child will receive an invitation to join the meeting. They will be meeting in small groups. Please check the calendar to note the date and time of your child’s meeting.
Managing Distractions
It is difficult working from home as our homes are full of distractions– The T.V, PlayStation, Xbox, Netflix, music, phones, toys – the list is endless! Part of planning their learning for the day ahead is about creating a space that is away from these things and a space where your child will be able to work quietly and uninterrupted, if possible.
Researching and Seeking New Information
The internet has many relevant sites that will provide your child with the information they will need to complete their research tasks. Encourage your child to find out answers for themselves on Google and to ask for help if they are stuck.
What will Teachers Do?
Whilst teachers will not be in constant contact online, they will reply to any questions or queries on Teams. However, as Teams is not a private channel, in that all of the class can access the resources and read all comments, if you wish your child’s learning or need some support please contact the school through the admin account, admin@dalmeny.edin.sch.uk and a member of staff will contact you directly.
Each week the class teachers will prepare daily lessons, activities and tasks for your child in the Teams folder. They will also offer feedback and advice in the channel and upload pre recorded instructions or lessons for your child to watch. They will also be inviting groups of children to live lessons for spelling, reading and maths.
Teachers may also set deadlines for some pieces of work that take account of the flexibility and different circumstances each family will need in these challenging times.
Online Safety
Keeping our children safe online is a priority and with children likely to be spending more time online accessing learning activities, it’s important to bear this in mind. ThinkUKnow, the online-safety education programme set up by the National Crime Agency, has created downloadable packs with 15-minute activities for parents to do with their children. There are different activities for school ages and they will be updated every fortnight.
You can access them on the page link below:
www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/Support-tools/home-activity-worksheets/
Home Learning Guide for Pupils
Educational Websites for Home Learning
Below are some websites featuring educational activities and games. More will be added in the coming weeks.
The document below features lots of different links specifically for Early Years learners:
Useful Early Years Links for Home Learning
Useful Early Years Links for Home Learning
Various Curriculum Areas / Other Activities
www.natgeokids.com/uk/
National Geographic’s site for children – activities for all areas of the curriculum
www.educationcity.com/
Activities and resources – all curriculum areas
www.twinkl.co.uk/
Activities for all areas of the curriculum (1 month free membership)
www.doorwayonline.org.uk/
Free educational games
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/
Activities for all curricular areas
https://www.dkfindout.com/uk/
General Knowledge
www.scouts.org.uk/the-great-indoors/
Indoor activities from The Scouts
https://go.brainpop.com/
Brainpop – home learning ideas and activities (free access for 30 days).
https://classroomsecrets.co.uk/
Free home learning packs available as well as interactive games and video clips
www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/ecoschools/athome
Eco Schools at Home
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/50-things-to-do-before-youre-11–activity-list
Activities from the National Trust
www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/webcams/
Edinburgh Zoo – see what the koalas, penguins, pandas and tigers are up on the Zoo’s webcams
www.nms.ac.uk/museum-at-home/families
Activities and games from the National Museums of Scotland
Language & Reading
www.oxfordowl.co.uk
Literacy and reading activities
www.bbc.co.uk/newsround
BBC’s Newsround programme – updated daily with news items, starting points for discussion
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zvyc7nb
Literacy (P1-4)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zkvmjhv
Literacy (P1-4)
www.getepic.com/promo
Epic – books for children (free for 30 days)
https://stories.audible.com/start-listen
Audible books – free stories for children
www.freechildrenstories.com/
Free stories for children – all ages
http://en.childrenslibrary.org/
International Children’s Library
www.storynory.com/
Storynory – stories for children of all ages
www.youtube.com/
Read Write Inc – daily phonics videos
www.phonicsplay.co.uk/#
Phonics activities
https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/resourcesLiteracy
https://www.teachhandwriting.co.uk/key-stage-1-handwriting.htmlHandwriting
www.communication4all.co.uk/HomePage.htm
Support for Learning
Maths & Science / Technology / Engineering
https://pages.sumdog.com/
Sumdog – Maths games for all ages
www.themathsfactor.com/
The Maths Factor – Maths activities and games for all ages
https://thekidshouldseethis.com/
STEM activities
https://code.org/
Coding activities
www.iseemaths.com/home-lessons/
Maths
https://parent.numberfunportal.com/
Number Fun – maths activities for all primary ages (free for 30 days)
www.science-sparks.com/easter-stem-challenges/
Science challenges
Social Studies
www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/shows/horrible-histories
BBC’s Horrible Histories – history programmes and supporting activities
https://www.bighistoryproject.com/home
History (P5-7)
https://world-geography-games.com/Geography
Health & Wellbeing
www.joininedinburgh.org/sports/active-schools/activeathome/
Active Schools Edinburgh – A-Z activities
www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga
Cosmic Kids Yoga
www.youtube.com/thebodycoach1
P.E with Joe – daily PE lessons from Russell Brand’s wee brother
www.gonoodle.com/
GoNoodle – movement & mindfulness activities
https://ibike.sustrans.org.uk/indoor-ideas/
Bike related activities from iBike – learn to ride tips, indoor activities and more
Music / Drama / Art
https://www.mydso.com/dso-kids/learn-and-listen
Classical music clips, videos and activities including build your own instrument
https://www.benedettifoundation.org/virtualsessions
A chance to enjoy online music workshops and tuition from Nicola Benedetti and friends, culminating in a performance alongside other learners. Suitable for instrumentalists and non-instrumentalists.
