The BBC micro:bit is a fantastic pocket-sized computer that can be used to teach primary school children about coding. Now, the Micro:bit Educational Foundation, BBC and Nominet are offering 30 BBC micro:bit devices to every primary school in the UK- free of charge!
There is a link to the BBC website where you register your school and, if approved, the micro:bits could be winging their way to you by early 2024.
As teachers and educators we like to immerse our children in topics to interest and excite them. With certain topics this is easy as we have to facilities and resources nearby to engage them, however with topics like History this can be difficult as the places we are discussing are often not within reach or simply do not exist anymore.
How thrilling would it be to be able to move around and navigate the site or place we are learning about? I've already spoken about the potential of VR and it seems to now be building on this potential to change education, however this does have some cost implications, but a new show from the BBC brings The Great Pyramid, The Hagia Sophia and The Acropolis alive through the use of the latest laser scanning technology. Ancient Invisible Cities is a 3-part BBC show that looks at these historical sites and examines what they would have looked like in their prime. To go along with the series the BBC has created 3 360 degree explorable videos on YouTube where you can navigate around the monuments and learn much. You can use it on your phone, but more practically for the classroom, you can use it on your computer and interactive whiteboard. I've been fortunate enough to visit the locations in my life and even though this isn't the same it does offer a cheap and effective alternative.
Check out the videos below and see if they would add some extra oomph to your lessons!
Civilisations is an amazing new BBC Two series that looks at the influence of art throughout the course of human history. The nine part show,presented by Simon Schama, Mary Beard and David Olusoga, is a fascinating programme and as a history buff (with a degree in Anthropology, because why not?) really appeals to me.
What really has me excited is that alongside the show there is a free to download app which allows users to explore and examine 37 artifacts from a digital download device, such as mobiles, tablets etc. The artifacts include the Rosetta Stone, the Reliquary Casket of St Thomas Beckett and a mummy in an Egyptian coffin among many others.
As a teacher the potential for exciting children about various eras of History is huge. To enable pupils to examine the artifacts by zooming in, x-raying and checking out the provenance is a wonderful opportunity for learning an more immersive than just books and . I hope to use the app in my class over the next couple of days and will relay my findings here but why not try it out yourself in the meantime?
The app is available free to Apple users via the App store and Android users through the Play Store.
Music is taking a bit of a kicking under this government. With cutbacks across the board one of the subjects suffering is music, however to bring the zing back to the subject check out this resource by the BBC. It aims to bring classic music to the masses by showcasing some pieces from baroque to modern classical. We just did it in our school and the excitement was palpable, especially when children heard the "Alton Towers music" (Griegs 'In the Hall of the Mountain King')
So if you are looking for a fun and interesting way to inspire children and get them responding to classical music this could be just what you are looking for!
