Suggestions for limited computer access

In the current situation, we understand that you might not be able to use a computer for all of your lessons. Below are some suggestions of activities for each subject which do not require computer access.

English - Reading

• READ! If possible, you should be reading every day! Fiction books, information texts, poems, comic books, magazines, newspapers… it doesn’t matter what you are reading as long as you are reading for pleasure!

• Read with a parent or older sibling

• Help a younger sibling with their reading or read to them

• Create some comprehension questions based on the first chapter of your book and test a family member

English - Writing

• Write a book review for books you read – write a summary of what happened in the story and your opinion of the book (What was your favourite part/character? Was there an exciting twist? What would you change if you could?)

• Keep a diary – Write an entry once a day or week and make a note of what you have been doing and how you have been feeling?

• Write stories and create playscripts – you could retell a story you already know, write a sequel (follow-on) for a story you have enjoyed or write your own story. If you aren’t sure what to write about, look at a picture and use that as your starting point. Many of you enjoyed creating your own stories at school!

• Write a newspaper report about something in the news or something you have done with your family

• Write a non-chronological report (information text) about a topic of your choice.

• Write a poem – acrostic, rhyming, shape, etc

• Practise your handwriting!

Maths

• Practice times tables - write them out, get a parent or older sibling to test you

(Have a look at the F2 Freestylers videos at https://www.buckhursthillprimary.co.uk/daily-videos/ for some ideas for outside times tables practice!)

• Practice the four operations (+, - , x, ÷) with mental calculations and written methods (column addition/subtraction/multiplication and short/long division)
  • Pick two random numbers and add them together
  • Pick two random numbers and subtract the smaller number from the greater number.
  • Pick a random number and multiply it by a number between 2 and 9.
  • Pick a random number and divide it by a number between 2 and 9 - remember there might be a remainder

• Design and create a maths board game

• Design and create their own TopTrumps cards on a topic of their choice

• Be the teacher! Design a poster to explain a mathematical concept or method (e.g. column addition or perimeter and area or bus stop division etc.)  

• Computing
  • If we want a computer to understand how to do something we need to give it an algorithm. An algorithm is a list of steps you give to a computer to solve a problem or get something done.
    • Why not be a robot? Can you get a parent/carer or sibling from one side of the room to the other by giving them an algorithm (specific instructions)? Remember they can only do what you tell them to! Can they be the 'brain' and you be the robot?
    • What about writing an algorithm for brushing your teeth? Write down step by step instructions...You can check how well you've done by asking a sibling or parent/carer to follow your instructions! You could even send in your algorithm to Ms Donovan and she'll follow your instructions and see how well you've done!

• Geography

  • Create a map of your local area, go a different direction each day on a walk and map out all your surrounding streets labelling any landmarks (churches, train stations... (http://meaningfulmaps.org/)

  • You could perhaps make an emoticon map of how children feel in different areas inspired by the work of Julia Tanner. These emotions may vary through the day of course, or depending on the weather. When rain stops play, head indoors to explore and map the rooms of the house.

  • Keep a weather diary for a week, recording the cloud cover, temperature, rainfall and other activity.
  • Geology - Make a collection of stones found locally. If they are not connected with the local geology you might ask how they got there.

• Art

  • Create a roman mosaic on squared paper

  • Draw, draw, draw!

  • Can you  create a continuous line drawing?  - find something you'd like to draw, put it in front of you, get your pen or pencil and paper ready and spend 5 minutes drawing the object - the challenge is that you're not allowed to take our pen/pencil off of the paper!

  • Design a book mark

• Music

  • Clap along to a piece of music

  • Write down how it makes you feel and what it makes you think of.

  • Make up a dance to the music (PE link)

  • Write some lyrics for a song or a rap

• PE
  • Daily Mile - Why not challenge the kids to still do this every day- either on their own, with the dog, with family members etc. 
  • Skipping rope - Skipping is great for a whole body work out in a small space. Use imagination- can the kids think of different ways to skip-jump rope?
  • Using lamp posts around a familiar walking route near where you live to change the intensity of walking/jogging/running
  • Frisbee
  • Washing the car
  • Gardening- digging, weeding, planting, raising seeds, make bird boxes
  • Healthy cooking with the kids- fruit kebabs, fruit faces...
  • Get some chalk so they can draw out hopscotch on the patio or pavement
  • Go on a scavenger hunt- get them to come up with a tick list of things they might find - twigs/leaves/caterpillars/feathers etc
  • Design a sports day- get them to come up with the activities- try and remember what they did last year at school sports day and work within the constraints of your house or garden!