Taking the child’s love of the simple maze and using it to teach both co-operation and co-ordination

Everyone loves a maze – perhaps because mazes are infinitely variable and so suitable for all ages.

But perhaps mostly we love mazes because maze solving has a skill all of its own.

That’s a good start of course, but imagine also a maze in which the child not only has to find the way through a simple maze, but must also learn to balance at the same time!

The challenge is immense, but the solution is possible for older nursery children, and achieving the solution will help their physical co-ordination to develop, as well strengthening the cognitive skills involved in solving the maze and co-operation when two or more children are involved.

Such an impact comes with the Balancing Maze which can be used across different difficulty levels, and its companion the Twin Balancing Board.

At the simplest level the child holds the Balancing Maze and gently turns it one way and the next to guide the ball through the maze – thus developing arm co-ordination and strength.

At the next stage two children work together with the board, co-operating to get the ball to move in the desire direction.

Next we return to single use again with the child standing on the board with one foot on either side. Then eventually it is two children holding hands and co-ordinating their balance.

The Twin Balancing Board works in a similar way but has a higher weight maximum (taking 100kg as opposed to a maximum of 80kg for the Balancing Maze).

Additionally the Twin Balancing Board comes with three different maze patterns and allows up to six children to hold it while manipulating up to three different balls.

If ever there was a game that teaches three skills at once, this is it.

For more information on the Balancing Maze go to our website – www.edventure.co.uk/active-play/balancing-maze.

Alternatively if you would like to read more about the Twin Balancing Board click here.

Edventure Ltd
Hargreaves Business Park
Hargreaves Road
Eastbourne
East Sussex
BN23 6QW

Tel: 01323 50 10 40

Email: sales@edventure.co.uk

The Little Box of BIG Questions

Philosophical and meaningful conversations with children and young people

Professor Irvine Gersch & Dr Anna Lipscomb

Children/young people need time, space and kindness to speak openly about the things most important to them and listening can help facilitators understand better the root of children’s thinking and behaviour, and can give an insight into how to better support them to reach their potential. Use these cards to provide prompts for a meaningful, stimulating and positive conversation about the ‘bigger picture’ in life. They will help children and young people understand their views about life, school and people important to them, which is enlightening for the facilitators too.

There are four areas for discussion:

Identity – allows the child to consider what is special about them as individuals & includes: How would you describe the person you are?

Important people – children are encouraged to consider who is important to them through questions such as: Who is special to you?

Meaning & Purpose – questions covering our mission and purpose in life, for example: Do you think that people’s lives are set out for them?

Thinking & Planning – the final set of questions allows individuals to think about how they reflect and make big decisions, for instance: How do you calm your mind, relax and think best? Have you ever experienced a big change in your life?

Contents: 17 A5-size cards, includes instruction booklet with ideas for use

LITTLE BOX OF BIG QUESTIONS ref. 400H £24.99

TO ORDER:
Post: Small World, 9 Burnham Place, Syresham, Northants, NN13 5HT
Tel: 01280 850 305
Fax: 01280 850 718

Email: orders@smlworld.co.uk
http://www.smlworld.co.uk/little-box-of-big-questions-order-form-hh.html

Fifty Health & Lifestyle-based Group Activities for PSHE Key Stages 3 & 4

Trying to convince teenagers of the need to engage in a healthy lifestyle can on occasion seem a difficult task.

Which is why one PSHE teacher thought about turning the issue into a series of “Life Games” – all based around the curriculum requirements for the health and lifestyle topics in PSHE Key Stages 3 and 4.

These games enable you to inform and engage your students on topics which are notoriously sensitive including relationships, reproduction, substance misuse, sunshine and travel, mental health and depression.

Each game is a stand-alone activity which can be delivered to a range of groups. Most of the games are accompanied by separate student notes. Clear learning objectives, based on the national curriculum, together with session plans, are provided.

The games can be used in any order and are suited to the classroom, although they could be used in other contexts. They are intended for groups of about eight to forty participants and are generally appropriate for teenagers and young adults. Each activity should last about thirty minutes, although they can be adapted for longer sessions. There are also suggestions for extending the activity and “talking points”, useful as fillers.

Life Games is available as a photocopiable book or on CD Rom, and individual activities can thus be readily copied and distributed to students as required. The copies can also be shared with colleagues or given to supply teachers, without any fear of the original book being misplaced.

An extract from Life Games, ISBN 978 1 86083 718 0, order code T1730EMN
is available at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/pshe/T1730.pdf

Prices

  • Photocopiable report in a ring binder, £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • CD with school-wide rights: £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Both the Ring Binder and the CD £31.94 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Prices include VAT.

You can purchase the report…

When ordering the book please quote the reference T1730EMN.