Safety over cost, a practical example of the problems faced by mathematicians, engineers and businesses.

So that students can see how important maths is to our businesses and to our building industry we have put together a practical problem solving exercise called The Oil Rig Platform. It is designed to simulate the workings of a team of engineers, trying to find a solution to a problem by building an oil rig platform.

The students are divided into small teams and challenged to build a model of an oil rig platform and work out how much it costs to build using only set materials. To test for safety the platform must be able to support the weight of a brick! Will your students design it so cheaply that it collapses or will they spend more money to make it strong and sturdy?

The exercise is suitable for both KS3 and KS4 students and runs over one lesson. Each team is given the student brief, a set of resources and a deadline. The winning team is the one who can build the oil rig, support the weight of a brick and is the cheapest to build. A great learning experience and good fun for everyone.

What’s more – we have made it really easy for the teacher to deliver too!

This resource contains: clear teachers’ guidance notes that explain how to run the exercise, the students exercise brief, resources checklist and the assessment criteria.

How much does this all cost? Only £20.00 and can be re-used over and over again!

There are more details at…

http://c-l-e.co.uk/buy-teaching-resources-online/oil-rig-platform/

You can pay and download the exercise direct from our website using PayPal or you may wish to pay with either a cheque or a purchase order number. Simply e-mail your purchase order number to us and we will send the exercise to you along with the invoice for payment within 14 days.

Julie O’Brien
Creative Learning Events
0113 3909814
07977 489779
www.c-l-e.co.uk

Quality Teaching and Quality Texts – Two Essentials for Higher Order Reading.

The teaching of initial reading skills is generally thought to be satisfactory in our primary schools.

But I have many conversations with head teachers and literacy coordinators about the insufficient progress many children still make with regard to higher order skills; often around the time children enter Key Stage 2.

Children reach a point where they appear to be a ‘fluent’ reader but are then left too much to their own devices, with not enough direct teaching of those reading skills that will help them progress further.

In the most effective teaching you will see a range of approaches: Shared, group and guided reading as well as 1:1 sessions. Obviously, the quality of that direct teaching cannot be under estimated.

The other element is having access to engaging texts, which offer the opportunity to ask deeper questions and take children’s thinking and comprehension beyond the text; opportunities to practise skills like inference and deduction.

The Mini Tales Pack – our latest resource is designed to support both these elements:

• 10 lively short stories written exclusively for Thinking Child by Steve Bowkett. (6 books of each title in a handy to carry box)
• These engaging tales can be devoured quite quickly but are rich in layers of meaning.
• The teacher/TA booklet is full of comprehensive advice and ideas to support and enhance the quality of guided reading sessions at Key Stage 2. Written by Guided Reading Expert Rachel Clarke.
• In addition there is a free memory stick giving you The Mini Tales in pdf & ppt versions for further teaching options.

These 60 books, teacher/TA booklet and memory stick cost just £129.

If you purchase The Mini Tales Pack before the end of term you can have it at an amazing Introductory Price of just £99. (saving of £30)

To find out more visit the webpage: http://www.thinkingchild.org.uk/mini-tales-pack-short-stories-for-guided-reading-at-key-stage-2

** The discounted price will automatically adjust at the checkout.

Or – Click the INVOICE button to raise an order for your school.

Alternatively email us: info@thinkingchild.org.uk

Or telephone: 01604 491511