Home-School Learning Resources

A Guide for Home-Educators, Teachers, Parents and Librarians

Christinea Donnelly

• Publisher: Facet Publishing
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781783304905
• eBook ISBN: 9781783305445
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Library & Information Science
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

Home-School Learning Resources is a practical guide that will help teachers, parents, home educators and librarians to locate useful, quality-tested websites that offer resources for enhanced curriculum learning and related fun activities for children and young people aged 4-16.
The book allows users to locate resources quickly and easily, with cross references made between subjects and handy tips for further exploration & discovery. It offers the opportunity for a holistic approach to educating children and enhancing their development. The book presents a range of UK resources as well as relevant international ones listed by subject, covering all areas of the UK curriculum as well as general knowledge, interests and leisure time.

A–Z of subjects

ANIMALS, BIRDS, FISH AND PETS

See also: Citizenship – animal rights; Nature

There is no doubt that there’s plenty of information about animals, birds, fish and pets to be found from books, magazines and, of course, the internet. To avoid being overwhelmed – and if you are simply wanting factual information on different animals – you could try one of the online encyclopedias, such as The Online Animal Encyclopedia (www.aboutanimals.com). You could also use National Geographic – either www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds for bird pictures and facts or www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish for fish. For information looking at a specific animal in more depth or accompanied by a learning activity, try the suggestions below.

Animals
Information

The Deep: A–Z animals

www.thedeep.co.uk/plan-your-visit/meet-our-animals

Learn about the creatures of The Deep and the habitats they live in.

The Mammal Society

www.mammal.org.uk

Click ‘Discover Mammals’ for a list of all 90 species of mammals in the British Isles. Then click on the mammal picture for information and a downloadable factsheet.

Oxford University Museum of Natural History: learning zone

www.oum.ox.ac.uk/thezone

Designed for younger children to find facts and information on animals.

Young RSPCA

https://young.rspca.org.uk/kids

This has animal information covering pets, wildlife and farm animals.

Learning resources and activities

Animal habitats

www.abpischools.org.uk/topic/animal-habitats/1/1

A great resource from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry looking at human and animal habitats to explore and consider different environments and the animals that live there.

Bats

www.bats.org.uk/resources

This has great resources for families and teachers looking at bats in the context of wildlife conservation. For teachers and educators, select Education and Outreach Resources, then Resources for Teachers/Youth Leaders. For families, select Bats for All Resource Pack and/or Fun Craft activities. However, families, teachers and educators could use all three for inspiring children to look at bats and the environment. Some of the bat crafts would be great for Halloween activities.

Canal & River Trust: learning resources

www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/explorers/resources

This is an excellent learning resource with a wealth of downloadable activities and information. Using the filter, select either Animals or Habitats for activity sheets such as the Water Birds Spotter Sheet. Excellent.

Chester Zoo: learning resources

www.chesterzoo.org/schools/resources

Chester Zoo has over 200 downloadable resources for learning and teaching at home or at school. The extensive range of topics includes: Biodiversity; Climate; Conservation; Endangered Animals and Rainforests, along with many others. Search by age group; curriculum subject; resource type; or topic. Excellent.

Colchester and Ipswich Museums: animal activities

www.cimuseums.org.uk/museumfromhome

This has a host of downloadable activities related to animals including How to Make a Bird Feeder, Pancake Animals and How to Make a Dancing Woolly Mammoth. Great ideas and fun for all the family.

Co-operative Heritage Trust: animals

www.co-operativeheritage.coop/homeschooling-resources

An interesting resource from the Co-operative Heritage Trust for KS1 looking at animal co-operation and co-operative behaviours. Select KS1_Science CHT Cooperative_Animals_Worksheet.pdf.

Get curious! Animal senses

www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/norwich-castle/learning/learning-at-home

An inspiring set of info-activity sheets to find out about different animals and the senses they rely on. The resources use craft, drama, games and song ideas to develop enquiry and discovery. Suitable for 3–7-year-olds. Excellent.

Ice Age animal factsheets

www.creswell-crags.org.uk/education/teaching-resources

Select Ice Age Animal Factsheets from the list of downloads.

Jersey Zoo: animal fun factsheets

www.durrell.org/wildlife/visit

Learn lots of interesting facts about some unusual animals as well as Rainforests, Habitats and Animal Adaptation. Select Education, then Kids’ Zone, then Animals.

London Zoo: online resources

www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/zsl-london-zoo-online-resources

London Zoo has some great online resources for use independent of a visit to the zoo.

Museum of Zoology: Cambridge safari trail

www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk/visit-us/museum-trails-and-gallery-map

A downloadable trail developed by the Museum of Zoology highlighting the animals in the architecture in the city centre. Great for families and school trips if you live in Cambridge and an inspired idea to use if you live elsewhere.

Natural History Museum: British wildlife

www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/british-wildlife.html

The Natural History Museum provides a vast array of information and activities on wildlife in the UK.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

www.worldwildlife.org/teaching-resources

There is a huge number of educational resources from the WWF. For teachers and parents there is the Wild Classroom, connecting educators with the tools and resources to help children explore and understand the world around them. For those learning at home or looking for activities to do, there are weekly activity plans. In addition, there is the Lesson Library for primary and secondary pupils offering toolkits for the Tiger; Polar Bear; Sea Turtle; Elephant; Dolphin; and Biodiversity. Excellent.

Birds
Information

Hawk and Owl Trust

www.hawkandowltrust.org

From the main menu, select About Birds of Prey for an A–Z of information by bird.

Pocket Guide to Birds

www.museum.wales/cardiff/learning/resources

A small downloadable guide to some common garden birds. Select My Pocket Guide to Birds.

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)

www.rspb.org.uk

Select Birds & Wildlife for a bird A–Z and the facility to Identify a bird, along with a whole host of guides, bird song and advice. Excellent.

Learning resources and activities

Barn owl: learning resources

www.barnowltrust.org.uk

A fantastic set of activity sheets, lesson plans and facts. Select Kids’ Stuff. In addition, there are also lesson plans on barn owl conservation for Science, Literacy and Numeracy, including educational resources with study ideas and downloadable worksheets.

Evolution of birds

https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/discover/make-learn/home-schooling

Find out how birds evolved from dinosaurs and how they learned to fly. Scroll down the page and select Natural Sciences.

The story of the dodo

www.portsmouthmuseum.co.uk/get-involved/activities/dodo-word-search-and-story

A short story and accompanying word search about the extinction of the dodo.

Pets

Cats Protection: for kids

https:/...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-title Page
• Dedication
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• How To Use This Book
• The National Curriculum
• Home Education
• Learning at Home
• General Sources
• List of Organisations Included
• A–Z of Subjects
• Index