Using the Software
in the Classroom
The following PDFs, freely available as
downloads from this website, provide details of how Early
Essentials can be used within a classroom environment with
children of various ages.
For each type of use of the software an
introductory page is provided which states:
- The years for which it is suitable
- An overview of the activities
- The assumptions being made of the childrens'
skills
- The skills they should develop by performing
the activities
- The preparation required by the teacher/support
staff
- What you can expect the children to learn.
Then a table lists the screens to use and
provides suggestions for the:
- Teaching opportunities that the screens
provide
- Tasks that can be assigned
- Skills that the children will learn
- The expected learning outcomes.
Using a Word Bank in the Early Essentials
Write program
Suitability: Reception/Year One
In this unit children learn to use a word processor, like
the one in Early Essentials, to assemble text held in a word
bank and start to develop familiarity with the computer keyboard.
Children will discuss the words they see around them and will
understand that words convey information. They will use this
knowledge to communicate ideas using ICT.
Click here to
download the PDF document
Labelling and classifying in the Early
Essentials Write program
Suitability: Reception/Year One
In this unit children learn that key pieces of information
can be used to describe objects. They also learn to use simple
criteria to divide groups of objects into subsets, and to
identify objects by key words. They will use a word processor
with a word bank to present information.
Click here to
download the PDF document
Representing information graphically
as Pictograms in the Early Essentials Chart program
Suitability: Year One
In this unit children learn how to use ICT to represent information
graphically. They learn how to create pictograms and how to
answer simple questions on the data shown in their pictograms.
Children will use the Chart application in Early Essentials
to create their work and will learn how to enter data correctly
and how to use icons.
Click here to
download the PDF document
Writing stories: communicating information
using text in the Early Essentials Write program
Suitability: Year Two
In this unit children learn to communicate messages and recognize
that ICT lets them correct and improve their work, as they
are working or at a later date. Children will also have opportunities
to discuss their experiences of using ICT.
Children will be able to apply what they have learnt in this
unit when: writing stories with a clear sequence of events
in a sustained style; using and punctuating a range of sentence
types; commenting on the features which distinguish texts
such as narrative, information and poetry.
Click here to
download the PDF document
Creating pictures in the Early Essentials
Paint program
Suitability: Year Two
In this unit children develop visual ideas for different purposes
by using ICT and other methods. They use the features of Paint
to explore and realise their ideas and to identify ways to
develop and improve their work. They will need to select and
use simple tools (pen, brush, fill and spray) in their mark
making, and understand that work can be easily amended and
ideas can be tried out without spoiling earlier versions.
They will learn how ICT techniques can inform other techniques
and vise versa, and that sometimes a screen version is the
final version of a piece of work.
Click here to
download the PDF document
Routes: controlling a Turtle in the Early
Essentials Turtle program
Suitability: Year Two
In this unit children learn how to create, test, modify and
store instructions to control the movement of a turtle. They
learn to program the turtle to move around an area by using
single instructions, a sequence of instructions and repeated
sequences.
Click here to
download the PDF document
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