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This issue: Two creative topics — ‘Ourselves’ and ‘The Victorians’, plus estimating and approximating, varying sentences and lesson planning

KS1 & 2

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Kids’ News

The English magazine for today’s young learners

…one in six primary school children does not speak English as a first Language.

Teaching Times

Find out how Kids’ News can help you teach EAL in your classroom

Scholastic Book Fairs

Get your teeth into a good book with Scholastic Book Fairs

Find out more about Scholastic Book Fairs

Primary French Resources from Scholastic

Teaching French in your primary classroom is easy with these fantastic resources!

Find out more about Primary French Resources

Competition

win a visit from bestsellnig illustrator Nick Sharratt

Take part in the Scholastic summer reading challenge! Read for the World Record!

Celebrate each and every child in out ‘About me’ issue

Over 40 online resources with this issue:

  • SEN special
  • Talk about feelings and emotions
  • Festival fun at the Notting Hill Carnival
  • More on multi–agency working
  • Is technology harming young children
  • A day in the life of a childminder

Find out more

Out of this world

Scholastic News

1 July 2010

Eclipse fans get in on the Hunger Games act

Scholastic hand out 3,000 copies of The Hunger Games outside the UK premiere of Eclipse

Read more

24 June 2010

Freya Blackwood Wins 2010 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal

Prize-winning illustrations are inspired by the memory of a beloved pet dog.

Read more

Twitter

RT @NovelNovice: @scholasticuk my big news story from the UK today. A 3 foot rabbit in East Sussex! http://twitpic.com/2a1kv4 <- Err.

Author of the month

Maggiest-576201

Maggie Stiefvater

Writer, musician, artist, expert in homicidal faeries and werewolf romance – that’s Maggie Stiefvater.

Shiver, the first book in Maggie’s Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy, gained awards, commercial success and a devoted army of fans. A sequel, Linger, goes on sale this month.

Find out more about Maggie Stiefvater

Book of the month

The Loon on the Moon

The Loon on the Moon

Who’s that whizzing by?

It’s the Loon from the moon on his Loonzoomer, and he’s on a mission to keep the moon glowing bright.

Find out more about The Loon on the Moon

Exciting mini-sites

  • Henry’s House

    Anything can happen in Henry’s House.

  • The Well Between the Worlds

    A drowning land holds a dark secret, in The Well Between the Worlds.

  • Malice

    An underground comic becomes a little too convincing in Malice.

  • The Hunger Games

    The Hunger Games: winning will make you famous, losing will cost your life.

  • Mortal Engines

    The prequel to Mortal Engines is here – be the first to read it!

  • The Joshua Files

    The Joshua Files: one boy, one deadly prophecy, one heart-stopping adventure.

  • Horrible Science

    It's squishy, it's squelchy and sometimes it smells…it's brand new Horrible Science.

  • Ways to Live Forever

    Ways to Live Forever: a powerful story of making every minute count for a lifetime.

  • Darkside

    Tom Becker's award-winning supernatural suspense thriller, Darkside.

  • Horrible Histories

    More gruesome than you can possibly imagine – the wicked world of Horrible Histories.

  • The Kick Off

    Fast-paced football action and off-pitch drama! Follow Jamie Johnson straight to the premier league in The Kick Off.

  • The Fairy House

    A whole new magical world awaits you: The Fairy House.

This month

July 2010 / August 2010

Monday 26 Tuesday 27 Wednesday 28 Thursday 29 Friday 30 Saturday 31 Sunday 01
Asala Dharma Day

Asala Dharma Day

The anniversary of the Buddha’s first sermon after his enlightenment.

Bugs Bunny's first animated appearance (1940)

Bugs Bunny's first animated appearance (1940)

The animated short film, A Wild Hare, is released, showing the first incarnation of famous cartoon character, Bugs Bunny.

First potatoes arrives in Britain (1586)

First potatoes arrives in Britain (1586)

On this date in 1586, the first potatoes arrived in Britain from Columbia, brought by Sir Thomas Harriot.

Agreement signed to build Channel Tunnel (1987)

Agreement signed to build Channel Tunnel (1987)

British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and President of France François Mitterrand sign an agreement to build a tunnel linking England and France, which later becomes the Channel Tunnel.

Slavery abolished in Britain

Slavery abolished in Britain

On this date in 1833, slavery was abolished throughout the British Empire by the passing of the Slavery Abolition Act.

JK Rowling's birthday

JK Rowling's birthday

Author of the Harry Potter books, JK Rowling, was born on this day in 1965.

Lammas

Lammas

Lammas (loaf-mass) Day is a harvest and Pagan Festival celebrating the wheat harvest.

August 2010

Monday 02 Tuesday 03 Wednesday 04 Thursday 05 Friday 06 Saturday 07 Sunday 08
Robin Hood Festival

Robin Hood Festival

This week-long celebration of the legend of Robin Hood features entertainment for all the family. It takes place at the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre until 8 August. Find out more at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/ robinhoodfestival Find linking activities and resources.

Christopher Columbus sets sail

Christopher Columbus sets sail

On this day in 1492, Christopher Columbus left Spain and set sail on his voyage to America. Find explorers-themed activities and resources.

World War I begins

World War I begins

On this day in 1914, Germany invaded Belgium causing Great Britain to declare war on Germany. Find war-themed activities and resources.

Playday

Playday

Playday aims to raise the profile of play and celebrate children’s right to play. Find out more at the Playday website.

World Wide Web debuted

World Wide Web debuted

On this day in 1991, the World Wide Web was debuted. Explore the exciting ICT activities and resources available in the Education PLUS resource bank.

Chimney Sweeps Act

Chimney Sweeps Act

This act, which prohibited the employment of children under 16 as chimney sweeps, was passed in 1840. This could spark off a discussion about children’s rights, at home and abroad.

Great Train Robbery

Great Train Robbery

In 1963, thieves held up a mail train in Buckinghamshire, stealing £2.6 million. Invite the children to use this event as inspiring for an exciting story.

August 2010

Monday 09 Tuesday 10 Wednesday 11 Thursday 12 Friday 13 Saturday 14 Sunday 15
National Allotments Week

National Allotments Week

National Allotments Week runs from 10 to 15 August and aims to raise the profile of allotment gardening. Find growing and gardens activities and resources.

The UK's hottest day

The UK's hottest day

On this day in 2003, the town of Brogdale in Kent reached 38.5°C, the highest temperature ever recorded in the UK. Talk to the children about the importance of protecting themselves from the sun on hot summer’s days.

Solar eclipse

Solar eclipse

A solar eclipse occurred on this day in 1999. Find linking activities and resources.

Start of Ramadan

Start of Ramadan

The time during which followers of the Muslim faith fast between dawn and dusk. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. Find activities and resources related to Islam.

International Left-Handers' Day

International Left-Handers' Day

Raises awareness of the challenges faced by left-handers living in a right-handed world. Why not challenge the children to use their left hand to do tasks such as writing during the day? Find out more at www.lefthandersday.com

Janmashtami - Krishna Jayanti

Janmashtami - Krishna Jayanti

This Hindu festival celebrates the birth of Krishna. Hindus sing traditional Hindu songs (bhajans), chant mantras, and eat food made from milk and curds. Plays are acted of scenes from Krishna’s early life.

End of World War II

End of World War II

On this day in 1945, Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s acceptance of the terms of the Potsdam Declaration, effectively ending World War II. Find war-themed activities and resources.

August 2010

Monday 16 Tuesday 17 Wednesday 18 Thursday 19 Friday 20 Saturday 21 Sunday 22
Elvis Presley dies

Elvis Presley dies

‘King of Rock and Roll’ Elvis Presley died at the age of 42 on this day in 1977.

First trans-Atlantic hot air balloon crossing

First trans-Atlantic hot air balloon crossing

Three American balloonists made the first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in a hot air balloon on this day in 1978.

National Fire Service established

National Fire Service established

Created in August 1941 by the merger of the national Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) and local authority fire brigades. Find resources about fire.

Hitler becomes President of Germany

Hitler becomes President of Germany

On this day in 1934, Adolf Hitler became President of Germany. Explore our war-themed activities and resources.

Voyager II launched

Voyager II launched

On this day in 1977, the space probe Voyager II was launched to explore the outer solar system. NASA is still collecting data from the space probe, which is now travelling out of the solar system at a distance of approximately 14 billion kilometres from Earth.

Birth of Christopher Robin

Birth of Christopher Robin

Christopher Robin, son of A.A. Milne and inspiration for the Winnie-the-Pooh stories, was born on this day in 1920. Discover more about the the world of Pooh at just-pooh.com.

First English Civil War begins

First English Civil War begins

The first English Civil War, between the Parliamentarians and Royalists, began on this date in 1642.

View the full month's calendar.

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