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Letter Cubes Join Keen2learn as Newest Educational Game

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

Letter cubes is a new teaching resource pocket word dice that helps with English literacy in an educational game that can be played by any number of players or teams. It consists of 12 letter dice, each with a score value. Each player takes a turn to throw the 12 dice then composes one or two words from the letters on the upturned faces. The score is added up from the points on the letters used. For the more advanced game points can be taken away from unused letters.

The class-pack is supplied as 6 packs of 12 dice and has the advantage of variations on the game that allow you to choose to allow players to compose words crosswords-style, by crossing words. When adding points, letters used twice are counted twice. OR After throwing the dice, each player writes a list of words using the letters. The player with the longest list wins the round. OR having chosen a topic such as animals, countries, makes of cars, roll one die or several dice. The first player to call out a word starting with the letter or one of the letters on the dice gets a point. OR after throwing the dice, each player composes a sentence or poem using words starting with the letters available. All letters must be used.

The list is growing and can be extended with your own ideas. The fun helps stimulate children to learn.

Tags: crosswords, Letter Cubes, literacy lesson plans, teaching resources
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Talking Dice Essentials New Educational Dice Games

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

The ever popular Talking Dice series from keen2learn has been extended to include a new selection pack. This range of teaching resources is designed to stimulate talking, discussion and story writing in children and adults. A real benefit is this can be achieved in any language.

Developed by teachers as a quick and enjoyable way to get students practicing their language skills. A simple throw of the picture-based dice gets your students instantly speaking, thinking and listening. You can add more dice based on the ability of the group. The dice can be used to teach any first or second language in a variety of ways. The range extends across a wide selection of curriculum based topics. Students roll the dice and say what they see in the target language. There is no other product that matches Talking Dice’s Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic properties. Talking Dice are used by thousands of language teachers, primary school teachers and speech therapists worldwide. Talking Dice can fit into your current lessons plan in minutes and the variations are almost endless.

Tags: lesson plans, Literacy curriculum, Talking Dice, teaching resources
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Boost Self Esteem in Children with Feel Good Educational Games

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

Young children often struggle to understand their feelings and insecurities when dealing with other children. A key is to encourage them through educational Feel Good Board games which open up with a chance to express themselves and see they are not that different from other children. This reassurance and encouragement is an important part of PSHE teaching resources for younger children.

The games have been developed to make learning easy. With a little patience and practice by parents and teachers the involvement and confidence of children is easily achieved. The Feel Good board game is a non-competitive team game for use as a PSHE teaching resource in the classroom or at home. By helping children become familiar with different feelings and emotions and ways of expressing them they will learn to be sharing, caring, laughing and smiling whilst focusing on their own and others unique qualities. A fun way for children to gain confidence and boost their self-esteem.

Tags: Feel good friends, PSHE teaching resources, self esteem in children
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Keen2learn Adds BBC Science Educational Games To Range

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

The popular BBC science clips TV series of simulations has been turned into eductaional software allowing it to be used as very effective teaching resources. Teachers can include the series as art of their lesson plans to present science experiments in biology, chemistry and physics to children aged five – 16 years old. The three CD ROMs each contain seven areas of science activity aimed at five to seven year old’s, seven to eleven and 14- 16 year old children. The beauty of these fun educational games is they can effectively simulate the outcome of an experiment without the need for apparatus. The animations are highly effective in putting the subject across and can be shown on whiteboards and PC’s.

There are several license version available including a home version that allows parents to get involved in the science learning games with their children.

Tags: BBC Educational games, Science games, science simualtions, teaching resources
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New Omingraph Educational Software Added to Keen2learn Range

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

Some great new teaching resources have been added to the keen2learn range. Omingraph is the highly successful maths graphing software designed to let children see the graphical results of maths equations. There are over 150 starting points that have been developed by teachers who see the educational software as a huge benefit in letting children see graphs of their results. There are three versions of the software license. The single user license is designed for home use and for a small group in school. The other licenses are for primary schools and secondary school. Both of these are for unlimited use.

Omingraph is a learning game that is a huge benefit in the maths lesson plans – perhaps why it is in such wide use.

Omingraph maths games

Tags: maths games, Omnigraph, teaching resources
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Educational ICT Games Are Top Presents For Christmas

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

This year educational toys are being closely reviewed as many parents look at Christmas in a different light. Young children, blissfully unaware of the meaning of recession, are looking forward to receiving presents but instead of buying the latest plastic craze many parents are thinking of fewer but more worthwhile gifts.

The Keen2learn website is full of educational games, toys and puzzles designed to provide fun learning that follows the National Curriculum. Our theme of “Learning in Disguise” reiterates the advice given by Plato over two thousand years ago; “Do not, my friend, keep children to their studies by compulsion, but by play.” Turning learning into fun is hugely attractive to children who learn the rules of the game then play it repeatedly gaining confidence and speed. This self assurance leads to exploration and as the keen2learn teaching resources cover a huge range of subjects there are plenty to chose from that can help with performance back in school. One of the more inventive Christmas presents are in electronics and there are some great ICT games (information communications technology) which introduce children to electronics and computer control.

LogiRobot can be used in simple play or used in more complex and engaging projects that help children understand the principles of control, automation and robotics. But watch out as LogiRobot has a mind of its own that you need to control.

LogiRobot from Logiblocs

LogiRobot Crane from Logiblocs

Tags: educational toys for Christmas, ICT games, Logiblocs, LogiRobot
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New Smart Kids Educational Games Added to Keen2learn Website

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

Keen2learn is continually looking to extend the range of educational toys and teaching resources. The critical features of the selection of new games are that they are both educational and fun. The benefit of Smart Kids resources are they are well designed and certainly fun!

The latest additions to keen2learn feature games for phonics, spelling, and maths. These games are brand new and designed to help children boost their

New teaching resource to help kids learn about maths

learning curve with a range of Accelerators that can be use in the classroom and at home.

Calculating Accelerators: Improve calculating skills with this new card game designed for use with the innovative Smart Tray.

The cards use fun sums to demonstrate the four operations of addition, subtraction, division and multiplication.

Reading Comprehension Accelerators: These exciting new Accelerators help children with English games reading for meaning using a selection of fiction and non-fiction stories.

Phonemic Awareness Accelerator: Teaches the operations of phonemic awareness

Ten Frame Towers: A great new game to help children develop their arithmetic by using a multi-sensory learning game. The game uses patterns to represent each numeral so that number relationships can be seen in a new way.

English games to help sentence building

Construct a Sentence: An exciting new sentence building game that covers parts of speech; including nouns, adjectives, verbs, prepositions, pronouns, adverbs and articles.

Wheel of Phonics: An exciting new word building game that covers consonants, short vowels, digraphs and clusters.
The game encourages social interaction as children observe and help each other to build and construct new words.

Number Trucks: Drive maths facts home with these exciting new Number Trucks. Use multi-sensory active learning helps children’s knowledge of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division using numbers 2 to 9.

Magnetic Decimal and Percentage Builders: Children are able to compare percentage, decimal and fraction equivalences by adding magnetic decimal and percentage builders. Using colour-coding and high quality material children will find comparing, addition and subtraction a doddle.

Fun Number games

Number Spinners:This game uses flexible spinners to help with early number work and

counting. Create fun games and use them with or instead of dice or flash cards.

Have fun learning then check your answers on the back

Smart Tray: New and innovative multi-sensory system that lets children check their answers by flipping the tray over. The new design uses two types of activity cards that slide into the tray base. The first type of card is for direct matching activities and the second is for question and answer activities.

Monstermatics: New games for maths designed to help children develop their calculation skills and to think analytically about numbers, sums, and solving problems. Covers numbers from 0 up to 20 and includes the four operations. Play at 2 different ability levels.

Learn to spell with this great new English game

Spelligator: How many words can you chomp? An exciting new English word building game that teaches phonemic awareness, letter patterns and positioning. Covers Letters and Sounds patterns, consonants, vowels, digraphs, and clusters. The player who makes the most word wins!

What’s My Number?: Help children learn to count from 1 to 50 with this exciting number patterns game. Children will love the interactive nature of the game board as they ask questions and flick down numbers to best predict their opponent’s number.
Can also be used for visual demonstration of number patterns, including the four operations, counting, finding missing numbers, and more than / less than.

Tags: English games, keen2learn, maths games, New educational games, Smart Kids
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New Maths Educational Board Game Added To Keen2learn Range

Tuesday, August 30th, 2011

Keen2learn has just added some great new Numenko educational games for maths to their range. Coinciding with the news that children are still reluctant to learn maths these fun games can be played in school and at home by two – six players. A sound foundation in numeracy is essential to allow children to progress in maths and if this learning can be made to be fun the desire to learn can be accelerated through practice.

The UK is still failing in maths. Although the recent round of improved GCSE results were an improvement on last year there is a hidden concern. Maths, science and engineering are in decline replaced by a trend for children to take easier subjects in order to gain a better score and exam points. Our heritage is at stake, as our inventiveness will decline without a sound grounding in maths and more children than ever are dropping maths after they are 16 years old.

Many children find maths difficult because they can’t see the fun that can be had by playing maths games. Numenko is a board game using wooden tile to form maths answers in a crossword fashion similar to Scrabble. Addition, subtraction, division and multiplication form the answers on the board with the score being the answer to the statement. 6 x 2 =12 gives the player a score of twelve. The simplicity of the game makes it possible to for children of different ages to play. A second version of the game –Numenko in a Bag does away with the board to let children play anywhere – the winner is the first to use all their tiles.

Seeing how easy maths can become through playing Numenko will help children to break down any fear about maths which helps to build their confidence and develop a deep seated interest in numeracy.

Tags: edcucational games, Games for maths, maths games, Numenko
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New ICT Educational Game Gets Children Designing Electronic Circuits

Monday, July 18th, 2011

One of the best ways for children to learn is through trial and error, the hands on approach that boosts learning retention. And the best way to entice attention and involvement is through educational games that bring fun into learning. Keen2learn has just launched a great new teaching resource that has application in the classroom but be just as easily be used at home.

Click a Tronic is a great new way for children to learn about electronic circuits. It has easily clip-together printed circuit links that build up into an electronic circuit. Clip in the sensors, motors, fans and repays supplied with the game to turn the circuit into an operational unit. The Click a Tronic is an ideal teaching resource that covers the ICT, science, Design and Technology (D&T) elements of the national curriculum in fun exercises. Described by children as “the best lesson ever” the range of design experiments is enormous limited only by their imagination.

Already in use around the world it is a huge hit with teachers who use it in class. Importantly the Click a Tronic can be un-clipped and stored in the box provided and reused over and again. It comes with lesson plans, worksheets and instructions in a picture book with illustrations. Importantly it covers 200 learning projects in the principles and application of parallel and series circuits, electric motors and sensors. Projects can be a combination of techniques and how a project can be made to react to light, sound and moisture to activate a circuit.

Designed for children of five years old and upward the Click a Tronic is a hit in the class and at home where parents can support the projects and also see how a circuit is designed with application around the home. Probably the best present parents and relative can buy at the moment.

Tags: Click a Tronic, D&T, educational games, ICT games, teaching resources, understanding electronic circuits
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New Teaching Resource Has Magnetic Attraction In The Classroom.

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

Keen2learn’s range of PSHE educational games has been joined by a great new front of class teaching resource. The My BodyBoard series of health and nutrition teaching aids comprise of a cartoon drawing of the body or food – mounted in a sturdy aluminium frame. The board is magnetic to allow the class to place a combination of magnetic text and pictures onto the image of the human body or “eatwell” plate. The teacher can then highlight the dangers of alcohol and smoking by showing the effects on organs of the body.

The “bodyboards” were developed by an ex teacher who used his experience in class linked with the graphics skill of his wife to launch these great new learning games. Allowing children to see the adverse effects on the organs of the body and place the images correctly on the body is a significant ways of getting the point across. Keen2learn will adding extensions to this exciting range as they become available.

The boards can be easily displayed on a an easel or flip chart easel and stored with the magnetic images in place in an optional storage bag.

My BodyBoard Nutrition Eatwell Plate Magnetic Packs

My BodyBoard Dangers of Alcohol Magnetic Pack

My BodyBoard Dangers of Smoking Magnetic Pack

Tags: educatioanal games, learning games, nutritian teaching resources, pshe games
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Learn To Understand Music Through ICT Games In Ear Training

Friday, May 6th, 2011

We recently published some news on a great new range of music ICT games. A series of online educational games now fill a gap in a key area of learning music. Keen2learn now offer some learning resources to help students learn music by ear. The good news is the games are fun and each one is developed for anyone even those who can’t read music or have had any training in music theory. You will need to have some understanding of musical notation and be ready to learn the fundamentals of music theory. All of the games start at the beginner level and progress gradually to more difficult levels.

Basic Ear Training: Kickstart your ear training practice with this foundational set of workouts! Basic Ear Training gives you a thorough, well-balanced grounding in the four core areas of musicianship: melody, harmony, rhythm and sound. Regardless of your current level or instrument, this 30-day training program will sharpen your musical ear and mind!

Music is all about sound, and the most valuable asset a musician can have is a well-developed ear. Developed for the student, musician wanting to practice and as a teaching resource for music teachers these games provide a fun way to daily practice routines.

Steve Myers, MD at Theta Music explained “A musician with a good ear can play tunes quickly after hearing them, write down melodies and chords he hears in his head, or imagine a melodic phrase and play it instantly on his instrument. To the uninitiated, these feats appear magical – as if the player has some kind of divine gift. In reality, though, they rest upon a set of specific, concrete skills that can be developed through practice and training.”

Ear training develops and ties together all the skills that allow musicians to play, improvise and compose music by ear. It is the key to becoming not just good, but great. The ear training games on Theta Music Trainer will give you the practice you need without becoming monotonous or academic. Games inject an element of variety and fun into your practice routine and help boost your motivation. Basic musicianship skills are often best developed by working away from your instrument initially, in short bursts of concentrated practice. The games on this site are perfect for developing these skills, and are designed to provide a total workout of your musical ear and mind with as little as 10-15 minutes per day of regular playing.

Each game in the Theta Music Trainer is meant to train you in a specific area of musicianship.

Tags: ICT games, music educational online games.
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Keen2learn Educational Games And Teaching Resources Update

Thursday, March 24th, 2011

Since keen2learn began five years ago as a web trading operation we’ve had a huge advantage over the conventional printed catalogue sales outlets. Our dynamic web site means we can adjust the range of educational games, toys and teaching resources to feature new products coming onto the market in the space of a few hours. A process that can take up to a year before they appear in a printed catalogue.

This means you get to see the latest products – sometimes within a few days of them being launched. We also pride ourselves in being able to support the smaller supplier. Whilst the larger organisation has to analyse the sales potential before adopting a product we can work closely with a supplier without placing all sorts of demands and restrictions on them. It’s like the friendly corner shop versus the supermarket chain.

This gives many small suppliers with some brilliant products the change to promote their educational games without having to meet the supply and demand restrictions of the big boys. This is especially relevant to the many ex teachers who have a great idea and want a route to market that doesn’t place a huge financial burden on them.

So if you want to some great products that you might not find elsewhere – as well as some of the most popular games from the larger manufacturers – take a look at Keen2learn. Our range is continually being adjusted as we like to make room for new products. Sometimes this means we ditch products where the margin has been eroded through over supply, or through pricing shenanigans introduced by the suppliers. And remember the keen2learn price you see is the final price you pay. There are absolutely no hidden extras that emerge when you get to the checkout. (* unfortunately we do have to make apply a small charge for deliveries to non UK mainland and overseas). And if you are a small supplier who wants to get to the educational market give us a call – we may be able to help.

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Educational Games Get Children To Open Up On Tricky Areas

Friday, February 11th, 2011

One of the greatest problems to face a parent, teacher or youth worker is being able to form an effective line of communication with a child, teenager or young adult. Often worried about serious issues in their life many young people are unable to find the way to discuss an issue that concern them. A new range of educational games, Choice Discussion Cards, developed by a specialist with 25 years experience in this sensitive area have opened the door for young people to start effective discussions with adults.

Communication is one of the most pressing concerns in the education of young people. The Communications Trust are running the ‘Hello, Talk-Listen-Take part’ campaign to make 2011 a national year of communication. The aim to drive awareness of how important it is for children and young people to develop effective communications skills with their peers, parents, carers and society.

The Choice Discussion Card range is designed to help the development of effective communication on subjects of greatest concern to children and young people. Expressing their thoughts and emotions on social and challenging issues is a huge challenge for many children. Using these new PSHE teaching resources in a place and environment that is good to talk without interruptions from phones or TV’s and having a snack and a drink ready will ease the tensions that are often present at the start of conversations. This is especially relevant if you are tackling bullying, drugs, bereavement, gang culture, relationships, school work or any other issue that could be an ongoing or a new problem.

Let’s Get Talking Choice Discussion card sets are designed to get the exchange going but preparation on the subject area is important to steer the flow of conversation. Covering many subjects including Health, Crime and Personal development they have been developed specifically to handle issues that are tricky and challenging for parents and carers to open a conversation with young people. The cards are both intervention and prevention tools that unpick and drill down through key issues. The flow of conversation will allow adults to understand the underlying problems concerning the child or teenager.

Prepare yourself for any ‘truths’ to emerge; you may be surprised at just what is revealed. Preparation and knowledge of the issue is essential as nothing will hit you as hard as the truth.

Each set of Choice Discussion Cards gives a selection of topic cards for the child to choose. They are then asked to discuss why they chose that card. Patience is a virtue whilst using the cards. Adults need to be non-judgemental and open minded otherwise the child will close down. Designed as educational games to empower the child, which in turn will allow adults to discuss a satisfied solution together! Do not feel guilty about your parenting or teaching skills. These communication cards are here to help improve a child’s life and well-being.

Social and challenging issues are something all parents, teachers and carers face with children reaching adolescence. Suddenly the sweet young child has turned into a greasy, green spotted monster that just grunts. Now you can reach out for support which can otherwise be a hard and tough time for all. Award-Winning Let’s Get Talking discussion cards cover: Depression, Alcohol, Drugs, Hygiene, Anger, Friends, Knives, Guns and Gangs, Life, Love, Money and Being Bullied. And the range is expanding.

Your Life Discussion Cards educational games

Tags: Communications Trust, dicsussion cards, educational games, teaching resources
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Hughes Could Side With Labour Against Educational Cuts

Monday, January 17th, 2011

A week is long time in politics and educational matters. The games played with the schooling process seems boundless. Whilst Michael Gove, the educational secretary, is raking over the fire at primary and secondary level, his counterpart in the coalition Simon Hughes, the Liberal Democrat deputy leader and Coalition education spokesman, has decided he might not support cutting the education maintenance allowance (EMA), money paid to encourage children to stay at school after 16. This fairly definite possibility, this is a politicians view remember, may take effect or like the many positioning statements on education Simon Hughes might just back down at the eleventh hour. If only politicians could think on about the confusion such stances have with children who stand to gain or loose from the outcome..…more Daily Telegraph.

Tags: education maintenance allowance, Simon Hughes
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School Favourite Maths Games Released In Online Version

Friday, November 26th, 2010

The Counter Challenge maths board games has been around for the past 10 years. Already a firm favourite in schools it has just been relaunched as a on line teaching resource for use in school or at home.

The new on line version has all the interactive features oyu would expect but the original board game version is still available. Ann Douglas, maths specialist & P/T teacher at St Luke’s primary school in Redditch, has been using the original version which has proved to be a firm hit in numeracy games.

“Our more able eight-to nine year olds used the resource. I introduced times tables with quick response questions and explained that these skills will be needed. I handed out a selection of counters and scrap paper and explained the calculations/scoring method. The children then recorded the scores they could make using different counter combinations.

We discussed who could score more than100, how they did it and which counters were the most useful to get a high score. The children loved it!

They learned a new scoring method as well as improving their logical thinking, planning/estimating and number skills.

I can imagine schools developing Counter Challenge tournaments. The game is more versatile and challenging than other maths games I’ve seen. The one limitation is that it is only suitable for small groups at a time.

A fun, challenging game, which is excellent value for money.”

The on-line new version is available by subscription from http://www.keen2learn.co.uk and provides hours of fun for any children and parents whilst learning maths in disguise.

Tags: counter challenge, maths games, Numeracy, teaching resources
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Keen2learn New Online Maths Game Receives Rave Review

Monday, October 25th, 2010

Based on a combination of chess and draughts a new on-line maths game has received some rave reviews. Keen2learn have just added the new game of Counter Challenge to their selection of educational games and teaching resources. The game allows different skills and age levels to be set to offers a maths challenge from one to four players. To take an opponents piece from the board you have to correctly answer a couple of questions in a pop up box.

The questions involve addition, subtraction, division and multiplication selected before the game starts. The bigger scoring counters have the trickiest questions. The winner does not necessarily take the greatest number of opponent’s counters but achieves the higest score.

The game was reviewed in the September 2010 Maths In School Journal, “Pupils will pick this up very quickly and the competitive element will provide a stimulus. The calculations will be carried out without pupils really noticing they are doing them and it is easy to see some becoming addicted to the game.”

Counter Challenge Maths Game

Tags: counter challenge, educational games, keen2learn, maths games
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Kiditec Educational Toys Boost Keen2learn Range

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

Keen2learn, the well known on-line shop for educational games and teaching resources has expanded its popular range of educational construction toys. “Education has to be fun to compete for a child’s time” said Alistair Owens managing director at www.keen2learn.co.uk.

Although the market is awash with so called ‘educational toys’ Owens claims many have dubious educational value. “The term has been misapplied by marketing operations wanting to make their products sound more appealing to parents” he added.

The keen2learn team spent some time scouring the market to find a product range that provides practical interest, fun and learning. They found the ideal in the Kiditec construction range. “These toys have real educational merit and meet the keen2learn mission of ‘learning in disguise’ said Owens. Designed and manufactured in Switzerland, quality is a key feature and the range is set to sell well to discerning parents in the UK. The constructor kits are extremely sturdy and the large components make it easy for small children to assembly. The parts interconnect to form a variety of different animals, cars, aeroplanes and cranes depending on which kit is used. The robust design allows children to play safely and even ride on certain finished toys. Although full assembly instructions are provided and Mum and Dad can help, most children quickly learn how the models are assembled and make them into another animal, their imagination is all that is required. The parts are all interchangeable between the other kits, making the range a huge source of practical enjoyment.

The most popular education toy from the Kiditec range is the Multicar. The kit allows the child to build a ride-on car that can be changed into a scooter or a truck, it just depends on their imagination. Learning in disguise is the sales slogan for keen2learn and certainly the new range of educational toys fits the bill precisely.

Tags: educational toys, keen2learn, kiditec toys, multicar
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Discussion Card Educational Games Meet PSHE Key Teaching Needs

Friday, September 10th, 2010

A New saver selection pack lets customer choose 10 individual educational choice discussion card games and save £20. Designed to support one of the most difficult areas of education – to get shy or troubled children to open up to discuss their feelings! These popular Choice discussion cards tackle a growing number of issues in the form of educational PSHE games.

Originally keen2learn sold these popular games in single packs, or as a saver pack of 10 titles from each series. Designed for use by parents, teachers and youth workers they have proven extremely popular and achieved a breakthrough with many children who have been previously reluctant to discuss key issues. Their format as educational games breaks the ice and comes from 25 years of experience by the designer of the games. Their popularity has now been increased through the introduction of a user-chooser selection option. The games can be bought individually, in series saver pack of 10 titles or now in the new self -select pack where the customer selects the 10 titles they want from the whole range.

Tags: PSHE games. educational games, youth groups, youth workers
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Revision Games Are Ideal Educational Gift for Grandchildren

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

The usual predicament for grandparents, uncles and aunts is what present to buy grandchildren nieces and nephews who has a birthday – or Christmas looming up. You want to buy a sensible present that helps at school and does not comprise of four kgs of home assembly plastic. You want it to last, have educational benefits and fun. Start by taking a look at the range of educational games used by teachers in class.

Research shows around 50 per cent of learning is retained from listening to the teacher and this can be increased to 75 per cent through practising what the teacher is saying. Unfortunately lessons in a busy classroom leave very little time where children can actually practice what they are learning. To offset this deficiency children are set homework, but using conventional text and exercise books for homework can be very one dimensional and often frustrates both child and parent. Name any child that actually likes homework! But there is a great solution that supports learning and involves parents in fun educational activities with their children.

As time is short in class teachers use a range of educational games and toys to encourage children to have fun and start to practice the lesson. Now these same teaching resources are available for use at home. www.keen2learn.co.uk is dedicated to providing educational games to schools and parents. The range covers essential learning support in numeracy, literacy, maths, science, and ICT. Alistair Owens managing director at keen2learn explained “We launched the site four years ago to provide a fun way for children to learn in school and at home. The games are all matched to the National Curriculum and ideal for children aged 3 – 15 years.”

Keen2learn soon caught the eye of Intel who gave a national award for their entrepreneurial learning approach. A year later the site won a design council award. The product range is continually expanding and used by schools and now parents throughout the UK and overseas. The teaching resources come in the form of board games, bingo games, educational software and puzzles. “As the whole family can join in the games they are providing a great interface with parents and siblings at home. This new form of homework is welcomed by teachers who see the benefits to the child back in school” said Alistair Owens.

Technology is helping to extend the scope of educational games and whilst many manufacturers claim some educational content the best recommendation of quality is whether the product is used by teachers. Online games have huge potential to use technology to support children. “Our latest addition to the keen2learn range is an on-line revision system called Pagabo. For an annual subscription of £29.99 children can revise any subject in key stages 1- 4 and GCSE at any time online. The educational games format of Pagabo makes the experience hugely enjoyable” explained Alistair Owens.

The Pagabo package also lets parents see how their child is progressing and where further help may be needed. Children suddenly are looking forward to homework and equally parents and teachers see positive results from the increased practical learning support from parents. Educational games at home and hands on parents can prove vastly more productive that the end of term report – where help may be a little late.

Tags: educational games, educational gifts for children, home educational fun, revision games, teaching reosurces
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Educational Games Revitalise School Homework

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

Pagbo online revision games from keen2learn

Pagabo the home educational revision system is seen as a real alternative to traditional print based revision guides. Stuffed full of educational games this on-line system learning platform provides children with a stimulating and challenging way to learn and revise. The single subscription fee of £29.99 allows access by the whole family for a year. Already used by over 700 schools to support children the comprehensive programme includes access to over 30,000 curricular questions and a multitude of games.

Pagabo operates on a reward interface whereby answering the questions correctly unlocks new games with results being displayed at the end of the session. It entices children to learn by having fun. Purchased by parents for the whole family, Pagabo will help families learn together and inspire learners’ performance.

The range of subjects is growing and is fully accessible to all using the system. The range of revision games cover key stage 1, Key stage 2, key stage 3, key stage 4 and Diploma

Tags: educational games, keystages 1-4, pagabo, revision games
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Music Games Boost Keen2learn Educational Range

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

For some time educational games website www.keen2learn.co.uk have offered educational software to help children understand and compose music. These music games are now joined by a range of musical instruments to help children in school, nursery and at home learn how to make and enjoy music.

Our budding composers and musicians of tomorrow are in school at the moment. The idea way to nurture and stimulate an interest in music is to introduce the delights of sound from carefully selected musical instruments. The new selection is from various parts of the world to bring geography into the learning programme.

It would have been easy to bring musical instruments earlier into the range but we found most were just toys, said Alistair Owens MD at keen2learn. “The new instruments we have selected are robust, designed for school use and made from materials matched to give the ideal sound.” For example just take a look at the Glokenspiel and Mini Steel drum

: Steel drum for school children

Glokenspiel

The

y have been develop

ed for the early learner but have application over a wide age range.

Tags: music classes., music games, musical composition, musical instruments
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Teachers Use Dice To Develop Students Thinking skills

Friday, June 25th, 2010

Getting children to think and develop their reasoning skills is sometimes like climbing a mountain – where do you start. Keen2learn have introduced a great new educational product designed as literacy games to help children, parents and teachers tackle new concepts in a range of subjects.

Thinking Dice is a brand new fun product to encourage pupils to develop higher order thinking and questioning skills. Research has shown teaching children effective thinking skills can make a world of difference in their effective learning.

Each set of the dice comprise six large 5cm cube colour coded foam dice that have a question structure printed on each face. They are specifically designed to promote questioning and higher order thinking at a specific level of Bloom’s revised taxonomy of thinking. In case these have slipped your mind they are: remembering and recalling information; understanding ideas and concepts; applying information; analysing information in order to explore and understand relationships; evaluating ideas, concepts, situations and creativity; and making something new with the knowledge. See it all floods back!

Thinking Dice can be easily adapted for a wide age range and can be applied to a huge selection of topics in many subject areas. They are a boon to a teacher who can use the application of the questions to help in the lesson plan.

The possibilities of developing children’s higher order thinking are endless!

Thinking Dice from www.keen2learn.co.uk

Tags: Bloom’s revised taxonomy of thinking, educational games, literacy games, reasoning skills, thinking skills
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Beat Revision Blues With New Fun Educational Games

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

Revising for a GCSE exam or SAT test is generally seen as a chore by school children. Swatting through textbooks and exercise books can be boring and tedious. Parents and teachers can do little but urge children along. But the process can now be turned into a series of fun educational games.

Keen2learn had just teamed up with the Pagabo range of on line educational games. Developed by educationalists to meet the full scope of the National curriculum, the subjects are portrayed in clever and entertaining revision games. The annual subscription gives a family of up to four children and both parents the opportunity to revise on-line using 100’s of entertaining games. Parents are also able to see records of their child’s progress online.

The revision exercises cover maths, literacy, English, Science, art and design, ICT, modern foreign languages and more. Designed for children in all key stages and GCSE the educational game approach removes the normal dislike of learning and swatting with text books and exercises. Turning revision into fun draws children into the system that helps them recap on facts and progress through the games.

Developed for use at home Pagabo is an incredibly practical gift for children from Aunts, Uncle and Grandparents. If you’re stuck for that ideal birthday or Christmas present send them a Pagabo subscription or some revision games from www.keen2learn.co.uk. They will have hours hours of fun, learn and revise at the same time.

Tags: art and design, educational games, English, ICT, maths, pagabo revision, revision games, science
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Special Needs Educational Range Extended With Keen2Learn

Monday, May 31st, 2010

The keen2learn special educational needs section (SEN) section has just been extended. Many parents, schools and nurseries have already commented on the range of educational games and toys we have selected for our special children.

Stimulating young children is an essential element of their learning progress. The range of teaching resources from keen2learn is continually evolving and we are especially pleased with the content of our special needs section. But it is not just for SEN, many hearing children for example will get a buzz form learning to sign with their parents. Incorporating signs from the British Sign Language Incey Wincey Spider the Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Baa Baa Black Sheep take on an added dimension for both hearing children as well as SEN children with hearing impairment.

The products are supplied by a leading manufacture who specialise in special needs educational products. The range incorporate visual, touch, light and sound stimulation in a variety of high quality games and toys that provide hours of fun as well as a central learning theme. Many are comprehensive packs of equipment for nurseries and special schools. “My favourite is the Tai Chi Ball designed to entertain and develop motor skills” said Alistair Owens Managing Director of keen2learn.

Tags: British signing, motor skills, SEN educational games and toys, signing nursery ryhmes
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School Summer Holidays Get Educational Boost With Fun Software Games Offer

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

Want to keep the kids occupied with some great educational games fun at home this summer? We have three amazing bundled software offers, each with a selection of 10 educational games that will keep children amused for hours after exams and during the holidays. Relax and watch them enjoy the games whilst “learning in disguise.”

Developed by market leaders Sherston the games are very popular in school and now available as a mega deal bundle from Keen2learn for home use. There is a choice of three selections to suit age groups;

Deal 1 = 3-5 years, Deal 2 = 5-7 years and Deal 3 = 7-11 years.

Each set comprises of maths, science, literacy and ICT games and some early leaning basic skills for the 3-5 years old children.
Home Mega Software Deal 1
Home Mega Software Deal 2
Home Mega Software Deal 3

Hours of fun for just £ 49.99 (incl VAT) and free delivery and an amazing saving off the individual pack prices. The 5-7 year selection includes the every popular Crystal Rain Forest V2 normally priced on its own at £20.42 (incl VAT)

Tags: Cyrstal Rain Forest, early learning, educational software, ICT games, literacy games, maths games, Science games
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More Teaching Resources and Educational Games from keen2learn

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

The demand for educational products to support children’s learning in school is growing. The range of fun learning products from keen2learn has been increased to match the demand.

Keen2learn have just added a host of New Products to their on-line web site explained managing director Alistair Owens. He gave the reasons for the range extension: “Keen2learn offers an extensive range of educational games, toys and puzzles that support the National Curriculum. The web site is growing each year as schools, nurseries and parents seek the teaching resources to support children’s learning in school and home for ages 5 – 15 years old. We’re continually asked by new suppliers to promote their products in our range” he said. “This is especially the case for the smaller suppliers who have a great product but find it difficult to reach the market. Many are ex teachers who developed some fantastic games based on their experience in the class. Over the past couple of years we have trebled the selection of teaching resources and supply to many customers overseas.” Keen2learn now operate as an educational supermarket offering a wide range from over 65 supplier’s on one site – saving teachers and parents the need to hunt around multiple sites explained Owens.

Examples of some the latest additions to the site:

Pond life camera

Rainbow fraction tiles

Handwriting Separate And Joined Letters

Medieval Realms

Tags: educational toys, maths educational games, National Curriculum, teachers, teaching resources
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New Educational PSHE Games Get Families Talking

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

What is your Dads favourite hero and why, who is your Mums favourite author and what bugs you the most about….? A couple of new educational games in the form of discussion cards gets everyone talking like never before. Suddenly meal times take on a new look and everyone can open up the conversation.

These new ice breaker games in the form of discussion cards are ideal to get the conversation flowing and get everyone to open up and share their thoughts. As a PSHE educational games it gets even the reluctant talker to join in.

Regular mealtimes help families develop more than just good eating habits. As the conversation flows around the dining table, children learn to share views and ideas, develop listening skills and gain mutual respect.

As interesting discussions take place, there is an opportunity for the family to really get to know each other and to find out family traditions. Sharing love, laughter and fun brings a family closer and regular time together offers children a deep sense of security and stability.

We all know that mealtimes offer families an opportunity to come together, reconnect and share their day, but due to our busy lives dinner often becomes a “meal on the move”. To make life easier we end up with dinner on our laps, teenagers permanently plugged into their MP3 and six year olds glued to the TV. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone was happy to come to the table without persuasion, and willingly stay there for the duration of the meal. Fink cards make mealtimes enjoyable for all the family.

The new Fink cards have had some rave reviews:

“ Lisa Warner’s Fink Cards are some of the most exciting and creative ideas I’ve ever seen to stimulate family conversation and connection. Any family would want them in their home as a key component to the harmony and understanding we are all looking for.” Lynne Franks

“If you’re having trouble persuading your taciturn children to do more than grunt at mealtimes, mother-of-four Lisa Warner’s new Fink™ Cards could be just what you need.” Raising Kids

“We have had so much fun with these cards and all learnt new stuff about each other. They have been a brilliant way of getting kids to want to sit and eat their tea. Sophie has taken to them so so much she wants to play them with her friends too. They have made all of us get involved in talking to each other – such a simple idea but works fantastic. I would recommend these for all ages most definitely. My mum asked if she can borrow them at Christmas as it would be brilliant fun with lots of us!”

Fink cards from keen2learn

“What a great idea” Chris Evans Radio 2 DJ

What is your Dads favourite hero and why, who is your Mums favourite author and what bugs you the most about….? A couple of new educational games in the form of discussion cards gets everyone talking like never before. Suddenly meal times take on a new look and everyone can open up the conversation.

The new Fink cards have had some rave reviews:

“If you’re having trouble persuading your taciturn children to do more than grunt at mealtimes, mother-of-four Lisa Warner’s new Fink™ Cards could be just what you need.” Raising Kids

“What a great idea” Chris Evans Radio 2 DJ

Tags: educational games, family meal time, pshe games
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Mealtime Trauma Is Transformed Into Conversation With Educational Fink Card Games.

Saturday, March 6th, 2010

Our modern lifestyle can often interrupt the flow of conversation in families. Mealtime, once the ideal opportunity to talk can be fragmented. Ideas, comments and observations can be excluded from the normal discussion platform. That was until highly popular Fink Discussion cards that include games for the Family, Teenagers and Travel and were launched that are now part of the Keen2learn range of PSHE educational games.

Developed by a mother of four Lisa Warner said “As a child I was nervous and awkward, I hated socialising and was very shy. When I had children I knew that more than anything that I wanted them to be confident and not afraid to talk to others. I made some cards to help us at mealtimes, as they were often stressful when the children were young. It was pretty chaotic; my husband and I would end up getting stressed and shouting at the kids. The Fink discussion cards really transformed our mealtimes and we haven’t looked back! What started off as a great way to amuse the kids at mealtimes became something much more, I couldn’t believe the confidence it gave us! Speaking to others seemed natural and not awkward at all. My children grew into confident young people and I found a love of conversation.”

The games, ideal for family use can also used as teaching resources in school and youth groups. The Warner family, are chatty, confident, communicators. Every night at 6.30 you can find them round the dining table eating, laughing, arguing and generally having a great time. Mealtimes often roll into the evening with everyone staying to chat long after the dinner is finished. The household is alive and vibrant!

“If you’re having trouble persuading your taciturn children to do more than grunt at mealtimes, mother-of-four Lisa Warner’s new Fink Cards could be just what you need.” www.raisingkids.co.uk

“Everyone in the office loves them! We’ve now got a daily ritual of having a cuppa in the afternoon and a Fink card. They are absolutely brilliant”. Commissioning Editor – Real People Magazine

Tags: family games, Fink cards, pshe educational games, teenager games, travel games
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Big Bang Can Lead To Big Career In Stem Subjects

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

The Big Bang kicks off in 2 weeks. This is the ideal opportunity for parents to see what the future holds in STEM subjects for children.

Based in the Manchester Central Convention Complex this great event will run from 11-13th March 2010. Key day for parents and children is Saturday 13th March.

Despite the recent shenanigans over GCSE science exam marking, engineering and science are key areas of the curriculum and possibly the most rewarding. Frankly they are probably the most essential future roles for the UK. Bankers are merely a necessary evil, but then I’m an engineer and can clearly see the benefits to society and the world at large from the STEM guys! You doubt it? Well I guess we are still to hear of a single invention from a banker apart from sub prime. So if you want your child to follow a worthwhile career, boy or girl, and they are keen2learn as we say – get them along to the Big Bang.

Tags: Big Bang, science technolgy engineering and maths, STEM curriculum
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