Imagine... a world where snails can sing!

Its official... Shoo Fly's Connected Learning Resources are 'the future'!*

Let's track the development of Shoo Fly's latest Connected Learning Resource, 'Angel Boy' and see what the future might have in store...

... how can you write about an angel without seeing a swan fly?

We wanted to create an environment where the responses of all young people would be respected and valued. We aimed to inspire older reluctant readers and to engage young people of all abilities by building a resource that included a wide range of sensory experiences.

... listen, I have something to say...

Listening to what interests older pupils...issues of life and death, personal image, friendship (or lack of it), the natural and the supernatural world, resulted in the creation of four animated books with a darkly rich 'Gothic' theme.

... imagine with your heart...

We used a range of music, sound, illustrations, narration and low-key animation to interpret each story. The 'stories' themselves are left open-ended with the intention that young people may determine their own conclusions and write their own versions. Using role-play to explore central themes, we aimed to encourage young people to create books and performances of their own.

...there is no such thing as an ordinary young person...

We felt two of the animated books required the voices of teenagers and not actors to tell 'their story' and so travelled to the tiny island of Easdale in Argyll Scotland to record Jamie Melville, the sixteen year old narrator of Seal Skull. We used the talents of local young architecture student Aaran Young, to narrate and sing the 'Angel Boy' theme.

... real experiences inspires the use of language...

From there we mapped the essentially 'gothic' theme of the animated books across the curriculum. We designed visually stunning interactive whiteboard activities to intellectually challenge and physically engage, taking every opportunity to extend vocabulary, using photography, real objects and real experiences.

... music reaches into the soul...

We looked at how music produces emotional responses and commissioned original contemporary and traditional music to interpret Gothic themes. We used music extracts alongside the powerful illustrations of Chris Corner to create interactive whiteboard music composition activities that could be led by non-specialist teachers.

... the joy of friendship...the need for understanding and respect

RE and Citizenship offered the opportunity for a year 6 / 7 Transition Project based upon the importance of respecting the ideas, feelings and belief of others... using body language to explore feelings whilst facing up to the consequences of bullying... with the option of the pupils creating a shared performance or celebration of friendship.

we are all potential writers, artists, musicians, actors, scientists, designers...

As with all Shoo Fly Connected Learning Titles we built a Resource Bank of images and an Audio Disc to support teachers and pupils in creating their own Interactive Whiteboard files with personalised learning activities.

... improvise... take risks... discover and learn

Finally we wrote the Handbook for Teachers to include advice and support that we hope inspires teachers to learn alongside their pupils. As with all Shoo Fly Connected Learning Resources, the Handbook offers links to QCA schemes of work (if desired) and contains a wealth of factual texts, ideas and approaches that embed ICT into creative, physical and practical classroom activities. We hope the beautiful design makes it something that teachers want to read.

Is this the world where snails can sing?

Whatever the future has in store you can be sure that Shoo Fly will be there working hard to empower teachers and engage children with imaginative resources that have the needs of young people at their heart.

Talking of the future... what next?

'The Three Little Cowboy Builders', I-Fly virtual 3D pop-up book (we ALL LOVE pop-up books) AND (forgive me if I get excited)... you can print it out and make it... AND children can create their own version... AND it meets lots of ICT, Literacy and Design Technology requirements AND you can do a square dance to it... AND its tells children what happens if they don't go to school (not a happy ending)... (what more could you want)... so join me as I slap my thighs and shout... YEEE HAAHHH for the Cowboy Builders!

*Teachers' TV, resource review, October 2006