Education: Instilling a thirst for knowledge.(Features)

Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales) February 14, 2003 Byline: DAVID WILLIAMSON THE Western Mail’s Newspapers in Education project has found fans throughout Wales.

Teachers use newspapers to teach children a variety of literacy and numeracy skills with the help of a handbook designed to make lessons fun.

June Higgins, of Oystermouth Primary School in Mumbles, Swansea, has been leading her pupils in maths games based around the classified ads section of the paper.

Ms Higgins said, “They had to look at the ads and work out how much income the newspaper would make. website cool maths games

“The core curriculum element has been useful because they have got to think about literacy and numeracy and applied maths.” Other challenges include making graphs based on the temperatures recorded around different parts of the country. Mr A V Thomas of Llanwnnen CP School has used projects in past years and is enthusiastic about the current edition.

He said, “I hope it gets them aware of journalism.

“We’ve gone into the hi-tech age of computers and they might lose the capability of delving into a world of books and newspapers.” Mr T L Jones of Blaenau Primary School was also pleased with the opportunities for learning created by the newspapers. here cool maths games

He said, “I think it makes children aware of what’s going on. The children and teachers have been very impressed.” For schools, the materials are a cost-effective way of providing lessons in both English and maths.

Each project costs only pounds 1 per pupil. for this sum they get a workbook, a paper a week of their choice, and a badge and certificate at the end of the series of lessons.

The teacher also receives a guide to the activities and a book of photocopy-friendly worksheets.

In activities designed for the youngest pupils, the Wriggles family of worms guide children through each of the set of chal-lenges. A lively calculator named Digit also provides hints and advice.

Most schools have used the resource for in-class teaching.

But some schools have made it the basis of homework tasks and lunchtime clubs.

CAPTION(S):

GOOD NEWS: Year One and Two pupils from Ammanford Infants School enjoy The Western Mail in Newspapers in Education Class