Hi Kids!

'Caring about learning - proud to shine.'
 
Welcome!  It's great that you've found us and we are thrilled younger students are interested in our work.
 
Use the links below to learn, have fun and explore English, Maths, Science and much more.  We are sure that they are really useful. Have a great tme! 
 
Thanks to everyone who has helped, and if you have any suggestions, just send a message to: enjoyingenglishinfo@yahoo.com  and we'll get back to you fast!  To help us, put 'Hi Kids' in the subject box.  Additional Resources for Teachers / Young Learners & Teens are at the foot of this page.
 
Note: 'Hi Kids' is developed for native English speaking students aged 7 - 11, but is suitable for use by older students learning English as a second language.  

If you are under 16 years old, tell your parents that you are playing with these websites. 
 
 
Woodlands Junior School Kent
 

Interactive Activities

Homework Help

Click here for British life and culture

Search woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk Google

    Gifts, Toys & Games for Fun   CBBC
                               www.allojunior.org

 
Here are some specially selected websites which will add more fun to your learning experiences. 'Click the Link'
 

Something you want to know?  A fun way to learn!

 
  Privacy Policy • About • Help • Parents
Games Tour
news
  
  Just type in a question and click Ask!
 For example: "How does a guitar work?"
 
PEEK at what kids are asking right now!
   
 
 


Ask Jeeves is a trademark of Ask Jeeves, Inc., Copyright 1996-2005
 
We think you'll find this great fun - just type in a question - 'click' on Ask... and Hey presto!  There's your answer.  There are useful study tools as well to help you improve your knowledge and understanding of English, Maths, Science and The World ~ a great way to learn and have fun at the same time?
 
www.funbrain.com  -  from Pearson Eduation, the world's largest publishers of educational books.  Play inter-active educational games on the web to improve maths, science and grammar.
 
www.peterrabbit.com  Peter Rabbit - always a favourite with kids of all ages
 
www.winniethepooh.cc  - another all-time childrren's favourite
 
www.winniethepoohbear.net/top25  -  from the University of Liverpool - everyone's a kid at heart!
 
www.noggin.com  -  offers pre-school games and activities from the United States - NICKELODEON tv
 
And for teachers...
www.learning-is-fun.co.uk  - interactive modules on a range of subject by teachers for teachers. 
 
www.topmarks.co.uk  -  this site is great for younger kids and teachers...  Also see 'Ed Webs', 'WWW' and Enjoying English
 
Robin
How is this for a good winter picture? 
 
It is often useful to talk about things you see in pictures.  It makes you look hard, and think - trying to find words to describe what you see.
This is a real photo, taken by the owner of a shop which sells cups, mugs, plates and other things.  The Robin - a kind of bird, comes to the shop everyday and drinks from his favourite mug.  Give this a try...
 
     1.  What can you see?
 
     2.  What colours, shapes or patterns can you see?
 
     3.  Find a favourite picture of your own, and tell someone else what it shows.
 
Under construction...sample page - use the links below to answer some of our most asked questions. Using the links under the banner below, or searching the Woodlands Junior School 'Google search' will open up a world of fascinating learning experiences.  Try clicking 'English Zone', and see what you find.
 

The British Royal Family

Homepage | English Zone |A - Z British Culture l Glossary l Calendars l Daily Life l Royal Family l London

Life GuardsFoot GueardThe QueenFoot Guards

Questions
The Queen
Queen's Role
Queen's Guard's
Facts about the Queen
The Queen's Family Tree
Next King?
The Royal Family
Royal ceremonies
Calendar of Royal Events
Royal Motto
Royal Coat of Arms
Buckingham Palace
Palaces and Castles
Longest reigning Monarchs
Kings and Queens Timeline
A-Z British Culture
Special Dates
Glossary
United Kingdom
Great Britain
The UK Flag
British Daily Life
Britain Today
London
Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II

Born: 21 April, 1926.

Queen since 6 February 1952

Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926 in London. Her birthday is officially celebrated in Britain on the 3rd Saturday of June each year.

Queen Elizabeth Il is a 'constitutional monarch'. This means that although she is officially the head of the state, the country is actually run by the government, led by the Prime Minister.

The Queen lives at Buckingham Palace.

Interesting Fact:
There has not been a Queen of England since 1603. Elizabeth I was the last ever King or Queen of England. From 1603, the monarch, although living in England, has been known as either the Monarch Great Britain (as Queen Anne was) or of the United Kingdom (as Queen Victoria was).

When Elizabeth I died, King James VI of Scotland became king of England as well as Scotland, thus uniting the kingdoms of England and Scotland for the first time.
Find out more about the union on our history of the Union Flag pages

The Official Title of the Queen

Her Majesty The Queen's title in the United Kingdom is:

'Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'.

When did Queen Elizabeth come to the throne?

Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne on February 6, 1952 upon the death of her father, King George VI. Her Coronation, at Westminster Abbey, followed on June 2, 1953.

(A new king or Queen begins to rule as soon as their succession to the throne has been announced. But the coronation - when the crown is placed on the monarch's head - may not happen until months later.)

The queen celebrated her Golden jubilee (50 years since her accession) in 2002.

Head of State

Queen Elizabeth II is the United Kingdom's Head of State. She is queen of 16 former British colonies, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand; and head of the Commonwealth, a multinational body created after the dissolution of the British empire.
What jobs does the Queen do?

Who is the Queen married to?

The Queen as married to the HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the son of Prince and Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark. They married on 20 November 1947.

The Duke is Queen Elizabeth's third cousin; they share Queen Victoria as a great-great-grandmother.

Find out about The Queen's Children

Why is Queen Elizabeth II's husband a prince rather than a king?

In the British monarchy, the husband of a female monarch does not have any recognized special status, rank, or privileges.

Prince Philip was a prince from birth. He is the son of Prince Andrew of Greece and was born Prince of Greece and Denmark. Upon his marriage to then-Princess Elizabeth in 1947, Philip was given the title "Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merion, and Baron Greenwich," and was made a Knight of the Garter. (He became a British citizen around this time and renounced his Greek and Danish titles). Elizabeth II was coronated in 1953, and in 1957, she granted Philip the title "Prince of the United Kingdom."

Interesting Fact:
The wife of a male monarch (e.g. the Queen Mother was the wife of King George VI) takes on her husband's rank and style upon marrying, becoming Queen. She is known as the Queen consort ( wife and consort of a reigning king)

( A consort is a spouse , usually of royalty.)

What is Queen Elizabeth's surname?

The Queen does not normally use a surname (she doesn't need a passport or a driving licence for example), but on the few occasions where it has been necessary, i.e. when serving with the ATS during World War II, she has used the surname 'Windsor'.
(source: www.royal.gov.uk)

The British royal family changed their last name from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor in 1917. Why? World War One broke out in 1914 and anti-German sentiment was its height in 1917. In protest, King George V renounced all the German titles belonging to him and his family and adopted the name of his castle, Windsor.

From 8 February 1960, all The Queen's descendants who do not bear the "style, title or attribute of HRH, and the titular dignity of Prince or Princess" have the name of Mountbatten-Windsor. (Mountbatten as Prince Philip's surname).

Royal Homes

Among the official royal residences are Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, St. James Palace, Balmoral Castle, Frogmore House, The Palace of Holyroodhouse, Sandringham House and Kensington Palace.

Interesting Fact:
The only time when there was no King or Queen in Britain was when the country was a republic between 1649 and 1660. ( In 1649 King Charles I was executed and Britain became a Republic for eleven years. The monarchy was restored in 1660.)
 

Young Learners & Teens.

www.preschoolrainbow.org  resource of rhymes and activities for very young learners

www.yahooligans.yahoo.com  fun searches for kids

www.kotn.ntu.ac.uk/index.html  Kids On The Net with loads of links and ideas

www.alfy.com  an excellent site for young kids with stories and themed related activities.  Take a good look at what ths site has to offer

www.syndicate.com  an entertaining collection of games, comic strips,word games etc.,

www.funbrain.com  fun and challenging on-line games for kids - includes spell-check and wacky tales

www.eduplace.com/tales/index.html   wacky web tales where kids can make their own stories 

www.enchantedlearning.com/Home.html  printable books and activities for yong learners but adaptable for older low-level students.  Some need to register for 1 year

www.mathsisfun.com  for maths games, quizzes and fun whilst learning

http://kids.nationalgeographic.co.uk  National Geographic website for kids

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.co.uk   National Geographic for teachers and older students

www.historyforkids.org/learn/china/index.htm  -  aimed at middle school students (12 - 16) it's a great source of valuable information and teaching materials

More resources for teachers

www.pdictionary.com  A picture dictionary for beginners

www.encarta.msn.com  Microsoft Encarta dictionary

www.guinnessrecords.com  The Guiness Book of Records

www.britannica.com  The Encyclopedia Britannica

www.visualthesaurus.com  Visual Thesaurus with some free activities

www.nationalgeographic.com/education  from National Geographic resources for teachers / lessons and activities

 
 
Mandy Burrow & Headmaster Richard Bilious from Woodlands Junior School, Tonbridge in Kent. ' Kent' is a county south east of London and joins onto my home County of Sussex.  It's known as 'The Garden of England' due to its agricultural landscape of mixed farming - with dairy cattle, sheep, corn and fruit growing.  Kent also has some important towns with defence and religious backgrounds.  Probably the best known are Dover - an important sea port and gateway to Europe, and Canterbury, home to The Church of England and Christianity in Britain. AC.

A big hit worldwide 

by Susan Elkin from The Daily Mail 2007. 

"WOODLANDS Junior School, tucked away in a quiet corner of Tonbridge in Kent, is famous. It isn’t because the school gets good results (although it does). No, this is a school with a world-famous website.

The Woodlands website is no run-of-the-mill school website. It has a huge section on British culture. Within it there are, for example, sub-sections on history, flags, economy, government, the Royal Family, UK symbols and festivals and holidays.

If you want to know what the British do on Bonfire Night, why they sport daffodils on March 1 or what they do with conkers, this is the place to look.

Take the section on British national anthems. All six verses of God Save The Queen are printed, and if you’re using a computer with speakers you hear the tune.

The same page also gives you the Welsh and Scottish national anthems and information about other patriotic works such as Jerusalem and Land Of Hope And Glory. And there are links to an official monarchy website if you want more.

There are 11,500 pages of information including 1,500 about Britain.

On average, a staggering 30,000 people a day consult the Woodlands website. On Shrove Tuesday this year (2007), the site broke its own impressive record when 127,868 people visited it.

According to Woodlands’s acting head teacher, Richard Bilious, it is Britain’s most visited education site after the BBC. Some users are children and teachers from other schools. Others are families. Businesses and other organisations often tell the school how useful they find its website.

And, of course, users aren’t just in Britain. People are clicking onto the Woodlands website from all over the world. Apparently, they are fascinated by Britain and Britishness — whatever they think it is.

And no one seems to offer the range of information about it that Woodlands does.  And, because the site is aimed at children and the language and style are straightforward, it is ideal for adults who don’t have English as their first language.

It all started in the late 1990s when teacher Mandy Barrow spotted the learning potential in getting pupils to collect information and write it up for a website.

‘It is designed to support Woodlands pupils,’ says Miss Barrow. ‘The way it has snowballed is wonderful — and I must say — unexpected.’

Woodlands now has contacts all round the world, improving pupils’ knowledge of geography.

Elsewhere on the website is all the usual school information for parents such as term dates. There are also detailed sections on literacy, maths and science to assist children with curriculum work and to enable parents to help them more easily.

The homework-help section is a good idea, too. Any child can e-mail his or her question and Miss Barrow will offer advice.

There are also games pages which are popular. But the school doesn’t count these in its impressive statistics.

Miss Barrow no longer works at Woodlands, although she still manages the site voluntarily from home. Since 2004, she has been employed by Advisory Service Kent as a primary school information technology consultant, helping teachers across the county. She also manages Kent’s National Grid for Learning.

‘There is scope now for a full-timer to be based at Woodlands to run the website and develop it,’ says Miss Barrow, who would like the site to become more interactive.

AND IT is a great credit to the school that its website and the excitement it generates have continued despite near-disaster. Last October the school opened an attractive, glassy extension with spacious classrooms and a computer suite. A month later, it was attacked by vandals. They targeted the tank room in the roof. Water flowed into the computer suite, destroying all 40 work stations.

At present, workmen are busy on the room which will be ready by summer. Meanwhile, pupils have to make do with a few borrowed laptops.

‘But there’s always a silver lining,’ Mr Bilous says. ‘We now have the chance to create a state-of-the-art computer facility which will really benefit Woodlands children.’

So have a look at www.woodlandsjunior.kent.sch.uk   — and direct your children to it."

Updated: 26 January, 2009.

 
 
 
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