How to Change the Default Font Style in Smart Notebook
I’ve had quite a few requests recently about how to change the default fonts in Smart Notebook. A lot of teachers do not like the font choices that you get by default and would either like to make the fonts larger, or use more school-friendly fonts like Sassoon Primary.
I’ve produced this quick helpsheet that should show the steps you need to do to change the default font options. Hopefully, if Smart Notebook is set up correctly, it will remember these changes for next time.
How to Change the Default Font Style in Smart Notebook
Of course, anyone changing the font to comic sans will be shot…. 
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Science Storybooks
Just a quick post to flag up this fun little resource site for Science called Science Storybooks.
It contains a stack of Flash animations that can be used to introduce many different science concepts, some include songs that would provide a fun way to start a lesson.
The resources are completely free, and also contain links to lesson notes and other information. Well worth taking a look at.
Thanks to the iLearn Technology Blog for the heads-up on this resource.
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Vancouver 2010 Photographs
I love Canada, I love the Olympics, and I love The Big Picture website. So when you get all three combined, it’s just fantastic
The Big Picture have produced 45 excellent photographs from week 1 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.
Some of these would be excellent to use in Science lessons to illustrate forces and friction, but also obvious links to PE.
Some of this images are just awesome, would make great discussion points when displayed on the IWB. Go take a look. If you like those, here are some from the Opening Ceremony too.
Part 2 will follow next week after the closing ceremony. Update – They’re now up.
Only one British medal so far, but we’re not greedy
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Promethean Flipchart Search Tool
Just a quick post. You may not be aware that it’s now possible to use the power of Google to search only for Promethean flipcharts using this custom search engine:
A similar feature exists for Smartboard users if you want to find Smart Notebook resources.
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Science resources from BP
Thanks to fellow twitterer Sophie Bessemer for tipping me off about these science resources from BP Educational Services, the education department of the energy company.
Secondary Science teachers might want to check out the Carbon Footprint Toolkit. This teaches students about carbon emissions and their impacts, choices for carbon reduction and alternative energy supplies. The Toolkit includes an interactive school carbon calculator, quick-fire activities, factsheets, energy animations, a picture gallery and teachers’ notes. It could be used as part of both KS3 and KS4 science lessons, as well as geography.
You can access a preview of the toolkit here. And login to order it for free.
For Primary Science, there are some great resources in the Young Science Investigators series aimed at KS2 pupils. These resources include the following modules:
All these resources are free, but you do need to register with the site to get them although registration is also free.
It’s also worth taking a look at the free resources that you can order and have sent to your school such as posters and CD-ROM materials.
Take a look at these resources and see what you think. Could they be used to support science on your Interactive Whiteboard?
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10 Secondary Science Resources for your Whiteboard
As a companion post to 10 Primary Science ideas for your Whiteboard, here are 10 secondary school Science websites you might enjoy:
Absorb Learning from Yenka : Hundreds of free IWB animations for KS4/KS5 Chemistry and Physics.
ARKive : thousands of free wildlife videos and photographs, including great Darwin resources.
FreezeRay : large bank of interactive Science animations for KS3 and Ks4.
Periodic Table of Videos : videos of all the different elements of the periodic table.
Centre of the Cell : cell biology interactive resources.
Skool.co.uk : excellent science animations and interactives for KS3/4 Science.
PhET – interactive simulations : fun, java-based physics simulations.
Astronomy Picture of the Day : provide the Wow factor with some of these images.
KScience - animations for KS3/4 Science.
Biology in Motion – animations for KS4/5 Biology.
Image Credit – Beetle Head by MuseumWales
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10 More Cool Teaching Resources for Your Whiteboard
Engaging students in some classroom topics can be difficult. But with the help of your interactive whiteboard you can get and keep your students interested in what you are trying to teach them. Here are 10 especially cool whiteboard resources for grades K-12.
Stellarium – This free planetarium software is perfect for astronomy lessons. Stellarium displays a realistic 3D sky, complete with planets, major moons, more than 600,000 stars, and constellations from 10 cultures.
Illuminations – Created by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Illumination provides more than 100 interactive math games and activities for students in grades pre-K through 12.
FreeRice – FreeRice is an amazing trivia game from the United Nations World Food Program. Rice is donated to hungry people every time visitors answer trivia questions correctly. Trivia categories include art, chemistry, math, English vocabulary and grammar, geography, and language learning.
Signed Stories – Signed Stories features videos of stories being told with sign language and subtitles. Although the site is designed primarily for deaf children it would be useful to any classroom interested in learning more about sign language.
Sheppard Software – Sheppard Software provides a wide range of free educational web games for students. Covered topics include animals, science, chemistry, health, history, math, and vocabulary.
Fit Brains – Designed by a clinical neuropsychologist and brain health expert, Fit Brains is an online gaming platform with puzzles and other “brain games.” Players can track their progress and win trophies and achievements when they do well.
Tutpup – Tutpup is a competitive game site that allows students to play interactive web games with other children around the world. All of the games on Tutpup focus on math or spelling.
Spelling City – Spelling City is a free online learning platform with 10 learning games and more than 40,000 spelling words. The site also offers how-to videos to help teachers integrate Spelling City into the curriculum.
The Eco Zoo – The Eco Zoo is a 3D environment that can be used to teach students about environment, ecology, and eco-friendly living. Content can be viewed in Japanese or English.
NASA Space Place – This award-winning NASA website is a good place to find videos, animations, and games that teach kids about space science and technology. Nearly all of the materials on this site would work well with an interactive whiteboard.
Image credit : Cold by AriCee
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iBoard – Free interactive KS1 resources
iBoard first caught my eye last year at the BETT exhibition. They produce an excellent bank of interactive resources for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classes in several subjects, including literacy, numeracy and science.
Since then, iBoard has been purchased by the Times Educational Supplement (TES) and made available free of charge to all teachers, which is an excellent development.
You can access the resources here: http://www.tes.iboard.co.uk/
Thanks to James Hollis for reminding me of this excellent resource!
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Teaching With Smartboard
Teaching with Smartboard is an excellent resource for all Smartboard users.
The site hosts regular video podcasts which explores SMARTBoard teaching techniques to maths teachers. Each episode lasts from 10-20 minutes. Our emphasis and purpose is to create lessons that are engaging for students.
Dave Sladkey is a high school math teacher and Scott Miller is the Instructional Coordinator for the Math Department at Naperville Central High School in Naperville Illinois. They’ve put together an excellent resource! Go take a look now.
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About Me
Danny Nicholson : Educator, Science teacher, ICT Consultant, PGCE lecturer, Author and Web2.0 / SMART Masters/ Interactive Whiteboard Trainer. Contact me for any training requests. 
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