Learning

Every under 5 should try this lovely website.  You'll learn to read in no time!
www.starfall.com

The BBC also has an excellent website where you can learn as you play:
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/preschool

For a bit of arty fun try this website www.jacksonpollock.org
All you need to do is wiggle the mouse and click it!

Kids can find out all about the wildlife of Great Britain by watching the 
CBeebies show Green Balloon Club.  
There is an interactive site to complement the show at www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/greenballoonclub

For small children who'd like to know the story of the Nativity, you'll find a simple version with illustrations at:
www.topmarks.co.uk/christianity/nativity

Beijung Summer Olympic Games
The Beijing Olympics
The Olympics are held every four years and are hosted by one country.  
This year the Olympics are in China, in the city of Beijing.  Britain will be hosting the Olympics in London in 2012.

The Olympic Flag is white with five coloured connecting rings.   
There are five rings to symbolise the five continents from which the competing nations  come: Europe, Asia, Australasia, Africa and the Americas (which are counted as one).   The rings are red, green, blue, yellow, and black.  These represent the colours of national flags.  All the flags of the world are made up of combinations of these colours.  The rings are joined together to represent the unity of the nations of the world.  

Every country likes to wave their own flags at the games and they also have mascots who represent them.  Our official British mascot for the games is called "Pride"

copyright http://www.olympics.org.uk/beijing2008/education.aspx

However, the Chinese have the cutest mascots.  They have five Olympic mascots, called "Fuwa", who carry a message of friendship and peace to children all over the world.  (Images - Copyright The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad).
    Beibei - a fish, represents prosperity

  Jingjing - a panda, represents happiness

  Huanhuan – the Olympic flame, represents passion

  Yingying – a Tibetan antelope, represents health

  Nini – a swallow, represents good luck.

If you put all five names together they say: Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni – which means “Welcome to Beijung”.

The National Anthem
When an athlete comes first in his event or race, he wins a gold medal and stands on a podium to receive it.  Everyone cheers and the band plays his country's national anthem.
This national anthem for the UK - see if mum and dad can sing the words correctly, most people can't remember more than the first two lines!

"God save our gracious Queen!
Long live our noble Queen!
God save the Queen!
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the Queen."

Film websites

Film websites are a terrific sources of free activities for small kids.  The fact that children easily recognise the characters also make the colouring pages etc especially appealling.

Disney Fairies
Disney has devoted a whole website to fairy characters from their films.  You'll find all sorts of fun resources at:  http://disney.go.com/fairies/pixiehollow/flashupgrade.html

Happy Feet website
This website is great fun.  You can meet the characters and watch a trailer, then download - desktops, posters, screensavers, bookmarks and door hangers, plus a printable Tip-tap-toe Game.
wwws.warnerbros.co.uk/happyfeet/

For those who can't get enough of penguins - you can find all sorts of penguin pictures to colour at:
www.coloring.ws/penguins1.htm

You can make a penguin out of a toilet paper roll with the template from:
www.dltk-kids.com/animals/mpenguin.html

Make a very special penguin with handprint wings by visiting:
www.dltk-kids.com/animals/mpaperpenguin.htm

Sing along with the words to a Penguin Song, set to the music for "O my darling Clementine"!  Just print off as many copies as you need.
www.abcteach.com/Themeunits/Antarctica/penguins.pdf

Charlotte's Web Resources 
Visit the official website at: www.charlotteswebmovie.com/site/index.php
The website also has spin offs to loads of fun activities. 
 
There are lovely colouring sheets featuring your favourite characters to print off at:  www.walden.com/walden/create/charlotte/coloring.php
If you scroll further down the same page you can also find Fern's Sketchbook to colour in, an activity calendar and two games; Wilbur's Barn Break and Memory Match.  (Just click on the titles on the website to go to them.)

RATATOUILLE. 
As the official website for this film is a Disney one, it's full of good things.  You can watch a long film trailer, explore Linguini's apartment in Montmartre, play games and even download daily recipes.  http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/ratatouille

SHREK THE THIRD.  There's a trailer, downloads, games and a soundtrack, plus Virtual Shrekland and Shrek Sudoku at:
www.shrek.com/main.html
It'll probably take you as long to explore this website as it would to watch the film!

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX.  
There is an action-packed trailer at:
www.harrypotterorderofthephoenix.com/
Your kids can join Dumbledore's Army by visiting:
http://joindumbledoresarmy.warnerbros.com
Where they can practice Defence Against the Dark Arts spells and charms, meet the members of Dumbledore's Army and even recruit new members from their own website.

Mr Bean Resources
This fun site has clips, downloads, games and e-cards to keep you entertained. 
www.mrbean.co.uk/ 

Meet the Robinsons Resources
As this is a Disney film, there is a very sophisticated website with games, videos, downloads and a personality quiz.  
http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/meettherobinsons/