TES Resource show 2012

That time of year again, the TES Resource show. This years resource show wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be, definitely down by at least 20 exhibitors from last year and was more geared towards the later stages of education however there were a few new exhibitors and some fresh ideas that have got me keen for the TES Special educational needs show in October. 

One of the new and interesting exhibitors (and not just because I got 2 pieces of wood from them - quite possible the most exciting item I have ever received free from one of these shows!) was KAPLA who are based in France and were sharing the various different constructions they had made using their pieces of wood.

The wood itself is made in such a way that it creates a natural friction between the pieces when placed on each other making it easier to build on.

As well as the free bits of wood to take home they were offering the opportunity for nurseries and schools to try the product (about 2000 pieces along with 4 different instruction manuals to give kids ideas of what to build free for 2 months with the option of returning after 2 months (where they were aware that there may be some damage or pieces missing) or the option of paying around £170 (I think) to keep it all.

Another new exhibitor was Kids out who had this extremely funky, prototype sensory room called a Phyzzpod. The prototype itself wasn't that big however it was at least half its usual size and as you can see my photos my work mate loved and only left once I told her how much it would be for the nursery (it would set you back around £15000 we were told) however if you have got the money spare I would definitely recommend it as it evokes different senses and reacts to different movements. This one had a jungle them to it which had underfoot sensor pads as well as a jungle die which could change the sound being heard

Fine solutions were again there, although the stall looked quite bare it still showed its resources off well, I thought the panda habitat set would work quite well especially for those who have the opportunity to visit the Panda's residing in Edinburgh Zoo.

The threading bars also reminded me of a physical activity I did on a placement years (mines involved plastic netting from a builders yard and different paper 'threads') ago but these showed how the activity could be adapted not only by ability (it had individual 'threads' as well as ones that had began to pleat) before then coordinating the threads through