Online learning ideas for children in Welsh medium education during Covid-19 school closures
I want to start this by saying that these are unprecedented extraordinary times. Our main priority is to get through the next through weeks/months as best we can. We are not being asked to replicate school at home or to create mini geniuses whilst simultaneously working a full week, and keeping our sanity.
But I know lots of us are looking for ideas to keep our children entertained and hopefully educate them in the process. There are so many learning resources being shared online, but I know a lot of parents who don’t speak much Welsh and whose children are in Welsh medium education have an added worry of keeping the language active while the schools are closed.
I’ve started rounding up the online resources I can find, from live art sessions and storytime sessions to educational TV shows and even learning the ukulele all through Cymraeg. I’d love to keep adding to this so do let me know of any ideas you come across and I’ll list them below.
All children at school in Wales should also have access to Hwb, which is full of resources. Ask your school for details if you are not already signed up.
You can post them on my Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page, tag me @cardiffmummy on Twitter or cardiffmummysays on Instagram.
If you’re looking for ideas for Welsh language and bilingual books, you might like this article 26 Welsh language books for children age 0-11 and this one 14 bilingual Welsh and English language picture books my children love here.
Huw Aaron Criw Celf (art club)
Cartoonist and illustrator is offering live daily art sessions on his YouTube channel, giving children step-by-step guides to drawing familiar characters and comics, cartoons, doodles and more.
Do Re Mi Cardiff
Do Re Mi usually run Welsh language pre-school classes in Cardiff – but you can currently tune into their Facebook page or YouTube channel for Welsh language storytime, singing sessions, and lullaby time. Great for pre-schoolers and key stage one children.
Ffa La La live singing and language sessions
The Welsh-language pre-school group is streaming live sessions on its Facebook group on Fridays suitable for pre-schoolers and younger primary school-aged pupils. Designed at families where parents don’t speak Welsh, as well as those who do, expect songs you can join in with plus new Welsh phrases to learn. Ffa La La’s Welsh language singing at home books are also on sale.
Orielodl
A collection of step-by-step guides to drawing everything from rockets and dinosaurs to elephants and the Welsh dragon from artist Rhys Padarn. Follow on YouTube or Twitter.
Ukelele lessons with Mei Gwynedd
Musician and music producer Mei Gwynedd is sharing lessons in how to play the ukelele on his YouTube channel, suitable for complete beginners. Obviously you’ll need a ukulele but you can buy one for less than £20 on Amazon. Lessons take place every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 10.30am.
Educational TV programmes on Cyw, S4C
Cyw has rounded up all its educational Welsh language TV shows here, with options for different age groups. There’s everything from Abadas, the animated series to develop letters and language skills and Blociau Rhif, helping foundation stage children with numeracy, to Amser Maith Yn Ol, a historical drama series, exploring what life was like for children during Celtic, Tudor and Victorian times, as well as during the First World War, and Heini, which offers movement, dancing and physical exercise for children. Plus lots more.
Historical learning resources from National Museum Wales
National Museum Wales has a range of learning materials on its website to aid learning. See the website here in Welsh and here in English. National Museum Cardiff for example has resources on dinosaurs, including dinosaue top trumps, and the art collections at the museum, while National Roman Legion Museum has activities on Roman lotions and potions, with more activities launched daily Monday to Friday via the museum’s social media channels.
Twinkl learning resources
Widely used by schools and home-educators, Twinkl has made its resources free to families during the current crisis. Here you’ll find printable resources for all ages from early years to key stage 4 plus special educational needs, available in Welsh and English, on all different subjects. There’s everything from whole schemes of work and learning projects, to printable sheets on on maths and language, science ideas and more. See the Twinkl website here.
BBC Bitesize learning resources
Lots of videos and activities for pupils in Welsh education, from short videos introducing topics such as the body; friends and family; feelings; food and drink; colours; days of the week; counting from 1-10; counting from 1-100 and more for foundation phase children; and longer comprehension-style videos for key stage 2 children. Plus videos and activity packs on some of Wales’s most influential women, including Elizabeth Andrews, Betty Campbell, Cranogwen, Elaine Morgan a Margaret Haig Thomas in the Merched Mawreddog/Hidden Histories series. See the Bitesize website here.
Educational resources – CSC
The Central South Consortium (CSC) is a Joint Education Service for five local authorities (Bridgend, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Vale of Glamorgan. Their website is quite tricky to navigate around but I did find some Q-codes to download simple Welsh language books and other educational resources. Visit the CSC website here.
Amser Stori, Amser Canu efo Bethan
Experienced Cylch Meithrin teacher Bethan is going live daily in her Facebook group with a storytime and singing session. Books she’s read so far include Plentyn y Gruffalo (The Gruffalo’s Child) and Y Falwen Hy a’r Morfil Cry (The Snail and the Whale) both by Julia Donaldson, various Sali Mali books and Peppa Pinc. Plus around 10-15 minutes of singing Welsh nursery rhymes and other popular children’s songs.
Amser Stori – Cant a Mil
Welsh-language book shop and vintage shop are uploading daily story time videos on their Facebook page. Stories available so far include Delyth George’s Welsh adaptation of the Fan Brothers’ Garddwr y Gwyll/The Night Gardener, various stories from the collection Straeon y Fferm (Farm Stories) and Paid Byth â Goglais Teigr, a Welsh adaptation by Elin Meek of Pamela Butchart’s book Never Tickle a Tiger.
Amser Stori Atebol
Atebol’s YouTube channel features Welsh language storytime featuring books such as Yr Hip Cyntaf ar y Lleuad, the Welsh language translation of David Walliams’ The First Hippo on the Moon; Cwtsh, a translation of David Melling’s Hugless Douglas; Deg Deinosor Bach/10 Little Dinosaurs, and more.
Cyw songs
I mentioned Cwy’s TV shows above, but they also have plenty of songs that support learning on their YouTube channel or you can listen to the Caneuon Cyw playlist on music apps such as Spotify. This song is all about the time.
Urdd Criw – Educational Resources
Videos, worksheets, puzzles, and even cookery videos and vlogs for primary and secondary school-aged children, with options for second language Welsh learners as well as those in Welsh medium education.
Tric a Chlic videos by Canolfan Peniarth
Tric a Chlic is the phonics system used in a lot of Welsh language schools and this series of videos introduces the letters in different stages, showing what sound the letter makes, how to form the letter, and words associated with that letter. Simple words are introduced with viewers given time to say the answers and make sounds at home before the answers are given.
Teulu Ffit – Ffit Cymru
Live Fit Family daily workouts at 9am on weekdays from Rae Carpenter on the FFIT Cymru YouTube channel so you can work out in Welsh. Visit the FFIT Cymru Facebook page here.
PE Lessons with Actif-i-ti
Five minute fitness videos in Welsh on YouTube with Lleucu Ifans to keep children healthy whilst at the same time engaging with the Welsh language, plus daily challenges on the Actif-i-ti Facebook page.
Ffitrwydd yn a Ty – Fitness at Home – Bethan Cambourne
Short Welsh language fitness videos you can do as a family at home on Bethan’s YouTube channel.
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