This Web site aims to help young children become confident and competent users of the Internet. It contains interactive books, encourages the use of E-mail and provides opportunities for the children's work to be published on the site, making it available for a worldwide audience!
The Web site also encourages children to explore and value the natural environment and is currently based at the Canterbury Environmental Education Centre, Kent, U.K.
 
Current books include;

The Swan Story A simple story describing the life cycle of swans. The literacy activities were designed to be use in the first half of the autumn term - Year R,1,2.

In the Autumn... This story highlights autumnal changes and introduces some of the different animals that live at the Canterbury Environmental Education Centre. The literacy activities were designed to be used in the second half of the autumn term - Year 2.

Sebastian's Waddle In this story, Sebastian goes for a waddle around his lake and notices signs of spring. The literacy activities were designed to be used in the first half of the spring term - Year 1,2.

Pond Web This book was written by Year 5 and 6 children attending the Kent Children's University. It looks at the story of who eats who in the lake! The literacy activities were designed to be use in the second half of the summer term - Year 1,2.

Sebastian's Rhyme This story focuses on introducing children to CVC's words. The literacy activities were designed to be use in the second half of the autumn term - Year 1.

The Lost Cygnet Sebastian and Sarah lose one of their cygnets. While Sebastian is searching he meets other animals and their young around the lake! This story introduces simple counting with interactive roll over buttons! The literacy activities have been designed for the spring term with Year 1, although the repeated structure and simple counting also makes it suitable for Year R.

Sebastian Swan's Story This book has been designed to be used with early years children. As you read the story, encourage children to listen and identify the most common initial sound or phoneme in each sentence. Sounds featured include s,c,m,t,b,h and g.

Guess Who? This book introduces a new author; Sydney the black swan! He tells a rhyming story, where children guess the names of animals that live in the Australian tropical rain forest. Resources have been provided to link this story to the QCA Key Stage 1 Science scheme of Work.
The site has been designed to be as cross-curricular as possible, although, it is intended that the Web site be used as part of the Literacy Hour.
These pages have been designed and produced by Key Stage 1 teachers and we would welcome any feedback or ideas.
The following table gives you more information about the different pages available on Infant Explorer.

Big Book
 These big books have been designed to be used within the literacy hour. They include many of the NLS keywords. Photographs, moving graphics and sounds are accompanied by simple text with questions to help children interpret what they see.

Literacy Links
 The Literacy Links pages contain plans and resources that will link with the theme of the book. They have been specifically designed to allow the website to be used as part of the Literacy Hour. The idea is for teachers and children to share ideas and activities - so please e-mail us with your suggestions.

Meet Sebastian
 This page will introduce the character of Sebastian Swan. Sebastian will be used to encourage children to communicate through E-mail, either asking questions or sending pictures.

Pin-board
 The pin board pages will display e-mailed letters and pictures sent to Sebastian from different schools. This means that work produced can be published on the Website and be available for anyone in the world to read!

Help Page
 To ensure you use this site to its full potential, we have included help items specifically aimed at teachers who are part of the Kent NGfL initiative laptop scheme.