LEARN
Inspirational resources for schools, colleges, pre-schools and childcare providers available to hire from Somerset Libraries.
What Can An Idea Box Do For My Setting?
Each Idea Box comes packed with exciting technology to inspire and challenge your students. Idea Boxes provide enough resources for individual or carousel activities, along with online quick start and how-to guides. New Wessex Planning lesson plans are also available through eLIM. IDEA Boxes support schools in delivering the key aims of the National Curriculum for Computing, as well as creative opportunities for Design & Technology.
What’s In The Boxes?
Currently there 5 different IDEA Boxes to choose from:
- Lego Mindstorms Rubix Cube Solver – 1 per box
- BBC micro:bits – 40 per box
- Ollie & Parrot Programmable Drones – 1 of each per box
- Polaroid 3-D Pens – 4 per box
- Marty the Robot – 2 per box
- Oculus Go – 2 per box
- OhBot – 1 per box
How Much Does An Idea Box Cost?
Access the latest in modern technology to suit your students’ learning needs at a fraction of the purchase cost. No need to budget for maintenance, replacements and upgrades. Just hire the kit you need to suit your curriculum delivery.
Boxes are available to hire in half term blocks at a cost of just £50. This allows you a minimum of 4 full weeks use of your box. You can reserve specific boxes to enable you to plan ahead for use in topic work, or to share with multiple classes.
How Do I Book An Idea Box?
Just email ideabox@somerset.gov.uk to let us know which box you want and what term you’d like to hire it. We’ll send you confirmation of availability and a booking form for full details. Your school or setting will then be invoiced for the hire fee. The scheme is based at The Glass Box at Taunton Library, but you can select your preferred local library for collection and return.
| 2023 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Term | Summer Term | Autumn Term | ||||
| Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 | Term 1 | Term 2 | |
| Micro:bits | Available | Available | Available | Booked | Available | Booked |
| 3D Pens | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| LEGO Rubik's Cube Solver | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| Drones | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| Marty the Robot | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| Oculus Go VR headsets | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| OhBot | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available |