What's New this Term...

Feb. 27, 2025

We know you don’t have time to search our site for new and exciting resources, so each month we’re putting together a blog to show you the very best of what’s new across the 2Simple range.

Computing

The 2Simple team have continued to work hard, updating tools and creating new resources for computing:

NEW: 2Cast - the all-in-one podcasting tool

A very exciting announcement is that a BRAND NEW podcasting tool has now launched on Purple Mash!

2Cast is an all-in-one podcasting tool with direct recording, audio upload, multitrack capabilities and ready-made special effects. Plus, podcasts can be shared easily in Purple Mash or exported as WEBM files for wider sharing.

Need some ideas for what to use it for? Why not try:

  • Storyteller's corner where children write and perform their own short stories or fairytales
  • Little News anchors to present news relevant to the school community
  • Junior Explorers researching and sharing information about places, animals or cultures they're curious about

You'll find lots more ideas in the User Guide on Purple Mash! 2Cast is included in a Purple Mash subscription, along with a huge range of other innovative and engaging online tools for computing and beyond. Why not get a free trial to give them a go?

UPDATED: Mash Club

Mash Club has been given an all-new look, with the same great sessions: eight complete computing club sessions that are fully resourced and aimed to be self-led by your students! You’ll find brand new:

  • Certificate
  • Poster
  • Name Card
  • Stickers

There’ll be even more Mash Club sessions added in the future, so keep your eyes peeled for fresh activities.

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Mash Club is another reason why teachers love Purple Mash - everything they need is included in one mash-tastic subscription! Try it today for free

Maths

Updated: Table Toons

Say hello to the revamped Table Toons!

Times tables practice on Purple Mash just got even better! Don’t worry, the same great features are still there, but with some great additions:

  • Children can still choose from a variety of music styles, like rock, opera and rap, and now it’s easier for them to switch styles while listening and playing.
  • Someone very special has been added in as a singer – see if you can spot who it is!
  • Arrays are now shown as blobs! These can be changed for different blobs, and to show different layouts.

Table Toons is a great way of building fluency in all year groups – why not try it in your classroom today?

English

FREE DK Learning eBook for World Book Day

This term, it’s World Book Day, and we’ve got a disgustingly good treat for you: all schools can read Gross and Ghastly Human Body from DK Learning for FREE on Serial Mash!

With Gross and Ghastly Human Body, your students will find out the answer to life’s most important questions including:

  • Why is poo brown?
  • What is in a fart?
  • Can you make a candle out of ear wax?

There’s also lots of fun activities, quizzes and optical illusions for your class to do. It’s the perfect book to encourage reading for fun this World Book Day.

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NEW: DK Learning Non-Fiction Texts on Purple Mash

Each term, there are eight new non-fiction texts from Dorling Kindersley added to Purple Mash. These texts are particularly helpful for topic or science lessons. All of the texts also have corresponding resources alongside, such as comprehension quizzes, writing templates and paint projects. The eight titles that were added for Spring term are:






NEW: Serial Mash Books

New books have been added to Serial Mash for Spring term:

Diamonds - Mr Jones and the Rock Stars: The children's favourite band Mac Bee is coming to play in town and they can't wait to hear them! But the tickets are all sold out. Mr Jones saves the day with the new class project.

Emeralds - Jackie's Giant Adventure: Leaving a trail of desctuction in its path, Jackie's giant beanstalk swallows up her pets and attracts attention from the dreaded Nagden Knitters.

Sapphires - Grandparents Assemble: When superheroes and supervillains retire, their adventures are far from over! BrilloBoy's stolen false teeth lead to mischief, mayhem, and one last daring escapade.

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Six full-length Dorling Kindersley non-fiction books are also added to Serial Mash every term. For Spring term the books added are:

  • I Feel Scared
  • DK Find Out! Animals
  • The Book of Brilliant Bugs
  • Farm Animals
  • Eye Witness: Human Body
  • See How They Grow - Farm

Serial Mash can easily be added to a Purple Mash subscription and costs start from as little as 70p per pupil for a year's subscription*.

Try Serial Mash free

*(plus £150 set up fee and VAT)