This is the way we brush our hair
Learning objectives
To practise dressing and undressing independently, and manage personal hygiene
Resources
Dressing-up clothes - you will need three to four items for each child, chosen according to age and ability of the children
Introductory phase
Tell the children that they are going to mime getting up and dressing. Ask them to tell you what they do and in what order, then talk them through the mimes.
Middle phase
Put the dressing-up clothes in the centre of the circle. Specify to the children what they have to find and put on, for example, a hat, a jumper, skirt/trousers and a jacket. Tell the children that you want to see how quickly they can find and put on the items.
Closing phase
Sing with the children and mime the actions to 'Here we go round the mulberry bush on a cold and frosty morning'. Include actions such as: This is the way we wash our face, This is the way we brush our hair, This is the way we clean our teeth. When the children are 'ready', they sit down very quietly with arms folded and legs crossed.
Further activities
Have a selection of fasteners for the child to practise on, for example, zips, buttons, Velcro and laces. Play a game with the children where they take their shoes off and put them in the middle of the circle in a pile. Let each child, in turn, go into the centre and select their shoes from the pile.
Nutty nursery rhymes
Learning objectives
To encourage the children to listen attentively, respond with spoken language and retell narratives in the correct sequence
Resources
A book of nursery rhymes, for example, the Puffin Book of Rhymes or Ladybird Book of Rhymes
Introductory phase
Tell the children that you are going to read some favourite nursery rhymes, but you sometimes get them wrong and need their help. Choose two or three familiar rhymes and say them a line at a time, inserting correct words. Allow the children to correct your mistakes for you. Then say the rhyme correctly together with the children. For example:
'Humpty Bumpty sat on a chair'
'Jack and Jill went up a mountain'
Middle phase
Ask if any of the children would like to stand up and say a nursery rhyme to the others. Allow the children to prompt if anyone needs help.
Closing phase
Read two or three more familiar rhymes. Leave the words out for the children to supply, then say them together with the children, for example, Baa baa......sheep have you any.......
Further activities
Divide the children into small groups of four or five with an adult supervisor to each group. Allow the children to choose a nursery rhyme and mime actions to it while a child or practitioner says the rhyme. They can discuss the appropriate actions between themselves. Each group can perform their rhyme for the other children.
Wild animals
Learning objectives
To find out about and identify some features of common wildanimals in Britain
Resources
Illustrations of wild animals, for example, mouse, rat, fox, badger, squirrel, rabbit, snake, hedgehog, frog
Introductory phase
Ask the children if they have pets at home and what they are. Discuss with the children how some animals aren't kept as pets, but live on their own. Ask the children if they know of any animals that live in the countryside.
Middle phase
Show the children the visual aid. Ask if they can name the animals. Discuss with the children where the animals might live, for example, underground burrows, hollow tree trunks, disused buildings, holes in banks, trees. What sorts of thing might these animals eat? Have any children seen any of these animals? Let the children pretend to be some of the animals and mime their actions.
Closing phase
Choose an animal story from your library to read to the children, for example, Little Tang by Sally Grindley and John Butler published by Orchard Books.
Further activities
Make 'hedgehog' cakes using chocolate sponge mix and chocolate Matchmakers for the spines.
