To get excited about our summer barbecue and
prepare with decorations and associations of the colours, tastes, patterns,
shapes, people and animals of Africa, we will be exploring some of the elements
of Africa this month!
The activities this month will be based around the Early Years
Foundation Stage (EYFS) areas of learning:
Prime areas:
PSED: Seeking
to gain attention in others and drawing them in, in a variety of ways. E.g.
dance, sharing a story, song. PD: Making connections between their
movements and the marks they make. C&L
communicating using song and dance, also beats to make connections with
others.
Specific areas:
M: identifying
patterns, number, size, colour in small groups of up to three. UW: Discovery of the wider world;
animals, people and places that look different to our own. EA&D Music and movement to African sounds, beats and music.
Some of the activities we will be doing this month will involve:
·
Musical instruments. Laura will be making some fun African
inspired musical instruments with the children.
·
African animal shape art. Cristina will be using shapes of different
animals for the children to paint, collage and decorate.
·
African costumes. Alice will be making some different African
costumes with the children to dress up in.
·
African animal masks. Emma will be working with the children to
make African animal masks and wear them in play.
·
Dance! Ella will be dancing with the children to different African music.
·
Books! Ella will be looking at different books and stories inspired by
Africa.
·
Safari lodge. Sarah G will be setting up a safari lodge in
the outdoor area for the children to rest in between role play trips out to
look for animals.
·
Animals in the mud. Latoya will be setting up a small world
safari in the water tray of African animals roaming about in the clay, grass,
dirt and water pools.
Some ideas to support your
children at home:
·
Children
naturally love animals. Share books,
toys, etc. of African animals, name them and play with them.
·
Print off a few African animal images for them to hold, look at and have around
them. Name them.
·
Name the qualities of the animals; stripes, spots, patches, colours of fur and
markings
·
Show them some YouTube footage of African
animals. Talk about
their size, shapes, sounds and actions.
·
Roar! Like a lion. Trumpet
like an elephant! Make some animal sounds together.
·
Dance to some African music. There are so many different types.
·
Make some percussion instruments. Rain makers- rice and tissue paper in a
bottle. Bongo drums- plastic bucket
upside down. Shakers- try rice, seeds, beans, beer bottle tops in a plastic jar
or bottle.
·
The barbecue costume! Start thinking about your children’s costumes
for the barbecue. It is a themed event. Team and children will be dressing up-
parents can too!
