Play Workshop Ideas for Introductory Session

Transcription

1 Play Workshop Ideas for Introductory Session Web Site Download Early Years Team 2009

2 Play Workshop Ideas ~ Introductory Session Play workshops are most effective when they can take place within the children s typical classroom environment. Parents/carers are able to experience activities and resources within the children s familiar classroom space, enabling them to make connections with the children s play experiences. The classroom should thus be set up as for a normal nursery session. Facilitators should aim to provide a wide range of play activities, which may be organised around a current or recent theme in own class, or around some of the following suggestions: Workshop A: Providing Play Experiences on the Theme of Beans! Sand area ~ damp sand with trowels, plant pots, flowers or hens and golden eggs; or compost planting broad beans in individual pots. Water tray ~ beans of various shapes and sizes, sieves, watering can, colanders, tongs, various shapes and sizes of containers or coffee beans, cups, teaspoons and jugs. Role Play area ~ supermarket to include variety of beans dried, tinned, frozen food packages. Construction area ~ build Jack s house/giant s castle. Small World ~ castle, eggs, giant/jack characters, purse, gold coins, story book Art area ~ make a collage using beans and seeds and a variety of other materials, e.g. hessian, raffia, dried leaves; or mix different shades of green paint and use random objects to print large leaves to make giant class beanstalk. Music ~ creating musical instruments using variety of beans and containers. Dough ~ green dough with rolling pins, variety of dried beans to imprint. Sensory activity ~ basin with kidney beans, coffee beans, red and brown containers. ICT program Jack and the Beanstalk talking story. Outdoors ~ to include planting, bean bags, spacehoppers (jumping beans), movement opportunities jumping beans, French beans, jelly beans, Mexican beans. h t t p : / / w w w. n e e l b. o r g. u k Page 1

3 Workshop B: Dough Workshop Organise the participants into groups (depending on numbers) and provide opportunity to experience dough play at a range of different levels, Let each group have 7-10 minutes at first activity and then rotate groups as time permits enabling each group to see how dough can be used in a variety of ways. Group 1: Making Dough (see attached recipe page) Present ingredients, utensils and instructions on table and ask the group to follow the instructions and make the dough reflecting on the potential learning opportunities. Highlight safety issues if using hot water, cooker or microwave. Feedback pointers; potential learning opportunities may include, e.g. language describing the process, vocabulary enrichment naming ingredients, utensils, recall of experience, prediction how will materials change?, Maths language of measure/quantity, etc. Group 2: Using Dough no additional equipment Provide basic dough with boards. Encourage group to explore the dough and identify potential learning. Feedback may highlight: o Sensory experience smell, texture, taste! o Aesthetic experience relaxing, pleasure (PSE) o Physical skills roll, knead, squeeze, squash, bang, etc. o Associated language Group 3: Using Dough with additional resources Provide dough with added colour/texture with boards, some utensils (rollers, potato mashers, cutters, garlic press). Encourage group to explore the dough using tools and equipment provided and identify potential learning. Feedback may be similar to group 2 above with added vocabulary and physical experiences. h t t p : / / w w w. n e e l b. o r g. u k Page 2

4 Group 4: Dough Play with Seaside Theme Provide pink/white scented dough, bowls, sundae dishes, spoons, hats and aprons, sprinkles, chocolate chips, raisins, scoops, square and round cones, wafers, seaside/ice cream shop books/pictures. Feedback may include: o questions re colour, shape, texture, o recall past experience, o manipulative skills roll, squash, squeeze, o maths how many scoops? count, spatial awareness, size, 3D shape, money o dramatic play role play scenario, language modelling o free expression basket of alternative resources rollers, cutters, lolly sticks, pastry wheels, scissors, pine cones, large buttons, etc. n.b. Clay could be used for this workshop, or for some of the groups. Explain how using a different malleable material provides opportunity for children to develop their physical and creative skills, as it responds, moulds, joins, etc. in a different way. Parents/carers may be given some prompts at the activities to help them understand the learning potential, e.g. key vocabulary, types of questions a child might be asked during the activity. These may be displayed on cards/sheets of paper at each activity area. At the end of the workshop, parents/carers should return to the main presentation area for feedback and for the conclusion of the session. h t t p : / / w w w. n e e l b. o r g. u k Page 3

5 You will need 2 cups plain flour 2 cups salt 2 teaspoons cream of tartar 4 cups water Method ~ Mix ingredients in a saucepan and stir over a medium heat until the mixture thickens and combines into one lump. Tip onto a pastry board and, when cool, knead until smooth. The dough keeps for several weeks in an airtight container. h t t p : / / w w w. n e e l b. o r g. u k Page 4