PRESCHOOL - GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL
SCHOOL HOLIDAY IDEAS
(COVID Catch Up - Summer 2020)
Hi everyone!
We are in very strange times indeed. At Little Owls we are attempting to pre-empt what may be helpful to you all as we go into each phase of the ‘new normal’. We hope that this page will be a handy tool for Nursery/Preschool Practitioners, Childminders and Parents of children about to start school. We have endeavoured to consider key elements which make up learning through play in the year preceding school. On this page we have suggested resources which are suitable to be used at home 1:1 as well as within childcare/preschool settings to consolidate these elements perhaps as part of fun learning activities over the Summer.
We have grouped our ideas into the EYFS 7 areas of learning which are: Communication & Language / Personal, Social & Emotional Development / Physical Development / Literacy / Mathematics / Understanding the World / Expressive Arts & Design. Please feel free to scroll down to find the relevant section you are looking for.
A few things to remember/thoughts from Little Owls:
All children are individuals.
At this age much of learning is based around:
Talking/every day conversations - take the time to discuss things with your child and introduce them to new words.
Being active/involving a physical element
Things that they enjoy and child-led where possible
Most importantly, learning through play is key. Have fun!
(To access the resources, you can either click on the images featured on this page or the text links below them. Either will take you to the appropriate resource pages.)
We hope you find this useful.
‘COMMUNICATION & LANGUAGE’ Ideas
Nursery Rhymes
Links to resources: Nursery Rhyme page / Colouring Posters / Puppet Set Packs / Cut & Stick Match & Sequence Cards / Character Match Role-Play Game
Language Development Though Role-Play
The development of Communication and Language skills through role-play can be incredibly powerful. Children tend to naturally become absorbed in role-play. Through this enjoyment and engagement children will be strengthening and developing their communication skills, whether they are playing with you or other children.
During this prime engagement time challenge them by throwing in new vocabulary such as using the ‘Pirate’ or ‘Pirate Ship’ Name Games. This will in turn encourage them to use more adventurous and descriptive vocabulary during their play.
Many role-play packs available at the image links below…MORE role-play packs coming soon to this site!
Links to resources: Role-Play Pack Menu Page
‘PERSONAL, SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT’ IDEAS
Talk about own thoughts & opinions
Link to resource: Open ended question prompt cards
Link to resource: My Favourite Things Booklet
Learning about our own emotions and those of others
Links to resources: All of the above emotion resources and more / Emotions Mat / Emotions Drawing Sheets / Emotion Cards with Matching Statements
RESOURCES IN OUR ‘GET ORGANISED’ SECTIONS WHICH MAY HELP WITH ESTABLISHING RULES AND POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR REINFORCEMENT…
Links to resources: Rule posters / Reward Charts / Certificates / Stickers
‘PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT’ Ideas
Large Movements (Gross Motor)
Link to resources: ‘Gross Motor’ Expressive Movement resources
Small Movements - Pencil/Mark Making (Fine Motor)
Link to resources: Fine Motor Butterflies / Ladybirds / Koi Fish
Small Movements - Manipulating Loose Parts, Playdough or Art & Craft Materials (Fine Motor)
Healthy diet
Links to resources (Stay Healthy): Healthy Diet / Stickers
Hand washing hygiene
Links to resources (Stay Healthy): Hand Washing Songs
‘LITERACY’ ideas
Phase 1 Letters & Sounds
Links to resources: Phase 1 Sounds - Input Cards / Colouring / Picture Cards
Links to resources: Animal Sounds - Input Cards / Game Cards
Links to resources: What made the sound? Game / Listening Sound Walk / Making Sounds Game
Familiarity with Initial Sounds/Learning Alphabet Letter Sounds
Alphabet Displays/Flashcards
Links to resources: Alphabet Small Display-Animal / Alphabet Small Display-General / Animal Alphabet Flashcards
Alphabet Games
Link to resource: Animal Alphabet Puzzles
Letter Formation
Link to resource: Animal Alphabet Multimats
‘Mathematics’ ideas
Counting items & number recognition
Links to resources: Click on resource images above for direct links to each particular resource or follow this link to visit our ‘Counting & Number Recognition’ page.
Links to resources: ‘Colour & Count’ page
Counting & Number Recognition - Playdough and Loose Part Mats
Encourage children to practise their number recognition and counting skills whilst having fun with loose parts and playdough! Below is a selection of mats which you can use to fit your child(ren)’s particular needs accordingly.
Links to resources: Click on resource images above for direct links to each particular resource or follow this link to visit our ‘Counting & Number Recognition’ page.
Counting & Number Recognition - Finger Painting
Links to resources: Click on resource images above for direct links to each particular resource or follow this link to visit our ‘Counting & Number Recognition’ page.
Number Ordering
Various Number Slice Puzzle themes linked here (colouring versions): Animals of the World / Dinosaurs / Minibeasts / On the Farm / Zoo Animals / Chinese New Year / Winter / Spring / Summer
Number Formation
Links to resources: Number Multimats - Animals / Sea Animals / Minibeasts / Number Formation Sheets
Addition
Links to resources (Addition): Addition Mat / Summer Themed Addition Sheets
Size
Links to resources: Big & Small Hearts
Size Ordering
Links to resources: Measures - Size, Length, Height & Weight Resources
Weight
Links to resources: Click on images above for direct link to specific resource / Measures - Size, Length, Height & Weight Resources
Patterns
Link to resource: Building Block Challenge Cards
Shapes
Links to resources: 2D Shape Walk / 3D Shape Walk
Symmetry
‘UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD’ Ideas
Similarities & Differences - Feelings
Links to resources: ‘What makes you happy? Sheets / Draw Emotion Sheets
Similarities & Differences - Celebrating Diversity
Links to resources: Diversity Posters
Similarities & Differences - Observation
Links to resources (Similarities & Differences): Animal Sorting Game / Farm Animals & Their Young Puzzles
Changes Over Time - Life Cycles
Links to resources: Endless Life Cycle Puzzles
Similarities & Differences/ Changes - Seasons
Compare similarities and differences between the four seasons. How do for example trees change over time as they move through the seasons? How do they stay the same? What do animals do the same and differently as the seasons change? What happens to the weather?
Links to resources: Seasons
Changes - Weather
Links to resources: Weather resources
A4 Weather Calendars (Larger versions also available)
‘EXPRESSIVE ARTS & DESIGN’ Ideas
Experimenting with music & movement
Experimenting with colour
Link to resources: Heart Colour Mixing / Egg Colour Mixing
Drawing
The sheets below are intended to spark you child(ren)’s imagination and creativity. What will your child(ren) design?
Art & Craft
Link to resources: Chinese Dragon Puppet
Art & Craft/ Collage/ Loose Parts Art/ Playdough Mats
Link to resources: Multimats - Animals / Dinosaurs / Minibeasts / Welsh Dragons
Role-Play
‘ICE CREAM SHOP’ DRAMATIC ROLE PLAY PACK
Role-Play is an incredible way to develop a child’s imagination and creativity whilst also embedding real-life skills.
This pack includes:
banner
menu with prices
create your own ice cream menu
blank proforma menu for children to fill in
picture cards of various things to be sold in the role-play shop (to ideally cut out and laminate)
lolly writing sheets
ice cream order form
advert posters with descriptive vocab
More role-play packs available in our role-play packs area…plus more coming soon!
CLICK HERE to visit our ‘role-play packs’ page.
We hope you have found this compilation of resources handy!
Have fun learning with your child(ren)!