Nursery World - Nursery activities (75)

Memories of summer family picnics inspired this colourful display to develop children's awareness of pattern and shape, says Vicky Taylor Planned learning intentions

Planned learning intentions

To begin to talk about the shapes of everyday objects

To talk about, recognise and recreate simple patterns

To remember and talk about significant things that have happened to them

Resources

Patterned tablecloth ,white paper ,red, green and yellow paint ,yellow and red shiny paper ,card ,glitter ,sequins ,coloured tissue ,sponge off-cuts ,PVA glue ,cardboard zig-zag packaging material ,paper plates ,felt pens

Step by step

* Invite the children to talk about picnics or barbecues they have enjoyed over the summer.

* Suggest making a picnic picture and discuss what to include, based on their memories.

* Talk about the colours and patterns the children can see in the tablecloth. Present them with a large rectangle of white paper, some strips of zig-zag packaging material and shallow trays of different coloured paint to dip the strips into. Explain that you would like them to create a patterned tablecloth using the materials.

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