Nature is enchanting for children and they love the idea of little folk caring for plants. Ask them to suggest items to put into your outdoor resources bags. Here are some materials children have asked me to supply.
Ideas to explore Investigate size and shape by creating dens for little folk.
Resources ,Natural objects such as wooden shapes, leaves, rose petals and coir ,materials in various textures, colours and patterns
PLOD Introduce a miniature object that will enable children to explore mathematical ideas - for example, explore surface area by wrapping a small doll's shoe in a leaf.
Idea to explore Focus on scale by reducing pictures in size on the computer, and laying trails of the pictures or tiny objects for the children to find using magnifying glasses.
Resources ,Different kinds of magnifying glasses ,small laminated pictures ,small objects such as furniture from small doll's house
PLOD Introduce different magnifiers. Start with sheet magnifiers, then more complex tools such as diffraction tubes.
Ideas to explore Write and post letters to the little folk.
Resources ,Tiny envelopes ,small pieces of paper ,mark-making materials ,small boxes
PLOD Change the type of pencil, shape of paper and materials to write on.
Post a reply to the children's letters to provide a stimulus for dialogue and stories.
Ideas to explore Help develop creative thinking by encouraging children to imagine they are little folk.
Resources ,Wide range of role-play materials and fabrics PLOD Gradually add resources, such as glitter dust and tiny books, to extend the activity over several days.
Ideas to explore Focus on cultural identity by sharing familiar folktales.
Resources ,A familiar folktale and storysack. Little people appear in almost all cultures as guardians or helpers, but be aware of children whose cultures have no such tradition.
PLOD Encourage family members to share folktales with the children.
Skill to explore Develop children's dexterity by building houses for little folk.
Resources ,Small bricks (such as Teifoc from Mindstretchers; see panel).
PLOD Provide additional materials for making furniture.
Series guide
Poor resourcing and planning are often the greatest barriers to high-quality outdoor play. In this series, we outline ideas to explore, cross-curricular resources and possible lines of development (PLODs) to extend and consolidate children's learning. The resources can be stored in sets of bags - one for each area of learning, all stored in one bigger bag.
Such sets enable settings to respond quickly to events and children's interests and to supplement outdoor provision
See also 'At the ready', Nursery World, 29 January 2004.
Claire Warden is the founder of Mindstretchers, an educational resource provider in Perthshire, tel: 01764 664409.
