This simple yet highly detailed product is designed to inform andinspire children's role play. It consists of a DVD in which the viewersmake brief 'video visits' to real-life garage locations. The idea is toshow children what people do when they visit and work in a garage, andallow them to discuss, plan and role play the real-life scenario.
As it would be fairly problematic and impractical to take a group ofyoung children to look around a garage, this DVD is a way to propel theminto that environment.
Their creativity is sparked when they are confronted with the garage andits array of characters and objects. The locations are the forecourt,carwash, showroom, number-plate shop and 'on the road', to see vehiclesand road signs.
These places introduce the children to exciting, and perhaps unfamiliar,role play. Boys will love the theme and will carry on talking and actingout ideas for days.
The play pack's real value comes with the digital teaching handbook,which is filled with role-play guidance including key vocabulary,discussion points, signs, notices, writing frames, photographs anddetailed Early Years Foundation Stage planning.
As cars are part of everyday life there are countless ways a garage canlink to children, and these role plays are a great way to answer theirquestions and help them to understand and imagine a garageexperience.
The pack is designed to support and extend child-initiated ideas,essential to building their creativity. For example, they learn toassociate the needs to speak, listen, read and write together when theysee a mechanic talking to a customer on the phone and writing down anappointment.
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This hexagonal table is a beautifully designed, ready-to-go areacomplete with six removable plastic bowls for different creativeactivities. Children can indulge in artwork, threading, sorting objects,and many sensory experiences. The acrylic mirrors allow children to seetheir creations from different angles and building with blocks or Legowill fascinate them. The possibilities with the bowls are endless, thetable provides a space for children to play with materials like sand,water, flour, gloop, leaves, feathers and play dough, and it is alleasily cleared away afterwards. This equipment really allows children totake the lead.
FINALISTS: Deltasand Starter Set, Reflections on Learning; RainbowTeepee, Step by Step
CRITERIA
Open to early years resources and equipment that support children'screative learning, development and enjoyment.
