In my work in schools, as well as reading stories aloud, I act them out with children. Some of my best results have been when acting out myths from Greece, Egypt and the Native Americans. The children love working together to make the Monster Hill that devoured animals on the American prairies. They enjoy joining hands in a circle to make the whirlpool that swallowed ships in ancient Greece, and forming a chain to make the labyrinth which hid the deadly Minotaur.
Acting out legends can be done anywhere and in any space. It does not have to involve costumes or props, just lots of imagination.
Myths and fairytales inspire children to live better, appreciate nature and embrace respect and politeness. They also warn against the dangers of being too greedy for money (think Midas) or food (Hansel and Gretel).
Heroes of myths are not obsessed with celebrity. They fight dragons and giants, not to become famous but because it is the right thing to do. They are willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of the community. Giant slaying stories are especially inspiring for nursery and primary school children. As they are small, the world seems to be populated by giants. So stories where a child can defeat a giant gives them reassurance. Folk heroes are close to nature, inspiring children to protect the environment. They enjoy simple pleasures that cost nothing, such as hide and seek in forests, climbing trees and bird watching.
Let's all keep acting, reading and working together on the magic of story, and we may finally create a world that deserves a standing ovation!
Evelyn Foster, author of 'The Bone Giant' (Franklin Watts)
ALL BLACK AND WHITE
I read with interest the report 'Busy Bees rooms go black and white' (News, 20 July).
This is not just a Busy Bees idea. At our nursery, where I am a key practitioner and baby room leader, we have had a section of the room focusing on black and white for over a year now. The 'Art for Baby' book was a starting point. We have used various fabrics, objects, photos of the children and art displays. I have been able to advise many other settings on how to create the same effect.
Deidre Micklewright, Woodpeckers Private Nursery, Sudbury, Suffolk
OUTDOOR PLAY VISION
I note in the excellent article, 'Challenging times' (13 August), that the Early Years Vision and Values for Outdoor Play is mentioned in the Further Information section. I would remind Nursery World readers that this is 'copyright free' and was developed by a partnership of key early years organisations and individuals, including Nursery World itself.
Learning Through Landscapes facilitated the development of the Vision and Values, and while our approach to learning through play is based on these beliefs about the value of outdoors, we by no means own it. We'd encourage readers to adopt the Vision and Values at their setting, and to promote it to parents as part of their setting's approach to outdoor play.
Come along to our stall at the Nursery World Outdoor Learning and Play conference (18 October, The Ibis, Earls Court, London, www.haymarketevents.com), where we'll be giving away large illustrated posters with the Vision on one side and all ten Values on the other.
Julie Mountain, head of delivery and innovation, Learning Through Landscapes
LET'S BE PENGUINS
The class I help in is called PENGUINS. This stands for: Proud, Eager, Neat, Good, Understanding, Intelligent, Nice and Smart. This is how they are expected to behave. Mostly they do achieve this every day and are the perfect class in a not so perfect world and, sadly, a sometimes badly thought of area.
With, hopefully, the last year of SATs for KS1 finished, there is a release, but I fear what will replace them. Will it be all the documenting that is going on in the early years?
If children understand the need to be a 'penguin' first, then all the learning and living happens anyway. Following lots of markers and points does not judge what really matters most - to be a 'PENGUIN'.
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