Let’s ‘Play to Learn’
Encourage the children to explore:
- The activities on Crazy Capers as they develop by sorting objects into three or more categories e.g. colour or size – work with a partner or small group to complete a relay.
- As above – matching numbers to pictures e.g. the number 5 to a picture of five fish, etc.
- As above – matching letters to simple words e.g. does the letter ‘a’ go with pen or cat?
- As above – sorting jigsaw pieces to complete simple jigsaws. Divide several jigsaws amongst the groups; children take one piece and run to the place they think that piece belongs to in order for each pair/group to contribute to completing each jigsaw. Place a picture of the completed jigsaws at the start and one in each of the designated areas.
- As above – threading beads onto a lace.
- Any of the above activities – placing objects into a pram/trolley/cart and pulling the cart to a designated area, unloading objects and completing the task or throwing objects to a child to catch.
- Place objects in a bike/tractor/trailer – ride a vehicle towing objects to the designated area, unload objects and complete the task or throw objects to a child to catch.
- Kicking different balls into a space, chasing after them to pick up / retrieve, carry and place in a designated area or throw/kick to a target or a child and then return to start.
Safety & Organisation
Ensure:
- the surface is clean and free from obstructions
- children work in ‘gardens’
Opportunities to
- develop increasing control and co-ordination in running around obstacles
- explore simple tasks (physical and cognitive) using a variety of equipment for longer periods of time
- work safely in a space
- develop competence in manoeuvring bikes and cars
Questions
- What rules have you made up?
- What do you have to do to make sure everyone is safe when you are kicking the ball?
- What is most difficult about this activity?
- How can you and your partner help one another to improve at this activity?
Can you see the child?
- Developing increasing control and co-ordination in running around obstacles
- Exploring simple tasks (physical and cognitive) using a variety of equipment for longer periods of time
- Working safely in a space
- Developing competence in manoeuvring bikes and cars
-
Most of the time
Encourage the child to:
- explore a more complicated and longer route to the designated area, e.g. stepping stones, balance beam, parachutes
- throw or kick objects to small targets
- try and beat their best time/score
-
Sometimes
Encourage the child to:
- practise each aspect before playing the game
- sort into fewer categories
- have thinking time and discuss the solutions to the problem before they start to run
- initially work in a ‘garden’ by themselves
- initially ride tricycles or scoot on a balance bike