All posts by Nikki Wims

W/c 20th October 2025 – Diwali

  • Talk about celebrations at home.
  • Set up “celebration table” in role play.
  • Turn taking game – pass the light.
  • Listen to Diwali story.
  • Hide shiny gems in the sand.
  • Create rangoli art with coloured rice.
  • Make chalk paint.
  • Make diya lamps and paint.
  • Explore 2D shapes through Rangoli.
  • Make repeating patterns through colour.
  • Diwali puzzles.
  • Listening game – identify Diwali sounds.
  • Dance with ribbons.
  • Mud kitchen – make festival treats.
  • Simple light investigation.

W/c 5th October 25 – Autumn

  • Talk about the change in season and weather.
  • Cosy home area – hot chocolate, blankets, slippers etc.
  • We’re going on a leaf hunt story.
  • Listening walk outside for birds, wind, nature.
  • Leaves on trees – dice game.
  • Arm circles with ribbons.
  • Autumn themed tuff tray.
  • Consider road safety – Autumn Walk.
  • Build homes for animals which hibernate.
  • Autumn objects describing game.
  • Collage hedgehogs with natural textures.
  • Leaf rubbings with crayons.
  • Learn about animal hibernation.
  • Playdough hedgehogs with spaghetti / twigs.

W/c 29th September 25 – Bear Hunt

  • Use props to retell the story.
  • Make ‘thick, oozy mud pies’ in the mud kitchen.
  • Write letters in sand tray using sticks.
  • Make up stories in the dark.
  • Feel different natural textures.
  • Tear paper to make ‘grass’.
  • Swirling, whirling scarves in the air.
  • Count steps to the cave.
  • Make playdough bears.
  • Painting with fingers to make mud prints.
  • Explore loud/quiet sounds with instruments.
  • Paint with big rollers and brushes.
  • Containers to pour and splash.
  • Sequencing story cards.
  • Body percussion.
  • Compare footprint sizes.
  • Pass the bear circle game.

W/c 22nd September 25 – Dear Zoo

  • Consider which animals would make good pets and why.
  • Support turn taking with animal props.
  • Retell the story using props.
  • Outside train using large blocks.
  • Care for animals in the home corner.
  • Sequence the story with picture cards.
  • Make animal masks using paper plates.
  • Sing animal action sounds.
  • Use scissors to make snips for feathers.
  • Talk about pets at home.
  • Create zoo dinners / pet food in the mud kitchen.
  • Float sink predictions with animals.
  • Make lions mane using pegs.
  • Sorting animals.
  • Move like animals in the story.

W/c 15th Sept 25 – Nursery Rhymes

  • Learn / sing nursery rhymes during group time, focusing on 1 per day – recap on Friday.
  • Join with partner to row, row, your boat.
  • Sensory tray with foil, glitter, stars.
  • Look for rhyming pairs in stories.
  • Water play for Incy Wincy spider.
  • Obstacle course to deliver Baa Baa’s wool.
  • Nursery rhyme themed craft.
  • Stars on the light box.
  • Make spiders from playdough.
  • Draw emotion faces on Humpty Dumpty.
  • Counting songs: 5 Little Ducks, Speckled Frogs.
  • Build bus with large blocks, passengers to sing Wheels on the Bus.
  • Make music to play with rhymes.
  • Use positional language e.g. Hickory Dickory mouse.
  • Talk about daily routines.
  • Sequencing rhyme cards.

W/c 30th June 25 – Sharing a shell / Rainbow fish

  • Read stories like Commotion in the Ocean, Rainbow fish, Sharing a shell.
  • Sing sea life themed songs.
  • Aeroplane using large blocks.
  • Discuss how to be a good friend.
  • Make playdough sea creatures.
  • Paint with sand paint.
  • Use magnetic shapes to build seaside objects.
  • Catch the fish and ducks.
  • Play volleyball in the sand.
  • Collect coins with the magnet.
  • Seaside tuff tray.
  • Make sea creatures.
  • Draw a picture of our friends.
  • Match the phonic sound.
  • How far can you roll the ball?
  • Design a sandcastle.

W/c 23rd June 2025 – Growing up / Going to school

  • Read ‘The Colour Monster Goes to School’, ‘When I Grow Up’, ‘Going to School’.
  • Make self portraits.
  • Draw around each other and add features.
  • Wash dolls in water tray.
  • Think about what school will be like.
  • Sports practice.
  • Make up stories with figures.
  • Put on shoes independently.
  • Add candles to playdough cakes.
  • Measure the children and order by size.
  • What are my favourite things.
  • Sort objects by colour.
  • How I’ve grown.
  • Talk about what they’ve learnt.