For Teachers — Little Red Hen

Numeracy links

The Teaching Ideas website has lots of maths ideas for early years

http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/earlyyears/files/kwaddingsubtracting10.pdf Adding and Subracting (10) – A great PDF to test children on adding and subtracting numbers up to 10. Contributed by Kathy Wilson.

http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/earlyyears/files/kwaddingsubtracting20.pdf Adding and Subtracting (20) – A great PDF to test children on adding and subtracting numbers up to 20. Contributed by Kathy Wilson.

http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/earlyyears/files/kwcountingto20.pdf Counting to 20 – A worksheet (PDF) to help children count to 20. Contributed to Kathy Wilson.

http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/earlyyears/files/kwrecognisingnumbers.pdf Recognising and Writing Numbers – A huge set of worksheets (PDF) dealing with recognising and writing numbers, and much more! Contributed by Kathy Wilson.

http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/earlyyears/pickaticket.htm Pick a Ticket – Develop your children’s number recognition and listening skills with this tip.

http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/earlyyears/ladybirddoubling.htm Ladybird Doubling – An easy way of encouraging younger children to think about doubling.

http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/earlyyears/treasuremap.htm Treasure Map – Use a treasure map to help children to learn about direction.

http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/earlyyears/introducingshapes.htm Introducing Shapes – A great way of introducing simple shapes to young children.

http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/earlyyears/files/shapes.pdf Shapes – A PDF worksheet, which asks children to make patterns using a variety of 2D shapes. Contributed by Jane Dovey.

http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/earlyyears/files/mybookofshapes.pdf My Book of Shapes – A set of four activities for Early Years children, linked to four different shapes. Contributed by Shahida Yunus.

http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/earlyyears/files/symmetricalpictures.pdf Symmetrical Pictures – Use this worksheet to encourage children to think about symmetry. Contributed by Lynn Medland.

Online maths games

Here are some online games that you might want to try with your children that are connected thematically with the story of the Little Red Hen and develop key board and mouse skills

This is a shape matching game that you could use to talk about shape names and colours
http://www.thekidzpage.com/freekidsgames/games/concentration/shapesmatching.html

This is also a matching game but with farmyard animals the pictures are realistic but there are perhaps a little too many choices for younger children to remember
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=MatchingPairsFarmyard

This is fun game to play once you have got past the advertisement. Match the eggs of the same colour, work out how to bring them next to one another and watch them hatch
http://www.donutgames.com/play/chicken_and_egg

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Puppet ideas

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Puppetry is the art of bringing inanimate objects alive. Children do this instinctively, when they pick up an action figure-or a spoon, or a piece of broccoli and give it voice and movement. It can be a powerful tool for stimulating the imagination and a very exciting way to explore a wide range of cross curricular themes with your class. Making puppets with children should always lead to lots of play and story making. Allow the children the time and space to animate what they’ve made and try and provide exciting settings and places for the playing to happen in. Don’t be shy about operating puppets for and with your class as well A discussion beforehand about you all knowing that its pretend might help but don’t underestimate the power they hold with your class!

Finger puppets

Make simple finger puppets using cut up children’s gloves and stick on shapes with your class let them play at a retelling of the story in their own words.

The story can include narration, the children making up their own descriptions, and deciding for themselves what they think the characters would say.

The pupils could be encouraged to think about how their character looks, what kind of voice they might have for each different animal.

Children could work in pairs to play out the story together or the story could be performed on a table with different groups being responsible for different scenes of the play.

Shadow puppets

Here are some simple ideas you might want to try out in your classroom. These techniques can be used:

By you in the telling of established stories
By your class in recreating moments from their favourite stories
By you and your class to create new stories

Use an overhead projector and white sheet stretched or hung to create the light source and screen.

Experiment with the following to create images on the screen:

Everyday objects, such as beads, string, plastic bottles. Each object has an inherent quality of movement, see if you can find it. Experiment with lifting them closer to the light source.
Coloured cellophane. Overlay different colours. Use them to suggest the quality of water
Sand. If possible place this on a Perspex sheet so as not to scratch the screen of the projector. Roll the sand in an even thin layer and then draw with a slightly wet finger. This could be used to create the outline of buildings such as a castle or palace, or to create the skyline to an ancient city.
Fingers. Use your fingers as puppets. Move them against the screen of the projector. Experiment with different types of finger movement to suggest different characteristics.
People. Stand between the projector and white sheet. The closer you get to the projector the larger your shadow will be. For a more expressive outline always work in profile. Experiment with the different shapes and sizes you can get your shadow to make.
Puppets. To create simple puppets, use pipe cleaners or wire to make simple figures of people. Fill in the gaps with coloured cellophane. Practice moving them on the screen of the projector. Provide voices for the characters. Allow them to be hot seated by the class.
Paper. Experiment with cutting and ripping paper and placing on the screen. Use to create environments such as a cave.

Top tip: Try using your IWB for shadow play. Try ‘found’ objects from the classroom as well as 2D ’puppet’ cutouts.

Simple shape puppets

Give the children paper bags or paper plates and ask them to create a face on one side using a selection of pre cut shapes such as circles, triangles and squares. They can use the shapes to represent the features of the animal’s faces. One side could be the hen and the other could become another animal in the Little Red Hen story. Attach a lolly stick, or similar to the back of the plate near the bottom and you have a simple hand held animal puppet/mask.

Letter puppets

Draw and then cut out a large letter h on stiff paper or card. Stick two yellow triangles at the top of the stalk to be a beak two circles one slightly larger white one glued to the top near the beak glue a smaller black circle in it to make the eye. A series of red triangles can be stuck in an arc above the eye for the comb. You now have a h for hen.
Try doing the same with C for cat, M for mouse, p for pig and d for dog.
1. You will need paper cut out shapes of varying sizes and colours, triangles, circles squares etc.
2. Glue
3. A paper plate or bag
4. Lolly sticks or similar
5. Sticky tape

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Numeracy in the foundation stage

Quick Links For Teachers

Little Red Hen supports the early learning goals for Numeracy in the following ways

The children use number names in order and up to 5 and in the context of the story.
They will help the characters count seeds, stepping stones and corn up to number 10.
They will help characters to solve practical maths problems regarding sharing and equal parts.
They will be asked to consider concepts such as ‘more’ or ‘less’ and ‘bigger’ or ‘smaller’ throughout the programme
They will be encouraged to talk about, recognise and repeat simple patterns in the story.
The children will be introduced to the concept of time through the idea of how long bread takes to bake and how long a seed takes to grow.

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Action songs

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Here are some examples of songs and rhymes you could use to explore numeracy and/or growing with your children. Most of them have very familiar tunes and links to them can be found below each one. Happy singing!

Songs

Dingle Dangle Scarecrow

There are lots of opportunities for adding your own actions to the basic ones in this favourite song. You can listen to samples of the tunes here if you don’t know them already

When all the cows were sleeping
and the sun had gone to bed
up jumped the scarecrow
and this is what he said!
I’m a dingle, dangle scarecrow
with a flippy floppy hat
I can shake my hands like this
and shake my feet like that

When all the hens were roosting
And the moon behind the cloud
Up jumped the scarecrow
And shouted very loud
I’m a dingle, dangle scarecrow
With a flippy floppy hat
I can shake my hands like this
And shake my feet like that

When the dogs were in the kennels
And the doves were in the loft
Up jumped the scarecrow
And whispered very soft
I’m a dingle, dangle scarecrow
With a flippy floppy hat

I can shake my hands like this
And shake my feet like that
I’m a dingle, dangle scarecrow
With a flippy floppy hat
I can shake my hands like this
And shake my feet like that

Here’s a video of the tune

The Farmer’s in his Den

One person is stands in the middle of a circle of children who hold hands. Everyone sings

The Farmer’s in his den,
The Farmer’s in his den,
E I de addy oh,
The Farmer’s in his den.

The Farmer wants a wife,
The Farmer wants a wife,
E I de addy oh,
The Farmer wants a wife.

“The Farmer”, the child in the middle, chooses a wife to join him in the centre of the circle. They hold hands and circle round while the others sing

The wife wants a child,
The wife wants a child,
E I de addy oh,
The wife wants a child.

The Farmer’s wife chooses someone to stand in the centre. The farmer, wife and child hold hands and circle round while the others sing and circle:

The child wants a nurse,
The child wants a nurse,
E I de addy oh,
The child wants a nurse.

The child chooses a nurse who joins the inside circle. As before, everyone sings:

The nurse wants a dog,
The nurse wants a dog,
E I de addy oh,
The nurse wants a dog.

A dog is chosen by the nurse and joins the others in the centre of the circle. Everyone sings and pats the dog on the head:

Everyone pat the dog,
Everyone pats the dog,
E I de addy oh,
Everyone pats the dog.

When the dog has been chosen and the final part of the song sung, the dog then becomes the farmer and the game starts again. I remember this song from primary school and we ended it with the dog wanting a bone and then all patting the bone. It makes more sense ending here I think. I have also heard a version when the bone is patted in to shape.

Here’s a link to the tune

Five Currant Buns

Five currant buns in a bakers shop,
Round and fat with a cherry on the top.
Along came (choose and name a child from the class),
With a penny one day.
Bought a currant bun and took it away.

Four currant buns in a bakers shop…etc.

Here’s the tune

Oats and Beans and Barley Grow

This could be played with everyone doing the actions simultaneously or as a circle game with a different farmer in the middle for each verse, choosing the next farmer at the end. I think the actions are fairly self explanatory but you make up your own. I remember circling first one way for the first two lines of the chorus and then the other for the second two and taking ease was a big sigh with hands on hips.

Oats and beans and barley grow,
Oats and beans and barley grow.
Do you or I or anyone know
How oats and beans and barley grow?

First the farmer sows his seed,
Then he stands and takes his ease,
Stamps his feet and claps his hands
And turns around to view the lands.
Oats and beans and barley grow,
Oats and beans and barley grow.
Do you or I or anyone know
How oats and beans and barley

Next the farmer waters the seed,
Stands erect and takes his ease,
He stamps his foot and claps his hands,
And turns around to view his lands.
Oats and beans and barley grow,
Oats and beans and barley grow,
Can you or I or anyone know
How oats and beans and barley grow?

Next the farmer hoes the weeds,
Stands erect and takes his ease,
He stamps his foot and claps his hands,
And turns around to view his lands.
Oats and beans and barley grow,
Oats and beans and barley grow,
Can you or I or anyone know
How oats and beans, and barley grow?

Last the farmer harvests his seed,
Stands erect and takes his ease,
He stamps his foot and claps his hands,
And turns around to view his lands.
Oats and peas beans and barley grow,
Oats and beans and barley grow,
Can you or I or anyone know
How oats and beans and barley grow?

Here’s the tune

Old Macdonald’s Farm

Sing the song and choose children to name the next animal on the farm for a variation perhaps the animals are doing crazy things instead of making noises like on the farm in Little Red Hen

Here’s the tune

10 little seeds
To the tune of 10 green bottles

10 little seeds planted in a row
10 little seeds planted in a row
If one little seed should never ever grow
There’d be 9 ears of corn standing in the row

Here’s the tune

This is the way we plant the seed
(To the tune of here we go round the mulberry bush)

This is the way we plant the seed
Plant the seed, plant the seed
This is the way we plant the seed
To make our bread in the morning.

This is the way we cut the wheat,
Cut the wheat, cut the wheat
This is the way we cut the wheat,
To make our bread in the morning.

This is the way we grind the wheat
Grind the wheat, grind the wheat
this is the way we grind the wheat
to make our bread in the morning.

This is the way we knead the dough
Knead the dough, knead the dough
this is the way we knead the dough
to make our bread in the morning.
This is the way we bake the bread
bake the bread, bake the bread
this is the way we bake the bread
to make our bread in the morning.

Here’s a link to the tune

A rhyme

Hickety Pickety

Hickety Pickety my red hen
She lays eggs for Farmer Ben.
Farmer Ben comes every day
To count how many eggs I lay.

(POP POP POP POP POP)
She has laid 5 eggs today.
Repeat verse with different number of eggs
Eggs could be laid in numerical sequence or randomly indicated by holding up fingers
Chook chook chook

Chook chook chook
Good morning Mrs. Hen
How many chickens have you got?
Madam I have ten,
Four of them are yellow
And four of them are brown,
And two of them are speckled red
The nicest in the town.

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Colours and shapes

Quick Links For kids For Teachers Interactive

Get your children to colour in an outline of the Little Red Hen, or use our new interactive painting activity below (If you’re planning to print or share you’ll need to allow pop-ups before starting).

You can download a picture of the Little Red Hen here.

You can use the outline of the Little Red Hen, either on screen or printed out, to talk about the different shapes:

Can you point to a triangle?
Can you see a square?
Show me a circle?

Ask the children to count the different shapes

How many triangles can you see?
Can you count the squares?
How many circles are there?

Are there more triangles than circles?
Are there less circles than squares?

Which shape appears most?
Which shape appears least?

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Recipes to try with your class

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Cooking with your class is a great way to give them a practical understanding of where food comes from, different cultural heritages and following instructions. Hopefully the results will taste so nice they will want to do more! Ask parents to suggest recipes from home or if someone is willing ask a parent to come in and demonstrate. Link the cooking into a theme or story that you are working with already. The cooking you chose to do could highlight work on other cultures, religious education, where food comes from and healthy eating.

Baking Bread

Bread is a common staple food in nearly all cultures and it is easy to make different types and shapes of simple breads with children. It is often a crucial part of religious ceremonies like Passover or Communion or Ramadan. You could make special bread with your class that is linked to a fictional or religious story.

There are many recipes available on the internet and supermarkets stock quick and easy bread mixes which just require the addition of water. There are wheat and gluten free flours available as well as things like Ciabatta and Brioche mixes that you might want to try with your class.

About the most simple is unleavened bread as children can do much of the process with the exception of final cooking.

Unleavened Bread

Add a pinch of salt to a cup of plain white flour. Mix and add warm water gradually to make smooth dough (too sticky? Add a little more flour, not smooth enough add a little more water). Leave the dough to rest for about half an hour (just about enough time for a story or two). Roll out the dough using a rolling pin or flatten it with hands on a clean surface, lightly sprinkle the surface with flour to stop the dough sticking. Make into a roughly circular shape about the size of a tea plate. Cook under a hot grill until it begins to have blisters, flip and do the other side or cook in a conventional oven for about 20 minutes on gas mark 5.

Other recipes you could try with your class

Basic Biscuit Recipe

175g/6oz Plain Flour
100g/4oz Butter or Margarine
50g/2oz Caster Sugar

Pre-heat oven to 150°C/300°F Gas 2
Cream the butter or margarine and caster sugar together until they are light and fluffy. Stir in the flour and once mixed knead the dough together until it forms a ball, add a sprinkle of flour if the dough is at all sticky.
Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface until it is about 5mm thick.
Cut out the dough using your chosen cutter.
Place the biscuits on a floured baking tray and bake in the centre of the oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Let the biscuits cool on a wire tray.

Basic Pancake Batter

4oz (100g) Plain Flour
Pinch of salt
1 Large egg
½ pint (10 fl oz)(275 ml) milk

Sift the flour and the salt into a large bowl. Make a hollow in the centre of the flour and drop in the slightly beaten egg and half the milk. Start mixing the flour into the liquid preferably using a whisk; you can use a spoon or a fork. Make sure to incorporate all the flour, once this is done, pour in the rest of the milk and whisk until the mixture has the consistency of thin cream.

Using a heavy- based shallow frying pan, heat a little lard, just enough to grease the pan so that the pancake batter doesn’t stick. The pan should be quite hot before you pour the batter in. Pour in enough batter to make a thin film over the base of the pin, tilting the pan in all directions will help to get an even thickness. The underside of the pancake should be golden brown in less than a minute; you can adjust the heat to get this just right. Flip the pancake over using a spatula or if you’re brave toss the pancake in the air by flicking your wrist as you move the pan away. Cook the other side of the pancake until golden brown.

Pancakes can be served in many different ways, the simplest way is to turn the pancake out onto a plate with kitchen roll on that has been sprinkled with sugar. Sprinkle more sugar and squeeze some lemon juice on the top of the pancake and either roll or fold. You can also add a spoonful of jam before folding.

Chocolate Nests

Block of cooking chocolate (Milk or Plain)
Shredded Wheat
Sugar Coated mini eggs
Small cake paper cases.

Break the chocolate into small pieces and place in a bowl. The chocolate now needs to melt so you can either put the bowl in a low oven, or rest the bowl over another bowl of hot water, and leave until all the chocolate has melted.
Once melted give the chocolate a good stir and start to add some of the crumbled Shredded Wheat, add enough to give a twiggy effect to the chocolate.

Spoon enough of the mixture into one of the paper cases to make a nest shape, leaving a hollow in the middle, big enough to place about 4 mini eggs in. You can either put the eggs in straight away and they will stick to the hardening chocolate or wait until the nest has set. Remove the nest from the paper case when the nest is finished

Check out the site dedicated to the BBC programme Big Cook Little Cook for some great ideas to try in the classroom.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/bigcooklittlecook/

Here is a video with captions (but no sound) of a Year 9 class baking different bread shapes that you might like to try with your class.

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Playing with food

Quick Links For Teachers

In The Little Red Hen we talk about the process of growing wheat, turning it into flour and baking bread. We encourage the children to get their hands on the grain, the flour and dough. It would be possible to do this with other food stuffs too as a way of exploring textures and consistencies. They can model in dough, draw in flour, finger paint in ketchup -simply explore the qualities of the substances or do more structured activity as they get older like weighing or measuring liquids. This helps child development in terms of vocabulary around different actions like squash or squeeze, fine motor skills and encouragement of mark making, and can stimulate conversations about how where our food comes from.

Good food to play with might include

Rice, pasta, spaghetti, flour, icing sugar, oats, salt, coffee, tea leaves, custard sauces, lentils, pulses

The addition of some simple basic tools can further enhance the exploration a basic tool kit might include:

Rolling pin, baking tray (for showing finished items), Plastic knives and forks for creating patterns, Plastic scissors, Garlic press, straws (for joining sections together) potato masher, spatulas, pastry cutters ( I have a wooden wheel that makes great zig- zag patterns)

Take care with regard to allergies, some flours have nut products in them, but it is possible to find wheat and gluten free products and care should be taken around hot and sharp objects

Modelling dough

Play dough can be bought or made at home relatively cheaply and the children can help to make the dough. Once made the only limitation on what can be done with the dough is the imagination. You can air dry your finished model or bake in a hot oven until hard and when cooled paint and varnish it.

Un-used dough should keep for some time in an air tight container in the fridge.

Why not try making farm animals or plates full of favourite foods. Join different shapes together with short lengths of straw or string if you put holes in the dough before it dries, to make models that move.

You could even make a set of salt dough dominoes and use them in a variety of maths based activities.

Recipes

Here are some dough recipes which can be made with children of all ages.

Basic salt dough recipe
2 parts flour
1 part salt
Water

Mix the flour and salt add water gradually until desired dough consistency is reached (too sticky? Add a little more flour, not smooth enough add a little more water) you can add food colouring, scent, glitter etc to the dough (don’t forget to check for allergies first).

Or you could try to following variants on the theme
Salt Dough Recipe
16 Tablespoons of Plain White Flour
8 Tablespoons of Salt
16 Tablespoons of cold water

Method
Mix the flour and the salt together and then stir in the water. Knead the dough together adding small drops of extra water if necessary to make a smooth but not sticky dough.
Once the dough has come together turn it out onto a flat surface and continue to knead it for about 10 minutes by which time the dough should be warm, soft and pliable.

Playdough Recipe 1
3 Cups of Plain Flour
3 Cups of Water with added colouring of your choice
1½ Cups of Salt
3 Tablespoons of cooking oil
6 Teaspoons of Cream of Tartar

Method
Put all ingredients into a saucepan, and stir while cooking over a medium heat until the desired consistency is obtained.
(Keeps well in an air tight container – not fridge)

Playdough Recipe 2
2 Cups of Plain Flour
½ Cup of Salt
1 Cup of water (with added colouring of your choice)
1 Tablespoon of cooking oil
1 Tablespoon of Hand Lotion

Method
Mix flour and salt together add hand lotion, oil and water. Mix well and knead until dough is smooth.
(This is pliable pleasant-smelling dough which keeps well)

Oatmeal Play Dough
• One cup flour
• One cup water
• Two cups oatmeal or porridge oats

Method
Mix all ingredients together in a big mixing bowl until they form a dough. Knead the dough and play with it. To play with it warm, heat it gently in the microwave. Ensure it is cooled enough before giving to children.

Read more at Suite101: Edible Play Dough Recipes: How to Make Easy Moulding Dough that Children can Eat Safely http://day-care-activities.suite101.com/article.cfm/edible-play-dough-recipies#ixzz0lvosq3Ue

Drawing in flour

Sprinkle a layer of flour into a shallow seed tray or similar and spread it evenly. Use this to draw pictures, shapes, mathematical symbols or sums with your fingers. Then simply rub them out and start again

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Growing things

Quick Links For Teachers

Here are some ideas for growing things with your class

Pips and seeds

A fruit is essentially an edible seed packet! Normally we eat the flesh and throw away the seed, yet saving the seed and nurturing it into life is the perfect opportunity for children to see at first hand the life cycle of plants from fruit to plant. Even if our climate is not suitable for exotic plants outside they should grow well on a warm classroom window ledge.

Good seeds and pips to try include apple, avocado, date, lemon, mango, orange, papaya, passion fruit. How about getting the children to save the seeds from their fruit at snack time? Before planting the children could compare the types of seed. Ask them to look at the size, texture, and shape. You could talk about the different ways that seeds are dispersed (such as wind dispersing dandelions and sycamore, falling and rolling dispersing acorns and conkers etc).

Here is an animated activity that looks at seed dispersal and features a bird that Poos http://www2.bgfl.org/bgfl2/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/science/plants_pt2/dispersal.htm

How to grow oranges and lemons.

1. Soak the pips in water overnight. Plant them in small pot of compost to a depth of 4cm.
2. Water the compost. For the seeds to germinate they will need frequent watering and a temperature of 25-32 degrees centigrade.
3. It will take several years of careful nurturing to grow an orange or lemon tree, but it is possible. Good luck!

This is the same principle with sunflowers, beans and peas

You don’t even need soil:
1. roll some paper or card into a tube shape and put it in a glass jar
2. poke a seed, that has soaked overnight, between the paper and the side of the jar so that it rests about half way down (broad beans are a good size for this)
3. carefully add a little water and place on a sunny window sill
4. check and top up with water regularly
5. after a few days roots should start to grow

Grow an animal cress head.

You will need;
A small empty yoghurt pot or similar (a carefully scraped out egg shell from a boiled egg can be used or a hollowed out potato)
Cotton wool
Cress seeds
Water

Decorate the container with a face of a cat, rat, pig, hen or any other farmyard animal you choose by sticking on simple cut out shapes, a lot can be done with squares, triangles and circles. Put enough cotton wool inside to fill the pot and sprinkle with cress seeds. Water well and place in a warm light spot don’t forget to moisten with water every few days. The seeds should begin to grow within a couple of days. When the hair or fur is long enough give the head a trim and enjoy the cress on a tasty sandwich. [+real potato photos]

Links and resources

Quick Links For Teachers

Stories

Here are some other easily available similar stories that can be used as a stimulus for some fun numeracy work and discussion around the themes of the programme.

Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell Walker Books ISBN 978-0744536607
The Enormous Turnip by Ian Beck OUP Oxford ISBN 978-0192791504
Billy’s Sunflower by Nicola Moon and Karin Littlewood Scholastic Little Hippo ISBN 978-0590195782
Chicken Licken by M Ross Ladybird ISBN 978-0721497358
The Hen and the Fox by M Ross Ladybird ISBN 978-0721497419
The Ginger Bread Man Ladybird ISBN 978-1846469800
Handa’s Surprise by Eileen Browne Walker books ISBN 978-0744536348

Farming

A Series of short documentary films about food and farming that might be of use and or interest http://www.foodafactoflife.org/VideoActivity.aspx?siteId=15&sectionId=66&contentId=163&titleId=166

Short film showing harvesting, industrial milling of flour and baking http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/VideoActivity.aspx?siteId=14&sectionId=63&contentId=163&titleId=169

Animations of different methods of seed dispersal that has a blackbird that poos!!! http://www2.bgfl.org/bgfl2/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/science/plants_pt2/dispersal.htm

Games and activities

Great online games and recipes that older children could use to practice maths concepts and revise bread making processes
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/bigcooklittlecook/

Here is a video with captions but no sound of a Yr 9 class baking different bread shapes that you might like to try with your class
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPRnjuc-rtw
For a variety of recipes for modelling dough
http://day-care-activities.suite101.com/article.cfm/edible-play-dough-recipies#ixzz0lvosq3Ue

A making bread, sequencing activity for using downloadable printable cards
http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/thumbs646-650/sb646prev.html

Simple pictorial instructions for growing a bean in a plant pot http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/thumbs751-755/sb752prev.html

Useful hints and tips for growing really big sun flowers, for adults to use with children with a slightly competitive edge
http://www.sunflowerchallenge.org.uk/code/sunflower_growing.asp

Detailed information for adults to use with children who would like to invest more time and effort in growing passion fruit or mango
http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/exotic_fruits/passion_fruit/

This is a shape matching game that you could use to talk about shape names and colours
http://www.thekidzpage.com/freekidsgames/games/concentration/shapesmatching.html

This is fun game to play once you have got past the advertisement. Match the eggs of the same colour, bring them next to one another and watch them hatch
http://www.donutgames.com/play/chicken_and_egg

Here is another silly game. A chicken lays eggs and moves along the perch you have to move the box underneath and catch the falling eggs simple!
http://gamescene.com/Chicken_And_Eggs_game.html

This is a game about identifying what makes a particular sound; it has lots of common animals and also some more unusual ones (like a puffin) also includes other sounds like rain
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/games/theme/seasonal/3#/lb/greenballoonclub/whatsthatnoise

This game allows you to explore different areas of a farm; collect eggs, feed hens etc. this may be useful to talk about what a farm is like and what happens there.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/games/theme/life/all#/lb/comeoutside/downonthefarm

Other resources

We love this really interactive site. There is little text or instruction. Just move and click your mouse to explore and discover amazing things
www.poissonrouge.com

A wealth of downloadable teaching resources for all sorts of curriculum areas and key stages
http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/

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Get involved!

Most of the work of The Play House is delivered to groups from schools, nurseries and other youth settings. However, there are lots of other ways for children to get involved…

Clive Chandler acted as consultant for Little Red Hen. He has been working in schools and other settings for over 20 years. For more information on Clive, his work and his puppets have a look at his website.
http://www.tiptoppuppets.co.uk/

If you live in Balsall Heath, Balsall Heath Extended Services offers lots of out-of-school opportunities. The Play House works closely with them, and Little Red Hen was part of one of their summer schools. You can find out more about them here: http://www.stpaulstrust.org.uk/childrens-services-0-11/balsall-heath-extended-schools-provision/

If you’re not in Balsall Heath, you can find out about your own extended provision in Birmingham here: http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/extended

Birmingham City Council’s website for signposting services for children and young people I need to know is a little hard to navigate, but is currently being updated to include more arts activities. http://www.ineed2know.org.uk

The Play House has a close relationship with Birmingham Rep, having delivered co-productions and presented work there. The building is closing down for a while for the new Library of Birmingham development, but keep an eye on their website to see what they’ll be doing in the meantime. http://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/

mac has recently reopened, and in the past has presented a good range of work for children and young people. http://www.macarts.co.uk/

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Some questions for the children

Quick Links For Teachers

Here are some questions to explore the end of the Little Red Hen with the children.

What would you have done if you had been Little Red Hen?
How do you think the Little Red Hen felt doing all of the work by herself?
How do you think the Little Red Hen felt when all the animals wanted to eat the bread she had made?
Why do you think the hen said the other animals could only eat the bread if they promised to help her next time?
How do you think the animals would have felt if the Little Red Hen told them they could not help to eat the bread?
What lesson did the animals learn? Do you think they will be more willing to help out next time? Why or why not?
How would the story be different if all the animals had agreed to help the Little Red Hen?

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In this section:

Online maths games

Finger puppets

Shadow puppets

Simple shape puppets

Letter puppets

Songs

Dingle Dangle Scarecrow

Oats and Beans and Barley Grow

A rhyme

Hickety Pickety

Baking Bread

Unleavened Bread

Basic Pancake Batter

Chocolate Nests

Modelling dough

Recipes

Drawing in flour

Pips and seeds

How to grow oranges and lemons.

Grow an animal cress head.

Other links

Stories

Links

Farming

Games and activities

Other resources

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