TEY_10_1_2020

SHAPES Many of the pictures in Ten Little Aliens are constructed from geometric and other simple shapes. Look out for different shapes in the illustrations, including triangles, circles, rectangles, stars and clouds, and provide similar cutout shapes in various sizes and colours. Let the children play with, name and count the shapes, and use them to create pictures and patterns. The shapes can either be used for transient art (take photos as a record) or stuck down to make a permanent picture. Challenge older children to create a robot, like the one in the story. HOT AND COLD Look at the snowy, icy scene and the fiery, volcanic scene in the story, and talk with the children about being hot and cold. Gather a selection of hot and cold items such as hot water bottles, heated wheat bags, glass bottles filled with hot and cold water, bags of ice cubes and frozen ice packs. Let the children feel the temperature of the items and sort into ‘hot’ and ‘cold’. Search the setting for hot and cold areas, such as radiators and the fridge, and make a map marking ‘cold’ in blue and ‘hot’ in red. EXPLORING NUMBER Count the aliens in Ten Little Aliens and look at the numbers on each page. As the children get to know the story, encourage them to join in with the repeated refrains. Create a space and alien- themed number exploration activity in your tuff tray. Offer moon dough made from two parts cornflour to one part hypoallergenic hair conditioner, rocks and crystals, toy space rockets, alien models, counters and numbers. Let the children explore the resources and encourage counting, counting totals and matching quantities and numbers. FAVOURITE THINGS TO DO Amazing tells the story of a little boy and his pet dragon, Zibbo, and the many activities they enjoy doing together. Ask the children to help you compile a list of the activities that feature in the story, including snacking, dancing, snoozing and playing basketball. Encourage each child to choose a favourite activity and take photos of them engaged in their activities. Converse with the children individually about their photos and scribe some of their words to make captions for the photos. Turn the words and pictures into a frieze for the setting wall. MY DRAGON Invite the children to create their own mixed-media imaginary dragons, just like Zibbo in the story. Start off by talking about the features and characteristics that most dragons share (wings, pointy tail, scales, fiery breath), and look at examples of dragons from art and other picture books. Give each child a dragon shape cut from sturdy card. Paint the dragons with pearlescent and metallic paint, leave to dry and stick on sequins, buttons, silver foil and fabric scraps. Encourage the children to name and tell stories about their dragons. PARTY TIME! Of all the activities that the little boy and Zibbo enjoy together, their favourite is going to parties – even though disaster sometimes strikes when the dragon blows out the candles! Set up a role play ‘party’ area with fancy dress clothes and party props such as gift bags, balloons and banners. Include resources for making invitations and cards, and involve the children in creating healthy party snacks. If your children have made their own dragons, check that any collage pieces are firmly stuck on and suggest that they invite their dragons to the party. Then break out the balloons, explore shapes and numbers, and learn why plastic bags don’t belong in the sea, suggests Hilary White … Amazing Ten Little Aliens Steve Anthony, Hodder Children’s Books ISBN: 978-1444944716 Mike Brownlow, Orchard Books ISBN: 978-1-40834-632-7 BOOK ACTIVITIES Plan a party for dragons! 16 Teachearlyyears.com