ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES
Shakespeare for children The BBC have an excellent suite of resources to introduce children to Shakespeare. We recommend: |
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Family Fitness Fridays The Youth Sport Trust have produced some excellent fitness videos as an after school sport club: |
Turning on subtitles while children are watching TV can greatly improve their reading skills. A quick, simple, free way to make TV time, reading time. #turnonthesubtitles You may have already come across the turn on the subtitles campaign but what better week to turn them on and let children watch a film or two over the weekend. Children are no doubt feeling a little drained after their first full week back at school, and watching a film with the subtitles on lets them relax whilst also exercising their reading skills! Gangsta Granny Wallace and Gromit How to Train Your Dragon Billionaire Boy |
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Who doesn’t love Roald Dahl? As we can’t get out to real museums this half term, roalddahl.com offer a great way for us to experience the Roald Dahl museum from home. You can view his story writing hut, view his story ideas book and try some creative activities too: |
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Enjoy James and the Giant Peach being read aloud by lots of famous faces! There are 10 episodes and creative activities to go with each episode. Click the link and scroll down |
You'll find lots of great activities under 'Things to do indoors'. Don't forget to scroll down! |
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This week we suggest your family has a go at introducing or improving the practice of mindfulness by trying one or more of the suggestions below. |
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This is an excellent article for parents from The New York Times on mindfulness for children |
Take mindfulness a bit further with these meditation, appreciation and breathing exercises from www.mindful.org
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Click here to watch a trailer from the Royal Institution on Experimental: |
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The experiments to try at home come with supporting videos and include making rubber band canyons, giant bubbles, homemade lava lamps, and singing wine glasses.
You can find the full selection of experiments here. |
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Family Fitness Fridays The Youth Sport Trust have produced some excellent fitness videos as an after school sport club: |
Although we can’t learn about animals through visits to zoos, farms and aquariums right now, we are very thankful that many are offering online experiences for children. This week you can experience learning from Paignton Zoo and the National Marine Aquarium:
Paignton Zoo’s first 'School from the Zoo' lesson will be on Habitats, aimed at KS2 pupils. This lesson will go LIVE via Microsoft Teams on Friday 15th January at 11am - on the day you will need to click here to view the lesson. They will also be sharing the full habitats video lesson (aimed at KS2 curriculum) on their Facebook and Youtube channels later on Friday afternoon. This is so you can re-watch and pause the video or for anyone to watch the lesson at a time that suits them! The lesson is around 15 minutes long with short tasks included, and a takeaway task at the end. |
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The National Marine Aquarium are launching their completely free, new live lesson series on Youtube starting on Friday the 15th of January from 1-1.20pm.
There is a session for Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 called ‘Mermaid Tales’ (1.30-1.45pm) and a session on Underwater Volcanoes for Years 2, 3, 4,5 and 6 (1-1.20pm). Every Friday during the lockdown, you will be able to tune in to two special shows on their Youtube Channel:
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When families have been indoors a lot through the week, often juggling work and managing the home with children’s learning, it is more beneficial than ever to get out of the house, away from screens, to enjoy the natural world. It is good for both mind and body. This week, why not try learning a little about birds... The RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) have produced a simple guide to common birds in the United Kingdom, with lots of links for further activities and exploration. |
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The BBC have put together 5 ways to make Bird Watching a fun family activity. |
Enjoy some beautiful, free bedtime stories from the RSPB. These are read by some very familiar voices (including Zoe Ball, Bill Oddie and Emilia Fox) and all set in the natural world. |
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The Eko PE team have also put together some fun family fitness challenges for you to try at home each week. These can be found in your child’s google classroom.
Perhaps you have your own family film night tradition, but as the term progresses and children are tiring, it might be a good time for a late afternoon / early evening family film treat. Why not all curl up together on the sofa with pyjamas, a hot drink, blanket and maybe a biscuit or two!Here are a few that you can watch that are free: The Snowman : free from Channel 4 with an All4 account. (Running time 27 minutes) The Bear : free from Channel 4 with an All4 account. (Running time 26 minutes) Father Christmas : (Running time 26 minutes) Stick Man : free from BBC iplayer with a registered account. (Running time 26 minutes) The Gruffalo's Child : free from BBC iplayer with a registered account. (Running time 26 minutes) Nativity : free from BBC iplayer with a registered account. (Running time 98 minutes) If you have a subscription to a streaming service, we also recommend The Polar Express, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Elf or How the Grinch Stole Christmas. |
The Eko PE team have also put together some fun family fitness challenges for you to try at home each week. These can be found in your child’s google classroom.
This week, how about preparing and cooking some food together as a family?
We’ve put together some child friendly recipes below. They are all fairly straightforward but they are also star rated, with one star being the easiest and four stars needing a little more preparation. ⭐ Rice Pudding with Mashed Fruit: https://childrens-binary.files.bbci.co.uk/childrens-binarystore/cbeebies/furchester_pudding_recipe_final.pdf ⭐⭐ Scones: https://childrens-binary.files.bbci.co.uk/childrens-binarystore/cbeebies/presenters-scones-2.pdf ⭐⭐⭐ Easy Blackberry and Apple Pie Recipe: https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/makes/blackberry-and-apple-pie-recipe?collection=easy-cooking-with-kids-recipes ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Italian Olive Pizza: https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/watch/my-world-kitchen-italian-olive-pizza-recipe?collection=easy-cooking-with-kids-recipes |
The Eko PE team have also put together some fun family fitness challenges for you to try at home each week. These can be found in your child’s google classroom.
Audio stories are a fantastic way to relax and escape; wonderful to just sit or lie down and listen to, or to have playing in the background whilst playing, drawing, travelling or tidying bedrooms! Storynory has a selection of free audio stories that can be listened to online or downloaded. You can browse the full selection here, or try out some of those we have selected below: Small Stories: https://www.storynory.com/category/fairy-tales/small-stories/ Greek Myths: https://www.storynory.com/category/myths/greek-myths/ |
This week we have included ideas for home activities from the Natural History Museum. Autumn is a beautiful time to be outside; choose a project by clicking the links below and try one at home or in your local park?Tip: Bird seed can be bought in most pound shops. How to make a bug hotel: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/how-to-make-insect-hotel-ladybird-lodge.html How to press flowers: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/how-to-press-flowers.html How to make a bird feeder: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/how-to-make-a-bird-feeder.html How to make and use a nature journal: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/how-to-make-and-use-a-nature-journal-to-record-your-wildlife-obs.html |
The Eko PE team have also put together some fun family fitness challenges for you to try at home each week. These can be found in your child’s google classroom.
You may wish to observe the two minute silence at 11am this Sunday with your children. Here are some suggestions to support conversations about Remembrance Sunday.It may be nice to also walk to visit memorials in your local area. Early Years and Key Stage : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doalcouBKwc Key Stage 2: BBC School Radio, Audio Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/school-radio/audio-stories-jam-jar-children/zfj9gwx |
WELCOME TO TATE KIDS!This week we are recommending a virtual visit to an art gallery: The Tate.They have an excellent area for children with some very accessible short videos to ‘Meet the Artists’, and an area full of ideas for things children can make at home in ‘Be Inspired and Create.’ These can be accessed via the links below. |
ANANSI THE SPIDER RE-SPUNANANSI RETURNS FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH.Age Guide 3-8Inspired by our 2019 five-star hit show, Anansi the Spider, about the infamous mischief-maker and master spinner of yarns, we've adapted these classic West African and Caribbean tales for Unicorn Online. This fun online performance, featuring music, song and humour is an exciting new adventure - we hope you enjoy it! Click here to view the performances via the Unicorn Theatre website. |
PHILIP PULLMAN'S GRIMM TALES ONLINENEW THEATRICAL READINGS OF SIX DELICIOUSLY GRUESOME TALES.Age Guide 6-12Based on the book by Phillip PullmanClick here to view the readings via the Unicorn Theatre website |
Listen to the world’s best poetry read out loud!
You can just listen to the readings or choose to read along with the poet and find out more about them.
Click on the link below to visit the Children’s Poetry Archive. Click on ‘Explore’ at the top and filter by age to find some poems that are just right for you or your child.
www.childrens.poetryarchive.org
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil are the largest contemporary circus producer in the world. Please make clear to your children that they should not attempt any of the stunts themselves.
Click on the link below to watch a 60 minute circus special with highlights of three of their big shows.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN8tkrHHXLw&feature=youtu.be
Click on the links below for a juggling lesson and fun dance experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2-U-kpbt1k&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9jS9A9g3k0&feature=youtu.be