Book review for preschool, early years and nursery. Outdoor & indoor planning ideas for free flow play activities.
We're going on a bear search or hunt.....
Over under bear printables
The Book !!
We're going on a bear search Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury
Lesson planning ideas for FS Reception & KS1
Weekly plan using the Book
Source: Literacy Matters
Teachers TV - excellent video showing how to take gross motor play outside ...
learning through Play
Love the chocolate activity featured in this video - swap it for cooked porridge & oats to fit the theme
lol !!
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Creative Learning
Take a day or more as necessary to build each part of the story.
As each section is completed pin it up as a wall display that the children can reach & interactive with.
Descriptives :-
Long wavy grass
A deep cold river
Thick oozy mud
A big dark forest
A swirling whirling snowstorm
A narrow gloomy cave
Long wavy grass
Green paper - shreds of light & dark green / yellow tissue paper
Music - pan pipes
Cookery - chives & grated cheese sandwiches
Wash the wavy grass/chives well & let the children snip them into tiny pieces.Use brown & white bread or tortilla wraps, add mayonnaise & tomato slices.
Role play -
Hula hula skirt dancing & dress up.
The River
Blue paper - Blue paint and silver glitter
mix a little PVA glue into the paint to stop the glitter separating. Paint onto clear shiny plastic & cellophane for the water ripple/reflections.
Music - record the children splashing in a bowl of water.
Cookery - Water based Drinks making. Crushed ice & fruit juice.
If you have access to a liquidiser
National Smoothie week ideas 
Role play - lay out a large Blue sheet as the river, add pebbles -plastic fish - boats - large strips of irredescent foil (flap and move to watch the reflections)
The Swamp
Brown Photoframe with the glass removed - brown playdough. Roll out and lay on the photoframes backing card. Cover with 2 or 3 layers of clear plastic food wrap. Use fingers to squish and move the dough around 'like a muddy swamp !!
Music - 
silly putty in a pot !!
Cookery - umm ..
googled & our own non-edible recipe -
silly putty
Role Play - Mud & water tray .. bears & hippos ??
The Forest
Green tree tops & Brown Tree Trunks
Use real leaves to collage the tree tops
Take paper rubbings from real tree bark for the tree trunks.
Music ~ rustling of leaves - Sandpaper blocks
Cookery ~ Crunchy Biscuit Cheesecake !
- Crush plain biscuits in a bag with a rolling pin !
- put in a bowl & add melted butter - mix.
- Press into small cupcake papers.
- Use a pre bought cheesecake mix & follow the instructions.
- Spoon the topping mix onto the biscuit base.
- Sprinkle on a few chocolate drops.
Role play - Branches, small world forest animals and larger role play dress up resources ..
Bear paws ..
Snowstorm
White paper, coathanger & hook
Make cut out snowflakes from folded white paper.
Tie them to a coat hanger and hang from a hook on your display area.
Alternatively, shred strips of paper and glue sprinkles, snowflakes on and hang as a curtain.
Music - small windchimes
Cookery - Fairy cake decorations that can be 'Sprinkled onto wet icing.
Role Play ~ Glitter & snow globes shop
The Cave
A bear puppet/picture - A open out type card.
Glue the bear inside the card.
Create the cave on the outside with mosiac grey & brown materials.
Music - echos - booms of a drum or tamborine if creeping up on & running away from the bear !!
Cookery - Bear cave Bricks & Dips
Dip holders - use a sharp knife to separate plastic ice cube trays into segments.
Fill with sweet or savoury dips.
Jam, lemon curd, syrup
, chocolate spread.
Cream cheese, Creamed potato & chive salad, Coleslaw,
Other
dip recipes
Use sweet & savoury square biscuits, popcorn and crackers to dip.
If you've time before hand .. serve on a plate that has a cave & bear picture on !
Role play - Table Cave, cover a table with a large sheet .. if possible have play tunnels in & out of the 'cave'.
Warn about keeping heads down to avoid them being bumped !
Can use a pop up tent instead of a table.
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a little tongue in cheek sorry ...
The aim of this activity isn't to truly terrify the children when they find the bear .. enjoy the build up of anticipation whilst trekking around & highlight the surprise when they do find him .. granted he's big & darn grizzly .. so you don't want to be hanging around for too long .... :wink:
but don't use the game as an exercise in fear !!!
Have fun ..... xx