table top displays

[wendy bob]

hi everyone this is my first time on here was wondering if anyone has any ideas for a table top display any ideas would be great and its for 4 and 5 year olds

[Heidi]

This is something that has endless possibilities.
How about asking the children what they would like to do? or tie it in with the current season, what they can find and collect outside? what is happening outside - growth, animals now out of hibernation, birds making nests, flowers, vegetables etc.

If you want to use resources you have in class, how about a junk model making display - with or without a theme. Whatever subject you choose, dress it up to make it look attractive with 3d labelling, use a couple of small boxes under a large cover to lift one or two things on display - make it so evreyone wants to keep looking at the fantastic work that has been produced.

If you are covering a topic, perhaps the children can contribute something from home with input from the class with paintings, models, drawings or poems etc

Ask the children for their ideas and they will come up with lots of imaginative ideas and then you can work from there.

[wendy bob]

thanks for all the great ideas

[Ruthierhyme]

Hi wendy bob welcome to silkysteps

I agree with heidi, having table top displays as an ongoing part of a setting is a great way to focus on issues, campaigns, themes, topics ..

Would you enjoy getting together resources & play ideas for a Tea party table top display?

Keep resources equally interesting for girls and boys using a mix of colours and designs for tea pots, cups, mugs, warm water, tea bags, milk and sugar if you're feeling adventurous ..

Have a 'hot water burns' message over riding the activities - this helps children to be aware of their bodies and at the same time find out that play tea sets are good fun but that kettles/pans/teapots that hold boiling water can hurt, burn and be a danger - this will in turn help you to promote children's rights by giving them information that they can use to inform and protect themselves.

Teapot image for children to mark make with, collage, use as a sign or as a menu - let children colour code a drink they enjoy - orange for orange, water for transparency, pink for strawberry, purple for blackcurrant, white for milk, brown for chocolate, tea .. beer maybe if some have older siblings ...

Resources could include: Table cloth, cake display plate, napkins, silicone cup cake moulds, playdough, rolling pin, cutters and 100 & 1000's to make play biscuits - check allergy & diet information.

I'm a little tea pot lyrics and actions
Mrs Spiders tea Party story book from Amazon
Clara's counting Tea party from amazon

Background information:
Origin of tea, countries and tradition - Tea and UK from wikipedia and for cultural inclusion - Tea culture

Questions that could be asked:
Who drinks tea - at home, in the setting & who drinks other types of drink
Where does tea come from
How does it get to the UK
What colour is tea
How to make leaves crumble .. - always good for Autumn

Boston tea party - narrative read from Socialstudiesforkids.com
China tea ceremony

Focus for learning could be pouring, rolling, serving, communication - language & literacy, counting.

Alternatively Rhubarb is in season this month - maybe red and green, custard, crumble and umbrella leaves?
www.eatseasonably.co.uk or fish .. always a nice display or tadpoles & lifecycles ..

Hope this helps

Enjoy Silkysteps xx