Autumn Exploratory Jelly…

Alistair Bryce-CleggCreativity, Malleable Materials, Messy Play, Texture Kitchen16 Comments

It is time to get your Autumn Jelly ingredients ready! If you make some Autumn Jelly, don’t forget to share the results. This is a really simple activity that gives you lots of opportunities to explore many aspects of the EYFS. If you involve the children from the very beginning then not only will they be able to talk about and name the resources that they have collected, they will also be able to explore how the gelatine changes the water from a liquid to a solid. You can talk about how the mixture goes from hot to cold and what the final jelly feels like in their hands. There should be lots of opportunities for a variety of experiences, talking … Read More

Autumn Make – Apple Shrunken Heads!

Alistair Bryce-CleggChild Initiated Learning, Creativity, Talk5 Comments

I first made these a couple of years ago and they were a HUGE hit with the children. There is lots of opportunity for talk as well as observing how the apples change in size and colour. As I say later in the instructions, the process takes about 2 weeks from start to finish so it is worth getting going on them early. The process of the initial making and then the ensuing decay is fascinating. Not to mention the end results. I love them! They are dead easy to make (excuse the pun)! You need Apples (any sort will do) Apple peeler Play dough utenstils Blunt wooden skewers or sticks Lemon juice (optional) Water (optional) My boys loved making … Read More

When Children Suffer Loss – Ideas and Resources

Alistair Bryce-CleggABC Does A Blog, Bereavement18 Comments

I first posted this blog in response to some of the work that I had done supporting the intergenerational project –  Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds. It seemed poignant then because one of the children taking part had recently lost her mum. It struck me then that even though death is one of the only inevitable things in life, it is rarely discussed as part of our Early Years curriculum. Now, in the midst of Covid19, it is even more likely that the children that we work with will experience bereavement of a close family member or someone connected to their family. It is really important that we ensure that we are prepared if that eventuality should happen … Read More

Big bang! Small hands… Big ideas! Creative woodwork in early childhood.

Alistair Bryce-CleggUncategorized1 Comment

Big bang! Small hands… Big ideas!Creative woodwork in early childhood This week I have the great pleasure of welcoming Pete Moorhouse back to my blog for a guest post. Pete is an early years creative consultant and artist educator. Pete is the UK’s leading authority on woodwork in Early Years education and has written several books and journal articles, including ‘Learning Through Woodwork’ (Routledge). He is currently working his latest book – ‘Creativity in Practice: Nurturing creative and critical thinking in early childhood education’. Pete won the national award (2019) from the Creative Learning Guild for his work promoting creativity in education.  These are exciting times. In recent years there has been a surge of interest in woodworking in early … Read More