Family Natters

In this video that may be useful when teaching QCA hisory unit 9,  Alice remembers the Second World War.    Alice, who lived in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, talks about evacuees, rationing, blackouts, bombings, what people ate in the war, and land girls.

What are your personal memories of war?

Annie had a cerebral haemorrhage due to the rupture of a cavernous hemangioma when she was 5 weeks old.  She nearly died and was in hospital for 10 days.  The doctors did not know for a long time what the problem was.   At 9 o’ clock in the morning she gave her first smile to […]

If you need ideas for a St Valentine’s Day lesson plan suitable for KS1 and KS2, why not consider telling the children the following history/ story of  St Valentine then ask them to rewrite it as if they were there:

ask the children what they understand by valentines day or St  Valentine
explain they need to listen carefully […]

The photo shows an idea for a Valentines card Foundation and KS1 children can make.  The cutting and sticking part exercise fine motor skills.  The heart is made out of shiney foil decorated with sequins.  Older children can produce the greetings using a computer and add extra sentences along the lines of “You are my […]

Children in the foundation stage can get increase their knowledge and understanding of plants and growth by making these cress heads.  Old tights can be used to contain the growth medium and seeds, and the head can be placed in to an empty washed out youghurt carton which can hold the water.  Children can learn […]

KS1 children  (5 to 7 year-olds) can enjoy making this Santa  Christmas tree decoration using different coloured wools and a large blunt needle.  Its a great way for developing fine motor skills, both boys and girls enjoy it and it takes a while to do.  Parents also love having a lasting memento of their children’s efforts […]

FS1 and FS2 children  can enjoy this creative activity that also helps to develop fine motor skills.  The face is simply a paper plate while the beard and hat fur is cotton wool.  If children have been learning about shapes, they can cut out triangles for the hat and nose, and make the nose, hat […]

The Christmas Alphabet is a wonderful Christmas song for Foundation Stage and KS1 Children.  Children can be assigned letters to paint with which to decorate the classroom, and the song can be sung at the Christmas show.
The lyrics are:
C is for the candy trimmed around the Christmas tree
H is for the happiness for all the family
R […]

The nursery rhyme, When Santa got stuck up the Chimney, has long been a favourite with Foundation and KS1 children:
When Santa got stuck up the chimney
he began to shout
“You girls and boys won’t get any toys
if you don’t let me out!
My beard is black,
there’s soot in my sack,
my nose is tickly too.”
When Santa got stuck […]

This Christingle lesson plan is suitable for both KS1 and KS2 children and provides a natural link to RE and our local community.  It includes how to make a Christingle and the Christingle story.
Aim: to know the meaning of Christingle

 Tell the story of Christingle, that in 1747 the German Pastor John was one evening trying to think […]