Picture Activity Hands-On Activities Early Learning Goals Downloads
Activity One - All About Me

Activity 1

All About Me

  • Play & Explore
  • Developing Literacy Skills
  • Activity Sheets
  • All About Me Booklet
Activity Two - Dinosaurs

Activity 2

Dinosaurs

  • Imaginative Play
  • Dinosaur Hunt
  • Buried Dinosaurs
  • Footprints
  • Shadows
  • Fossils
  • Sorting Dinosaurs
  • Activity Sheets
  • Dinosaurs Colouring
  • Dinosaurs Images
Activity Three - Seasons

Activity 3

Seasons

  • Play Outside
  • Dress The Bear
  • Leaf Stencils
  • Leaf Printing
  • Seasonal Circle
  • Nature Collection
  • Developing Numeracy
Activity Four - Minibeasts

Activity 4

Minibeasts

  • Bug Hunt
  • Bug Hotel
  • Sorting Minibeasts
  • Ladybird Spots
  • Spider's Web
  • Butterfly Symmetry
  • Minibeast Phonics
  • The Hungry Caterpillar
  • Activity Sheets
  • Minibeast Vocabulary
  • Ladybird Template
  • Butterfly Template
Activity Five - At The Farm

Activity 5

At The Farm

  • Play & Explore
  • Old MacDonald
  • Barn
  • Developing Literacy Skills
  • Activity Sheets
  • Farm Colouring
  • Farm Vocabulary
Activity Six - At The Beach

Activity 6

At The Beach

  • Play & Explore
  • Shells
  • Sounds Of The Beach
  • Developing Literacy Skills
  • Activity Sheets
  • Beach Colouring
  • Beach Vocabulary
Activity Seven - Things That Go

Activity 7

Things That Go

  • Imaginative Play
  • Car Park
  • Roads & Tracks
  • Investigation
  • Shapes
  • Activity Sheets
  • Things That Go Colouring
  • Transport Vocabulary
Activity Eight - Superheroes

Activity 8

Superheroes

  • 999 (Emergency Services)
  • Role Play
  • Activity Sheets
  • Superheroes Vocabulary
Activity Nine - Celebrations

Activity 9

Celebrations

  • Birthdays
  • Chinese New Year - January / February
  • Pancake Day - February
  • Easter - March / April
  • Ramadan & Eid - March / April
  • Diwali - October / November
  • Hanukkah - November / December
  • Christmas - December
  • Activity Sheets
  • Celebrations Colouring

Understanding The World Activities

All About Me activity

Activity 1:
All About Me

View Activity

Hands-On Activities:

  • Play & Explore
  • Developing Literacy Skills

Activity Sheets:

  • All About Me Booklet

Early Years Goals:

Dinosaurs

Activity 2

Dinosaurs

Hands-On Activities:
  • Imaginative Play
  • Dinosaur Hunt
  • Buried Dinosaurs
  • Footprints
  • Shadows
  • Fossils
  • Sorting Dinosaurs
  • Activity Sheets
  • Dinosaurs Colouring
  • Dinosaurs Images
Seasons

Activity 3

Seasons

Hands-On Activities:
  • Play Outside
  • Dress The Bear
  • Leaf Stencils
  • Leaf Printing
  • Seasonal Circle
  • Nature Collection
  • Developing Numeracy
Minibeasts

Activity 4

Minibeasts

Hands-On Activities:
  • Bug Hunt
  • Bug Hotel
  • Sorting Minibeasts
  • Ladybird Spots
  • Spider's Web
  • Butterfly Symmetry
  • Minibeast Phonics
  • The Hungry Caterpillar
  • Activity Sheets
  • Minibeast Vocabulary
  • Ladybird Template
  • Butterfly Template
At The Farm

Activity 5

Reading Activities

Hands-On Activities:
  • Play & Explore
  • Old MacDonald
  • Barn
  • Developing Literacy Skills
  • Activity Sheets
  • Farm Colouring
  • Farm Vocabulary
At The Beach

Activity 6

At The Beach

Hands-On Activities:
  • Play & Explore
  • Shells
  • Sounds Of The Beach
  • Developing Literacy Skills
  • Activity Sheets
  • Beach Colouring
  • Beach Vocabulary
Things That Go

Activity 7

Things That Go

Hands-On Activities:
  • Imaginative Play
  • Car Park
  • Roads & Tracks
  • Investigation
  • Shapes
  • Activity Sheets
  • Things That Go Colouring
  • Transport Vocabulary
Superheroes

Activity 8

Superheroes

Hands-On Activities:
  • 999 (Emergency Services)
  • Role Play
  • Activity Sheets
  • Superheroes Vocabulary
Celebrations

Activity 9

Celebrations

Hands-On Activities:
  • Birthdays
  • Chinese New Year - January / February
  • Pancake Day - February
  • Easter - March / April
  • Ramadan & Eid - March / April
  • Diwali - October / November
  • Hanukkah - November / December
  • Christmas - December
  • Activity Sheets
  • Celebrations Colouring

Our Reception ages related blogs!

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Understanding The World Topic

How can these hands-on activities help my reception class about understanding the world?

Hands-on activities are instrumental in helping reception-aged children understand the world by fostering active engagement, exploration, and sensory experiences. These activities, such as outdoor play, creative projects, and role-playing, make abstract concepts tangible and relatable, encouraging curiosity and deeper comprehension. By physically interacting with materials and their environment, children develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and fine motor skills while building emotional resilience and confidence. Additionally, hands-on learning supports diverse learning styles, enhances memory retention, and promotes collaboration and communication through group tasks. This experiential approach not only aligns with early learning goals but also nurtures a lifelong love for discovery and learning.

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How can hands-on learning improve social skills in young children?

Understanding The World Activity

Hands-on learning significantly improves social skills in young children by fostering collaboration, communication, and empathy. Many hands-on activities, such as group projects, role-playing, or building tasks, naturally require children to work together, share materials, and solve problems collectively. This interaction helps them practice essential social skills like turn-taking, negotiation, and conflict resolution. For example, activities like constructing a block tower as a team or engaging in dramatic play encourage children to communicate their ideas effectively and listen to others.

Additionally, hands-on learning environments promote peer relationships and emotional understanding. Through activities that involve teamwork, children learn to empathize with their peers' perspectives and develop cooperation skills. For instance, collaborative art projects or science experiments provide opportunities for children to discuss ideas, compromise, and build positive relationships. These interactions not only enhance their social competence but also create a sense of belonging and mutual respect.

Moreover, hands-on learning supports the development of oral language skills as children describe their processes, share thoughts, and ask questions during group tasks. This active engagement strengthens their vocabulary and communication abilities while fostering confidence in social interactions. By integrating these experiences into early education settings, hands-on learning lays the foundation for strong social-emotional growth and prepares children for future collaborative environments.

How can hands-on learning help in teaching Understanding the World within the ELG?

Understanding The World Activity

Hands-on learning supports the "Understanding the World" Early Learning Goal (ELG) by actively engaging children in meaningful, sensory-rich activities that foster curiosity and exploration. For example, activities such as nature walks, bug hunts, or building sandcastles allow children to directly interact with their environment, helping them observe and understand natural processes. These experiences make abstract concepts tangible, encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving skills while nurturing a sense of wonder about the world around them.

Additionally, hands-on activities promote cultural awareness and community understanding by immersing children in real-world experiences. Activities like celebrating festivals, role-playing emergency services, or exploring farm life help children connect with diverse traditions and societal roles. By engaging in these activities, children develop empathy, respect for others, and an appreciation for cultural diversity, aligning with the ELG's focus on understanding their immediate environment and beyond.

Moreover, hands-on learning enhances foundational skills such as literacy, numeracy, and fine motor development. For instance, sorting shells by size or creating leaf prints integrates creativity with early math concepts, while storytelling or phonics games during themed activities reinforce language skills. This approach ensures that children not only acquire knowledge but also build confidence and resilience through experiential learning, fulfilling the holistic objectives of the ELG.

What are the Early Learning Goals and why are they important for young children?

Understanding The World Activity

The Early Learning Goals (ELGs) are a set of 17 developmental milestones outlined within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework in England. These goals are grouped into seven key areas of learning: Communication and Language, Physical Development, Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, and Expressive Arts and Design. Each ELG defines the level of progress children are expected to achieve by the end of their reception year, providing a clear benchmark for assessing their knowledge, skills, and understanding.

ELGs are crucial as they support holistic development across cognitive, physical, social, and emotional domains. They help children build foundational skills such as communication, literacy, numeracy, and self-regulation while fostering curiosity and creativity. By addressing these areas, ELGs ensure that children are well-prepared for the transition to Year 1 and beyond. They also encourage educators to tailor learning experiences to individual needs, promoting inclusivity and enabling all children to reach their full potential.

Furthermore, ELGs play a vital role in early childhood education by guiding practitioners in planning activities that align with developmental goals. They emphasize play-based learning and exploration, which are essential for fostering a love of learning and resilience in young children. By achieving these goals, children gain the confidence and skills needed to thrive academically and socially in their future educational journey.

What are the seven Areas of Learning and Development in the EYFS?

Understanding The World Activity

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework identifies seven key Areas of Learning and Development, which are divided into three Prime Areas and four Specific Areas. These areas are designed to support the holistic development of children from birth to five years old, laying the foundation for future learning and success.

  • Prime Areas:
    • Communication and Language: Focuses on developing children’s ability to express themselves, listen, and understand others.
    • Personal, Social, and Emotional Development: Supports children in building relationships, understanding emotions, and developing self-confidence.
    • Physical Development: Enhances fine and gross motor skills, coordination, and understanding of health and self-care.
  • Specific Areas:
    • Literacy: Encourages early reading and writing skills through phonics, vocabulary building, and storytelling.
    • Mathematics: Develops understanding of numbers, patterns, shapes, space, and measures.
    • Understanding the World: Helps children explore their environment, cultures, technology, and natural phenomena.
    • Expressive Arts and Design: Promotes creativity through art, music, movement, role play, and imaginative activities.

The Prime Areas are considered essential for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. They provide a strong foundation for development in the Specific Areas. Together, these seven areas ensure a balanced approach to early education by addressing cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and creative growth.

How do the prime areas differ from the specific areas in the EYFS?

Understanding The World Activity

The Prime areas and Specific areas in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) differ in their focus and purpose, but they are interconnected to support a child's holistic development.

Prime areas: These are fundamental and universal aspects of child development that lay the foundation for all other learning. The three Prime areas are:

  • Personal, Social, and Emotional Development: Helps children build relationships, understand emotions, and develop self-confidence.
  • Communication and Language: Focuses on developing listening, understanding, and speaking skills.
  • Physical Development: Enhances gross and fine motor skills while promoting health and self-care awareness.

The Prime areas are particularly crucial during the early years as they underpin all future learning and development. They support children in building the skills needed to access more specific knowledge later on.

Specific areas: These build upon the Prime areas and provide opportunities for children to develop subject-specific knowledge and skills. The four Specific areas are:

  • Literacy: Encourages reading, writing, and phonics skills.
  • Mathematics: Develops understanding of numbers, patterns, shapes, and measures.
  • Understanding the World: Helps children explore their environment, cultures, and natural phenomena.
  • Expressive Arts and Design: Promotes creativity through art, music, role-play, and imaginative activities.

The Prime areas provide the essential context for learning in the Specific areas. Without a strong foundation in the Prime areas, children may struggle to fully engage with or benefit from the Specific areas. Together, these areas ensure a balanced approach to early education that supports both foundational skills and subject-specific knowledge.

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