‘chatter matters’™ week 7 th – 11 th March 2016

‘chatter matters’™ week ideas

Muddy Monday Muddy nature walk – include parents Muddy handprints Plant a seed Make labels for plants Build a mud kitchen Build a bug farm Growing seeds such as beans in plastic bottles Visit an allotment Plant a herb garden – lots of sensory opportunities Mini gardens made on a paper plate or something similar. Linking in with the Woodland Trust Songs and rhymes about plants and flowers, growing, sunshine and rain

Turn it off Tuesday How about a screen-free day? Skipping and clapping games – how we used to play! Card matching games – use new technology to make a traditional matching game Grow some bugs: e.g. ladybirds or butterflies Guide dog visits to setting Pets as Therapy Nature walk – include parents Library session – visit the library or have the library visit the setting Traditional tales: giant magic beans (Jack and the Beanstalk) pulling up a giant turnip (The Giant Turnip) etc.

Wet Weather/Welly Wednesday Go for a welly walk Fill a tough tray with mud and use small world people to make footprints Make weather pictures with paint, crayons and cotton wool Grow runner beans or another seed in a small clear plastic bag (put a wet jiffy in the bag with seed and place against the window). Watch the seed grow... Something that children can take home an put against their window at home. Park trip

Thank you or Thinking Thursday Make a thank you card for parents using the printable on the ‘time to talk’™ website – add a handprint or a photograph Thinking Thursday for reflection Make a communication tree pyramid for your wall, or make it 3D – add ‘words of the week’ or ‘first words’ as leaves, or add clear words as apples Pebble painting to create story pebbles or the creation of a fairy garden or minibeast motel using plants and shrubs, twigs, stones, etc from their outdoor environment Create your own talking tub/treasure basket, collecting natural items

Friends, Family, Food, Fruit, Flowers Fun Friday A celebration! Hold a fruit tea party – could you try some new fruits? Food from each child’s culture? Invite families in to an activity Visit the garden centre Craft activity – make some flowers Make a collage together – involve all the children with different materials ‘chatter matters’™ celebration event!

the pyramid – as a tree! roots- attachment & social interaction trunk – attention & listening branches – understanding leaves - talking fruit – clear speech