Activity 1

Find the heaviest challenge.

What you’ll need

• The heaviest challenge worksheet download.
• A pen or pencil. 
• The items on the list (on the worksheet).

Method

Tell your child they are going to look for the items on their list to find out which one is heavier. Ask them to practice writing crosses on the dotted lines first, as they will need to be able to cross off the heaviest of each pair of items. 

Go around your home/garden in search of the items on the list. Focus on one pair at a time and encourage your child to hold each object, to feel which one is heavier. Once you have got them started try to let them be as independent as they can be with this.

What did we learn?

Mathematics: Shape, space and measures – Ordering two items by weight.

Numbers: Records using marks they can interpret and explain.

Activity 2

Spring flowers

What you’ll need

Green paper, scissors, flowers (draw, colour and cut out your own), glue

Method

Fold the green paper in half-length ways. Cut strips from the folded side almost to the opposite side. Some children may find it easier if they have lines to follow to help them to keep straight and know where to stop. Continue along the length of the paper. Then join both short ends together to make a tube shape with glue or Sellotape. Draw some flowers and stick on top of your green stalks. An instant bunch of flowers to brighten a room but does not need watering.

Encourage your child to use one hand when cutting. Ensure their thumb is in one hole (smaller) and two or three fingers in the other (possibly bigger) hole. Make sure the thumb is facing up towards the ceiling and that your child is cutting up and away from themselves. If your child is finding it difficult you can help by holding the paper for them and if necessary place a hand over your child's hand while they are cutting to support them.

Also ensure your child is sitting down when cutting and talk about how to stay safe while using scissors.

What did we 

learn?

Physical Development (PD) 

We are learning how to use one handed tools and understand that equipment and tools have to be used safely.

Expressive Arts and Design (EAD)

We are learning how to use simple tools and techniques competently and appropriately and how to manipulate materials to achieve a planned effect.

Activity 3

Animals and their babies

What you’ll need

Activity sheets and a pen or a pencil

Method

Help the mummy animals to find their babies. Ask your child to draw a line, using a pen or a pencil, from the mummy to the baby. Look at each animal and ask your child if they know what the baby animal is called. If they don't know and you don't know maybe you could look it up together. 

When you have finished maybe you could cut out each animal and play a pairs memory game. Turn each picture face down, mix them up and then put them in rows. Take it in turn to turn over any two cards. If they match, keep them. If they don't match, turn them back over. Try to remember what was on each card and where it was for your next turn. The game is over when all the cards have been matched and the winner is the person with the most pairs. While playing see if your child can remember that the baby animals are called

What did we learn?

Understanding the world (UW) 

We are showing care and concern for loving things and the environment and understanding the life cycle

Physical development (PD)

We are learning to hold a pencil near the point and between first two fingers and thumb and using it with good control. 

Personal, social and emotional (PSE)

We are learning to take turns and share resources, sometimes with support from others