Christmas - FP
Seasonal Suggestions
Christmas Photo Bingo
Hone your pupils' photo-taking skills by asking them to find and photograph items whose first letters, put together, spell out Christmas themed words.
Christmas Photo Bingo
Nursery/Reception - Year 1/2
As adults, I'm sure you'll be taking a lot of photos over the Christmas season. Why should your pupils be any different? Teaching good photo taking skills starts in Nursery, so let's make the learning fun with a photo hunt!
- Remind / Teach your pupils how to take a good photograph. Focus on
- Holding the device steady and pointing towards the object they want to photograph.
- Making sure it's close enough, but not too close!
- Give your pupils a Christmas themed word (it could even be 'Christmas'!).
- Ask them to go around the room, finding objects that start with the letters in their Christmas word (e.g. Car, Hat, Robot...) and take photos of them.
- As soon as they complete a word, they should return to you for a new word.
Ability Variation
Simple
- If your pupils aren't ready to focus on the first letters of words, you can amend the activity so they can still practise their photo taking skills.
- Take photos of 5 Christmas themed items and then place around the classroom (and outside area).
- Put your 5 photos onto a slide and show them on the white board.
- Ask your pupils to race to find the objects and take photos of them. Give them as much assistance as needed.
Success Criteria
- I can take photographs of objects.
Framework Elements
Main Framework Element(s)
3.2 - Creating
Clay Christmas
Following instructions is an important early step to problem solving and coding skills. Give clear instructions to your pupils on how they they can create identical clay Christmas items.
Clay Christmas
Year 1/2
The term 'Coding' has struck fear into some teachers for the past few years, but it really is a simple skill to teach, especially in the Foundation Phase. In this activity you will simply give step-by-step instructions for your pupils to follow so that they can create their own clay models of Christmas items.
- Prepare step-by-step instructions for making a Christmas tree out of play clay. The pupils' challenge is to follow the directions exactly, so make them detailed (e.g. 'Put an orange bauble on the bottom right branch.)
- Record your instructions in a way your pupils can easily access (i.e. write them out if your pupils are capable readers, record your voice or video if not).
- Let your pupils follow your directions. (Do not show them an example of what they are trying to make until the end, otherwise they may just copy the example.)
- Let the pupils take a photo of their completed task and compare it to your model.
- Prepare instructions for other clay models they can make as follow up activities (e.g. Snowman, wreath, candy-cane).
Ability Variation
Simple
- Keep your design and instructions simple (like the photo example above).
- Create the base shape for them in advance (i.e. the tree).
Challenge
- Ask your pupils to decorate their clay tree in their own way and have them write or record instructions for others to copy them.
Success Criteria
Simple
- I can follow simple instructions.
Medium
- I can follow instructions.
Challenge
- I can create instructions for others to follow.
Framework Elements
Main Framework Element(s)
4.1 - Problem Solving & Modelling
Other Framework Element(s)
3.2 - Creating
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