Early Years / KS1 Topic Plan: Spring Term – Chinese New Year – Year of the Snake

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Area of Learning / Objectives / Activity / Resources
Cross-curricular.
Lang/Lit/Communication and Personal &Social / View and listen carefully to a variety of visual and audio-visual stimuli.
Develop an awareness of different cultures /
  • Watch and listen to the power-point story of the Chinese New Year ( –topics-festivals-Chinese New Year))
  • Discuss what they have seen. – Talk about the different animals in the story.
  • Use masks() to act out the story.
  • Use the posters() and photographs ()discuss with the children
/ Masks
Posters
Cross-curricular Physical and Creative Development / Develop confidence and gross-motor skills
Develop responses to different stimuli such as music. /
  • Watch YouTube (Chinese Lion dance music live) talk about the movements in the dance.
  • In the hall encourage the children to move in the same way as the lion dancers – linking movements to create a series of changing body shapes and pathways.
/ Chinese dance music
Mathematics
Cross-curricular Mathematics and Physical Development / Develop an interest in Numbers
Investigate repeating patterns
Develop counting skills.
Develop fine motor skills. /
  • Play snakes and ladders – encourage turn taking and counting aloud.
  • Cut different lengths of coloured paper into snake shapes. Using 2 sponge squares encourage the children to dip each square into a different colour paint and make a repeating pattern on their snake – red, blue, red, blue etc
  • Child is given a number card (1-10 depending on ability). They are encouraged to pick up the correct number of pieces of dried pasta(tubes would be best) using chopsticks, transferring them from a large pot into a smaller one.
/ Snakes & Ladders board game
Coloured paper, sponge squares, different colour paint.
Number cards (1-!0)
Pasta tubes, small pots, chopsticks
Expressive Art and Design (Creative Development) / Explore and experiment with a variety of techniques and materials (air drying clay)
Mix, shape, arrange and combine materials.
Explore and experiment with a variety of techniques and materials (folding card /
  • To make a clay snake pot – Roll a lump of air drying clay into a long sausage shape. Twirl the clay around and build it up into a pot shape. Turn up the end of the clay to make a snake’s head. Use 2 wiggle eyes or 2 small lumps of clay to make eyes. Leave to dry then paint the snake.
  • To make a concertina snake puppet- Cut out a snake shape using card, Draw details on the snake. Fold the card snake over 1 way and then the other until it is completely folded. Stick 2 straws on the back of the snake, 1 on the head and the other on the tail.
/ Air drying clay
Wiggle eyes
Paint
Card, scissors
Felt pens
2 straws per child
Understanding the world / Observe differences between snakes, looking closely at their markings and patterns.
Look at the changes that occur during the cooking process /
  • Use books, IPads, IWB, computers, snakes photo pack ( to look at different types of snake.
  • Talk about how they move
  • Talk about similarities/differences.
  • Use different ingredients to make a stir fry. Talk about the ingredients and name them.
  • Make the stir fry.
  • Encourage the children to use chopsticks to eat (when it’s cooled)
/ Books, IPads, IWB, Computers, snake photo pack
Ingredients to make a stir fry
Wok, cooking oil, spatula,
Chopsticks
Welsh – Use Welsh phrases and commands wherever possible – Maths when counting un dau tri pedwar pump etc,. P.E,- sefwch, rhedwch, stopiwch,.
Understanding the world – Snake -neidr
Songs - The great Animal Race Song –
Dragon Song -