Reception Topic:Animals

Animals are always fascinating to children and this topic details numerous creative and exciting learning activities inspired by this stimulus.

Block / Key EYFS Objectives / Main creative outcomes
Block A
Pets
[6 sessions] / Communication and Language, Literacy,Personal, Social & Emotional Development, Understanding of the World,Expressive Arts and Design,Mathematics.
  • CL ELG 01 L&A Listen attentively in a range of situations. Listen to stories, accurately anticipating key events and respond to what they hear with relevant comments, questions or actions.
  • CL ELG 02 U Follow instructions involving several ideas or actions.
  • CL ELG 03 S Express themselves effectively, showing awareness of listeners’ needs.
  • L ELG 10 W Use their phonic knowledge to write words in ways which match their spoken sounds.
  • PSED ELG 06 SC&SA Be confident when speaking in a familiar group, talk about their ideas, and choose the resources needed for their chosen activities.
  • PSED ELG 08 MR Play co-operatively, taking turns with others. Take account of one another’s ideas about how toorganise their activity. Show sensitivity to others’ needs and feelings, and form positive relationships with adults and other children.
  • UW ELG 13 P&C Talk about past and present events in their own lives and in the lives of family members.
  • UW ELG 14TW Know about similarities and differences in relation to living things. Talk about the features of their own immediate environment and how environments might vary from one another. Make observations of animals and plants and explain why some things occur.
  • EAD ELG 16 EUMM Sing songs, make music and dance. Safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function.
  • EAD ELG 17 BI Use what they have learnt about media and materials in original ways, thinking about uses and purposes. Represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music, dance, role-play and stories.
  • M ELG 11 N Count reliably with numbers from 1 to 20, say which number is one more or one less than a given number. Solve problems, including doubling, halving and sharing.
  • M ELG 12 SSM Use everyday language to talk about size, weight, capacity, position, distance, time and money to compare quantities and objects and to solve problems.
/ What pets do you have at home? How do you care for them? What habitats do they need to help them thrive? How does a vet help animals? Do you know about exotic pets? Which pets did people have in the past?
This block will help you to answer these questions and to show your learning through art, design and technology, music, dance, role plays, stories, maths and writing. Have fun holding an animal picnic, a Great Pet Sale and a ‘Best in Show’ event.
Block B
Working
Animals
[5 sessions] / Understanding of the World,Expressive Arts and Design,Personal, Social & Emotional Development,Mathematics, Communication and Language, Literacy, Physical Development.
  • UW ELG 13P&C: Know that other children don’t always enjoy the same things, and are sensitive to this. Know about similarities and differences between themselves and others.
  • UW ELG 14TW: Know about similarities and differences in relation to places, objects, materials and living things.
  • UW ELG 15T: Recognise that a range of technology is used in places such as homes and schools.
  • EAD ELG 17 BI: Represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music, dance, role-play and stories.
  • PSED ELG 06SC&SA: Be confident about trying new activities.
  • PSED ELG 07MF&B: Talk about how they and others show feelings, talk about their own and others’ behaviour, and its consequences, and know that some behaviour is unacceptable. Work as part of a group or class, and understand and follow the rules. Adjust their behaviour to different situations.
  • M ELG 11N: Using quantities and objects, add and subtract 2 single-digit numbers and count on or back to find the answer.
  • CL ELG 01 L&A: Listen attentively in a range of situations. Listen to stories, accurately anticipating key events and respond to what they hear with relevant comments, questions or actions. Give attention to what others say and respond appropriately, while engaged in another activity.
  • CL ELG 02 U: Follow instructions involving several ideas or actions. Answer ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions about their experiences and in response to stories or events.
  • CL ELG 03 S: Express themselves effectively, showing awareness of listeners’ needs.
  • L ELG 10 W: Use their phonic knowledge to write words in ways which match their spoken sounds. Also write some irregular common words. Write simple sentences which can be read by themselves and others. Some words are spelt correctly and others are phonetically plausible.
  • PD ELG 04 M&H: Show good control and co-ordination in large and small movements. Move confidently in a range of ways, safely negotiating space. Handle equipment and tools effectively, including pencils for writing.
/ Find out about the animals that work and help us in so many ways. Learn about the strong animals that help us to do heavy and difficult jobs such as heavy horses and elephants. Learn about how dogs can help people who have problems with seeing or confidence. Learn about animals that can identify and track scents or deliver secret messages. Take part in role-plays, listen to stories and represent ideas with art and design and technology. Express learning through writing and speaking.
Block C
Animal Protectors
[5 sessions] / Understanding of the World, Mathematics, Expressive Arts and Design,Personal, Social & Emotional Development, Physical Development.
  • UW ELG 14TW: Know about similarities and differences in relation to places, objects, materials and living things. Talk about the features of their own immediate environment and how environments might vary from one another. Make observations of animals and plants and explain why some things occur, and talk about changes.
  • M ELG 12 SS&M: Use everyday language to talk about size, weight, capacity, position, distance, time and money to compare quantities and objects and to solve problems. Recognise, create and describe patterns. Explore characteristics of everyday objects and shapes and use mathematical language to describe them.
  • EAD ELG 16 EUM&M: Sing songs, make music and dance, and experiment with ways of changing them. Safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function.
  • EAD ELG 17 BI: Use what they have learnt about media and materials in original ways, thinking about uses and purposes. Represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through, art, music, dance, role-play and stories.
  • PSED ELG 06 SC&SA: Be confident about trying new activities, and say why they like some activities more than others. Be confident speaking in a familiar group, talk about their ideas, and choose the resources needed for their chosen activities.
  • PSED ELG 08 MR: Play co-operatively, taking turns with others. Take account of one another’s ideas about how to organise their activity.
  • PD ELG 05 H&SC: Know the importance for good health of physical exercise, and a healthy diet, and talk about ways to keep healthy and safe.
  • PD ELG 04 M&H: Show good control and co-ordination in large and small movements. Move confidently in a range of ways, safely negotiating space. Handle equipment and tools effectively, including pencils for writing.
/ How can we help to protect animals? Find out about the role of different charities including zoos in conserving rare breeds and animals. Explore the tasks of animal keepers and train to be an Animal Protector: learning about the right habitats, living conditions and appropriate food and water amounts for the animals. Great opportunities to explore some maths ideas about size, volume and patterns.
Think about the ways we can help our local animals to thrive by creating wildlife areas and gardens at school and home. Make observations and use drawing, painting and sculpture to share your ideas. Create wildlife homes for hedgehogs and frogs. Choose and plant flora that encourage wildlife.
Block D
Night Animals and Day Animals
[5 sessions] / Understanding of the World, Expressive Arts and Design,Personal, Social & Emotional Development, Mathematics,Communication and Language,Literacy,Physical Development.
  • UW ELG 13 P&C: Talk about past and present events in their own lives and in the lives of family members. Know that other children don’t always enjoy the same things, and are sensitive to this. Know about similarities and differences between themselves and others, and among families, communities and traditions.
  • UW ELG 14TW: Know about similarities and differences in relation to places, objects, materials and living things.Make observations of animals and explain why some things occur, and talk about changes.
  • EAD ELG 16 EUM&M: Sing songs, make music and dance, and experiment with ways of changing them. Safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function.
  • EAD ELG 17 BI: Use what they have learnt about media and materials in original ways, thinking about uses and purposes. Represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music, dance, role-play and stories.
  • PSED ELG 06 SC&SA: Be confident about trying new activities, and say why they like some activities more than others. Be confident speaking in a familiar group, talk about their ideas, and choose the resources needed for chosen activities. Say when they do or don’t need help.
  • M ELG 11 N: Solve problems, including doubling.
  • M ELG 12 SS&M: Use everyday language to talk about size and compare objects.
  • CL ELG 01 L&A: Listen attentively in a range of situations. Listen to stories, accurately anticipating key events and respond to what they hear with relevant comments, questions or actions. Pay attention to what others say and respond appropriately, while engaged in another activity.
  • CL ELG 02 U: Follow instructions involving several ideas or actions.
  • CL ELG 03 S: Express themselves effectively, showing awareness of listeners’ needs.
  • L ELG 10 W: Use their phonic knowledge to write words in ways which match their spoken sounds. Also write some irregular common words. Write simple sentences which can be read by themselves and others. Some words are spelt correctly and others are phonetically plausible.
  • PD ELG 04 M&H: Show good control and co-ordination in large and small movements. Move confidently in a range of ways, safely negotiating space. Handle equipment and tools effectively, including pencils for writing.
/ Listen to tales about animals that like to come out in the day and the animals that like to come out at night. Think about concepts of night and day and time.
A chance to focus on animals that live in the countryside and especially the ones that prefer to come out at night. Learn about British mammals such as foxes, badgers and bats and also snakes such as the adder and the grass snake.
A lovely block with a special focus on music, movement and dance.
Block E
Sacred and Mythical Animals
[5 sessions] / Understanding of the World,Expressive Arts and Design,Personal, Social & Emotional Development, Physical Development,Mathematics,Communication and Language,Literacy.
  • UW ELG 13 P&C: Talk about past and present events in their own lives and in the lives of family members. Know about similarities and differences between themselves and others, and among families, communities and traditions.
  • EAD ELG 16 EUM&M: Safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function.
  • EAD ELG 17 BI: Use what they have learnt about media and materials in original ways, thinking about uses and purposes. Represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music, dance, role-play and stories.
  • PSED ELG 06 SC&SA: Be confident speaking in a familiar group, will talk about their ideas, and will choose the resources they need for their chosen activities.
  • PD ELG 04 M&H: Show good control and co-ordination in large and small movements. Move confidently in a range of ways, safely negotiating space. Handle equipment and tools effectively, including pencils for writing.
  • M ELG 12 SS&M: Use everyday language to talk about distance to solve problems.
  • CL ELG 01 L&A: Listen attentively in a range of situations. Listen to stories, accurately anticipating key events and respond to what they hear with relevant comments, questions or actions. Give attention to what others say and respond appropriately, while engaged in another activity.
  • CL ELG 02 U: Follow instructions involving several ideas or actions. Answer ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions about their experiences and in response to stories or events.
  • CL ELG 03 S:Express themselves effectively, showing awareness of listeners’ needs. Develop their own narratives by connecting ideas or events.
  • L ELG 10 W: Use their phonic knowledge to write words in ways which match their spoken sounds. Write simple sentences.
/ Discover fantastical fictional animals such as dragons, unicorns and the phoenix. Listen to their stories, look at art and listen to music inspired by them. Invent your own versions of these imaginary animals and represent your ideas through the creative arts. Investigate the creatures that have been held in special regard by people through the ages such as the cow and Bald Eagle. Explore why they are considered special animals, describing their appearance and character traits. Compose and perform class poetry and explore descriptive language.
Block F
Baby Animals
[5sessions] / Understanding of the World, Mathematics,Communication and Language, Expressive Arts and DesignPersonal, Social & Emotional Development, Physical Development.
  • UW ELG 14TW: Know about similarities and differences in relation to places, objects, materials and living things. Talk about the features of their own immediate environment and how environments might vary from one another. Make observations of animals and plants and explain why some things occur, and talk about changes.
  • UW ELG 15T: Recognise that a range of technology is used in places such as homes and schools. Select and use technology for particular purposes.
  • M ELG 12 SS&M: Use everyday language to talk about size and weight to compare objects and to solve problems. Recognise, create and describe patterns. Explore characteristics of everyday objects and shapes and use mathematical language to describe them.
  • CL ELG 01 L&A: Listen attentively in a range of situations. Listen to stories, accurately anticipating key events and respond to what they hear with relevant comments, questions or actions.
  • CL ELG 02 U: Follow instructions involving several ideas or actions. Answer ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions about their experiences and in response to stories or events.
  • CL ELG 03 S: Express themselves effectively, showing awareness of listeners’ needs. Use past, present and future forms accurately when talking about events that have happened or are to happen in the future. Develop their own narratives and explanations by connecting ideas or events.
  • EAD ELG 16 EUM&M: Sing songs, make music and dance, and experiment with ways of changing them.
  • EAD ELG 17 BI: Represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music, dance, role-play and stories.
  • PSED ELG 06 SC&SA: Are confident about trying new activities, and say why they like some activities more than others. Are confident speaking in a familiar group, will talk about their ideas, and will choose the resources they need for their chosen activities.
  • PSED ELG 08 MR: Play co-operatively, taking turns with others. Take account of one another’s ideas about how to organise their activity.PD ELG 04 M&H: Show good control and co-ordination in large and small movements. Move confidently in a range of ways, safely negotiating space.
  • PD ELG 04 M&H: Show good control and co-ordination in large and small movements. Move confidently in a range of ways, safely negotiating space.
  • PD ELG 05 H&SC: Know the importance for good health of physical exercise, and a healthy diet, and talk about ways to keep healthy and safe.
/ This block about baby animals will stimulate learning about animal life cycles and growing up. Be inspired by stories and first-hand observations. Think about changes and discuss why they occur. Match baby animals to their adults and create dances about how animals learn by copying. There will be maths too, learning about comparing sizes and the language of measuring.