Innholdsfortegnelse for Autumn 2023 i Creative Steps

As the saying goes: “there is no such thing as a free lunch” and the same very much applies to childcare provision. Despite promising record investment in the sector, the sooner the government stops referring to “free childcare” the better! With another election looming on the horizon next year, it must be hoped that substantial investment into the early years sector is forthcoming and properly directed to ensure support for both parents and providers. But it isn’t just financial investment that needs to be improved – a better appreciation of the true, long-term value of quality early years education is a must. It was recently reported to me by a childminder that they had parents quibbling over a meagre increase in the childcare costs, yet they were quite happy to…

LEARNING ZONES: Expressive Arts & Design ★ Understanding the World ★ Physical Development Ojo De Dios STORE CUPBOARD ■ Lolly sticks■ Different coloured wool■ Glue■ Scissors 1 Glue two lolly sticks together to make a cross and leave to dry. 2 Choose your first colour wool and tie a knot around the middle of the cross. Cut off any excess 3 With the knot at the back of the cross, pull the wool down and wrap diagonally around the middle of the cross four times. 4 Rotate the cross anti-clockwise and wrap the wool around the middle four times. Repeat twice more, wrap the wool four times around each stick, then cut the wool and secure with glue. 5 Choose a different coloured wool. Glue the end of your new…

STORE CUPBOARD ■ Cardboard kitchen roll tubes■ Scissors■ Tissue paper■ Kitchen foil■ Self-adhesive gems■ Metallic pompoms■ Silver/white snowflakes sequins■ PVA glue & brush■ Glitter glue■ Paint (optional)■Thread for hanging 1 Take the cardboard tubes and cut them into sections using scissors. Ours measured approx. 4.5cm wide. 2 Put the cardboard sections into the middle of the table along with a selection of crafting materials for the children to choose from. 3 Let the children decide how they would like to design their chosen decoration. Here are a few ideas to help them on their way: ● Cover the cardboard sections using either strips of tissue paper or foil with a little PVA glue to hold everything in place. ● Why not paint the sections in some Christmassy colours? Paint dries…

LEARNING ZONES: Understanding the World STORE CUPBOARD ■ Newspaper■ Masking tape■ PVA glue■ Red acrylic paint■ Paintbrush■ Glitter (optional)■ Pencils 1 Take a few sheets of newspaper and roll them into tight balls. 2 Use masking tape to wind around each ball, keeping all the edges firmly together. Spend some time moulding the balls into apple shapes. 3 Mix together one part paint with one part glue and paint the apples. 4 When the apples have dried, paint another layer of the paint and glue mix. This will give you a very shiny surface. 5 For an added touch, put some glitter into a bowl and roll the tops of the ‘apples’ into it to look like sugar strands. 6 Finally, carefully push a pencil into the bottom of each…

STORE CUPBOARD ■ Stiff felt■ Beads■ Scissors■ PVA glue■ Spreader■ Pink felt tip■ Twine or wool■ Medium sized pompoms 1 Cut out the pieces for the bobble hats from stiff felt. Glue the decorations to the main part. 2 Glue the band to the bottom of the hat. Draw lines on the band with a pink felt tip. 3 Glue a pompom to the top of the hat. Stick on beads to decorate. 4 Make a loop of twine or wool and knot the ends. Stick to the back of the bobble hat, to hang your decoration on your tree. HINTS & TIPS ■ Make a series of hats, all with different decorations! You could use sequins, small buttons or beads. Cut out felt shapes to add to your hat's…

Paper Plate Bunting STORE CUPBOARD ■ Paper plates■ Sheets of white paper■ Paint & brushes■ Pencil & scissors■ Glue stick/PVA glue■ Hole punch & string■ Drinking straws 1 Paint some paper plates the colour of your choice. We went for festive greens and reds! Leave the plates to dry. 2 To make the snowflakes, take a sheet of A4 white paper and taking one corner, fold it to meet the top edge and flatten – this will have made a square with a long rectangle down one side. Cut off this rectangle. 3 Take your folded square of paper and then fold it again to make a smaller triangle. Fold it once more. 4 With a pencil draw on a design around the edges of the triangles and then cut…

STORE CUPBOARD: ■ Orange wool■ Scissors■ Glue■ Green and black felt fabric■ Recycled card 1 Cut two of the doughnut shaped templates from card. (Cereal box card is perfect) Put the two shapes together. 2 Cut a long piece of orange wool. Wrap it around the doughnut shape template, over and over, covering the whole circle, until the centre hole has almost disappeared. 3 Ask an adult to push the tips of the scissors through the wool and in between the two pieces of card. Cut all the way around it. Cut a piece of wool and place it between the two card doughnuts, and tie a tight knot. Tear away the card templates. 4 Cut a stalk shape from green felt, fold it in half, and use the leftover…

STORE CUPBOARD: ■ Lolly sticks■ Pencil■ Glue or double-sided tape■ Coloured paper■ Ruler■ Coloured card■ Scissors■ Paints or felt pen■ Paint brush■ Small elastic band 1 Paint 2 lolly sticks on both sides for the peacock’s legs. Leave to dry. 2 One at a time, fold 3 x A5 size pieces of thin paper into fans by folding over the ends 1.5-2cms, turn the paper over then make another fold, keep folding and turning to make 3 paper concertinas. 3 Fold each concertina in half. Glue the middle folds together to make 3 fans. Cut off the ends at an angle. 4 Glue the 3 fans together in a stack with a lolly stick at each end, so the folded sections are sandwiched between the 2 legs. 5 Draw the…

Ultimate Hero Electronic Fireman Sam Fireman Sam is the ultimate action hero, ready to race to any emergency! Ultimate Hero Sam is a large scale, fully articulated action figure, packed with fun features! Measuring 12” tall, Sam has over 30 sound effects and phrases. With working torch and L.E.D ‘Morse’ Light, as well as a radio for Sam to make and receive emergency calls. Check out Sam’s working helmet visor; raise or lower Sam’s safety visor to change between ordinary day vision… and super special night vision! Sam is ready with all the tools to save the day. Use the gripping hand so that he can hold his ‘Fire Axe Accessory’, and push the action button to make his arm move up and down! When he needs to reach something…

Our day-to-day lives depend so much on maths and there are so many fun ways to explore numbers with our children. Numeracy isn’t just about reciting the times tables or doing sums at high speed; it’s about exploring patterns and having what educators call a good ‘number sense’. Numbers Tip Encourage young children to explore & play with numbers. The key is to expose children to numbers in as many contexts as possible, so that they develop a good feel for them! To help our children develop confidence in maths as they progress through school, it is vitally important to support them with core number concepts from a young age. Securing those foundations need not be a chore. The most effective ways to instil a love of maths include introducing…

WINTER VEGGIE SOUP STORE CUPBOARD ■ 2 onions■ 3 medium carrots■ 1 sweet potato■ 1 medium butternut squash■ 2 sticks of celery■ Lentils or pearl barley (optional)■ 1 litre of chicken or vegetable stock■ French bread 1 Make sure all hands are clean and clothes protected before you begin. Although the children will not be able to help you cut up the vegetables as the ones we are using are quite hard, they can still touch and hold them as part of a discussion on making the soup. 2 Cut up all the vegetables into even pieces, around 2cm chunks. Then wash and drain them. 3 Tip the vegetables, along with any pulses you might wish to use, into a large saucepan with a well fitting lid. 4 Add a…

Hello Summer Jo Lindley RRP £7.99 (PB) www.farshore.co.uk Come and meet four magical friends who control the seasons in this fairy inspired series. The sun is shining, and the little friends are on their way to the beach, playing games on the way. Summer starts to feel hot and bothered when things start to go wrong. When they finally arrive at the beach the friends know the prefect way to relax, by building a super-sized sandcastle! Finally, Summer is starting to have fun! But no-one has seen the huge wave heading their way! Age 3 years + We say… This beautifully illustrated book is perfect to help any little reader learn to deal with their emotions, especially anger and frustration and shows how soothing compassion can be. The Bear…

Lollipop Stick Tree Ornament STORE CUPBOARD ■ 3 wooden lollipop sticks■ Green paint■ Paintbrush■ Small buttons■ Brown corrugated card■ Gold elastic cord■ Scissors■ Glue■ Newspaper 1 Cover your work surface with newspaper to protect from paint spills. Now, take 3 wooden lollipop sticks and paint them green. Leave the paint to dry. 2 When ready, take the painted lollipop sticks and arrange them to form a triangle. Glue them together. Let dry. This will become the frame for your Christmas tree decoration. 3 Decorate the lollipop frame by gluing on small coloured buttons. 4 Cut out a small rectangle of brown corrugated card for the tree trunk. Glue it in place. 5 Lastly, cut a length of gold elastic cord for the hanging loop. Glue it to the top of…

LEARNING ZONES: Art & Design ★ Mathematics STORE CUPBOARD ■ Coloured paper■ Scissors■ Glue■ Ruler■ Pencil 1 Cut a rectangle of paper approximately 200mm x 180mm. Draw 1cm lines all the way across it. 2 Fold the paper back and forward to make a fan shape. Fold the shape in half and glue the middle sections together to make the skirt of the angel. 3 Take a second rectangle of paper (140mm x 140mm) , measure and fold it again. Fold the whole piece in half to make the wings. Glue the wings onto the skirt. 4 Take a small rectangle (40mm x 140mm) and make a tiny fan shape for the head of the angel. Glue this onto the wings. HINTS & TIPS ■ We used kraft paper which…

STORE CUPBOARD ■ A white paper plate■ Wiggly eyes■ Large orange pompoms■ Small peach pompoms■ Black marker pen■ Red, green, peach, black paint■ Thick and thin paint brushes■ Large sheets of coral and purple paper■ Ruler■ Scissors■ Pencil■ Glue stick■ Strong glue■ Twine or wool The Thing! 1 Draw a face on a paper plate with a marker pen. 2 Paint the main part of a plate red. Paint the nose peach and the eye green. Colour in the mouth with black paint. 3 Make the bouncy legs by cutting 2 strips of coloured paper. Cut them 4.5cm by the length of the paper. 4 Lay the paper strips on a tabletop, so they are at a right angle (a big L shape). Glue the 2 ends together with a…

The Tyrannosaur’s Feathers Dr Adam S Smith & Jonathan Emmet RRP £7.99 (PB) www.uclanpublishing.com Tyrannosaurus rex may be the king of the dinosaurs, but that doesn’t stop know-it-all Velociraptor from telling him he looks old-fashioned and needs a makeover. So, with an improved posture, some restyled body parts and a coat of shaggy feathers, T. rex gets a new look to match the latest evidence. Age 5 years + We say… An engaging and humorous vision on how the T.rex may actually have looked – sure to fascinate young dino fans. Welcome to Our Table Laura Mucha and Ed Smith, & Harriet Lynas RRP £ 14.99 (HB) www.nosycrow.com From pasta to passionfruit, baguettes to biryani, ramen to rambutan, there are so many different dishes and delicacies…

Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 -1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist. He became one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement, from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. King advocated non-violent methods and led a movement of peaceful protests and boycotts to help fight racial injustice. In 1964 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. King was an excellent public speaker and is most well-known for his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. 'I HAVE A DREAM' Collage STORE CUPBOARD: ■ A3 sheet of black card■ Large sheet of grey card■ Coloured paper – green, red, blue & yellow■ Pencil■ Black pen■ Scissors■ Glue 1 Trim down the grey sheet of card to measure 34cm x 24cm. Glue it onto the A3 black card so that…

STORE CUPBOARD: ■ Piece of thick card■ Thick card or wooden photo frame■ Pencil■ PVA glue■ Coloured chalk■ Biodegradable glitter■ Coloured paint■ Sandpaper or fine cheese grater 1 Prepare by collecting together different pieces of coloured chalk. Use a fine cheese grater or course sand paper to grind the chalk into separate colours. Discard the pieces of chalk when they become too small to grate as the children may hurt their fingers. 2 Using a pencil, encourage the children to draw a design onto a piece of card. It can be as simple or intricate as they like. 3 Spread glue onto a small section of the picture. Sprinkle some of the coloured chalk or glitter over the glued section. It is a good idea to apply the colours one…

Louise Nevelson (1899 – 1988) was an American sculptor known for her monochromatic, wooden wall pieces and outdoor sculptures. Born in part of the Russian Empire (now Ukraine), she emigrated with her family to the United States in the early 20th century. In the 1930s she attended art classes at the Art Students League of New York, and in 1941 had her first solo exhibition. Nevelson experimented with using found objects, and dabbled in painting and printing before dedicating her lifework to sculpture. A prominent figure on the international arts scene, her work has been included in collections across Europe and North America. Nevelson remains an important figure in 20th-century American sculpture. Mini Artists: 20 projects inspired by the great artists by Joséphine Seblon and illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng (£12.99,…

Elf Lotto – RRP £6.00 Collect all the cheeky elves and be the first to fill your elf house in this festive themed lotto mini game that is the perfect stocking filler! This travel size game is ideal for keeping children entertained and engaged during the Christmas holidays. Snowman Snap – RRP £6.00 A classic snap game with a festive twist for all the family, featuring seasonal snowpeople that young children will love and fast-paced gameplay that will appeal to slightly older children. As part of the Orchard Toys mini games range, Snowman Snap is compact and portable in size making it perfect for playing at home or travelling away over the Christmas holidays. Christmas Eve Box – RRP £14.00 A game, jigsaw and activity book all in one box!…

A series of autumn inspired activities to make and enjoy whatever the weather! Paper Weaving Acorn STORE CUPBOARD ■ A4 sheet of cream card■ Coloured card – orange, brown and green■ Craft knife and cutting mat■ Metal ruler■ Scissors■ Glue■ Pencil 1 Take the A4 sheet of cream card and a pencil. Trace the outline of a large acorn (without the cap) on the sheet. Neatly cut it out with scissors. 2 Place the cream acorn shape on to a cutting mat. An adult must carry out this step for safety. Use a craft knife and metal ruler to cut vertical slits down the acorn. The slits should be spaced out approx. 2cm. These slits will make a frame for your paper weaving. 3 Gather together the sheets of orange…

'Jack Be Nimble' Candlestick STORE CUPBOARD ■ Small orange paper plate■ Coloured card – in white, brown, yellow & orange■ Long cardboard tube (e.g. from tin foil roll)■ Scissors■ Glue 1 Take a long cardboard tube. Cut it down to measure 11cm in length. Neatly cover with white card to make it resemble a candlestick. 2 Now, take a sheet of yellow card and cut out a flame shape. Take some orange card and cut out the centre of the flame. Stick it together then glue to the top of the candlestick. 3 Apply a generous amount of glue around the bottom end of the candlestick. Position it in the centre of the paper plate. Set it aside to fully dry. 4 Next, cut out a long strip (approx. 3cm…

STORE CUPBOARD ■ Felt fabric■ Scissors■ Glue 1 Draw around each of the five star templates five times onto green felt fabric and cut them out. 2 Glue the five largest stars together. You only need a small blob of glue in the middle of each one. Turn the stars to a slight angle as you go to create extra thick branches. 3 Add the next largest stars, then the medium, then the small, then the smallest. 4 Draw around the smallest template twice onto yellow felt fabric and cut it out. Glue the two stars together for strength, then glue just the tips to the top of the tree. OTHER IDEAS ■ Make a Scandinavian version in the same way, using red and white felt fabric. HINTS & TIPS…

LEARNING ZONES: Art & Design ★ Mathematics STORE CUPBOARD ■ 8 x long (30cm) pipe cleaners■ Scissors■ String or coloured wool■ Beads■ Ruler 1 Twist 2 pipe cleaners together along the length to make a double thickness. Repeat with 2 more pipe cleaners to make another double length. Twist the 2 pieces together into a long section. Repeat with 4 more pipe cleaners to make another piece in the same way. 2 Thread beads along the pipe cleaners. Large pony beads with 3-4mm holes are easiest to use. 3 Curl both pipe cleaner lengths into 2 circles by twisting the ends together, then bend both circles into triangles with equal sides. 4 Overlap the 2 triangles to make a 6-pointed star shape. Tie short pieces of wool or string around…

Apple Parts Diagram STORE CUPBOARD ■ Large sheet of white card■ Coloured card - cream, red, green, brown & black■ Pencil■ Black pen■ Scissors■ Glue 1 Take the sheet of red card and a pencil. Sketch the outline of a large-scale apple on the sheet. Neatly cut it out with scissors. Next, take the sheet of cream card and cut out a slightly smaller apple shape. Glue it on top of the red apple. 2 Gather together the remaining sheets of coloured card. Cut out six apple seeds (in black card), a stem (in brown card) and a leaf (in green card). Assemble the apple parts on the large sheet of white card. Glue everything in position. 3 Take the white card and a black pen. Write out a title…

STORE CUPBOARD ■ Large drinks bottle■ Small drinks bottle■ Black felt■ 1 small yellow pompom■ Lolly stick■ Red & Green paints■ Thick paint brush■ String glue■ Scissors 1 Take the labels off the bottles, wash and leave them to dry. 2 Cut a 5cm section from the bottom of the large bottle and a 3.5cm section from the small bottle, creating a scalloped edge with the scissors. 3 Paint both red and leave to dry. 4 Paint a lolly stick green and leave to dry. 5 Glue the smaller bottle inside the larger one. Glue the lolly stick onto the back. 6 Cut a small strip of black felt. Snip along an edge and glue it around a yellow pompom. Stick inside the centre of the poppy. OTHER IDEAS ■…

STORE CUPBOARD: ■ Brown leaves■ 2 large green leaves■ Thin brown card■ 2 cotton pads■ Yellow ochre paint (or yellow and brown paint)■ Paint brush■ Black string of sequins■ Orange card■ Black felt tip■ Scissors■ Strong glue■ Thin elastic 1 Pick some leaves, small brown ones and 2 large green ones. Put them somewhere warm to dry, an airing cupboard or by a radiator would do. 2 Cut out a mask shape from thin brown card. Cut out the eye holes too. 3 Paint 2 cotton pads with yellow ochre paint mixed with water. Leave to dry. 4 Cut out the eye holes from the cotton pads. 5 Glue a black sequin string around the eyes. Cut off the string when it has joined up. 6 Stick on the leaves.…

STORE CUPBOARD: ■ Black card■ Scissors■ Pencil■ Cocktail sticks or cotton buds■ Glue■ Scissors 1 Using the template, cut out a bat silhouette from black card. 2 Compare the shape of the bat wing to an arm and hand. As a starting point the thumb is the small hook at the top of the wing. You should be able to make out shoulder, elbow, wrist, thumb and fingers. 3 Lay out the cotton buds onto the silhouette to represent where the bone might go. Use the template as a reference to check, and then glue them in place. Leave to dry. 4 Your bat skeleton is now complete! You could attach a piece of thread and hang your bats around the classroom. HINTS & TIPS ■ You may need to…

The Council of Good Friends Nikesh Shukla & Rochelle Falconer RRP £5.99 (PB) www.knightsof.media Vinay, Musa, Inua and Nish are best friends. Nothing can separate them… until one day when Vinay’s cousin comes to invade his bunk bed haven (i.e. share his room). When a prank war starts, can the friends remember what really matters? Age 6 years + We say… A funny, thought-provoking tale of developing emotions and friendship. World Kitchen Abigail Wheatley and Chaaya Prabhat RRP £9.99 (HB) www.usborne.com A unique collection of recipes contributed by families from around the world. Each recipe has an introduction featuring the family who contributed it, and simple, step-by-step instructions, from good old U.S. chocolate chip cookies to Ugandan 'rolled eggs', bringing authentic international flavours and stories to…