Reception English: Autumn – Ourselves, Unit 1 All about me! Exploring and Playing
Unit 1: All about me!AU
TUM
N O
urselves: Unit 1, Exploring and Playing
Play Activity: Measuring myself S, M, PSEDAims: To use complex sentences to link thoughts (S). To talk about themselves and their families and what makes them special (PSED).To begin to measure things including their own bodies, make comparisons and use everyday language to talk about size (M)
You will need: big wooden blocks/bricks; whiteboards and pens; dried beans or small cubes.
Preparation: Set up a measuring station with big blocks/bricks and dried beans or small cubes.What to do: Children measure each other using big bricks/blocks to stack
up to about the height of their friend. How many bricks have they used?
They can also measure and compare their hand size by drawing around their hands or asking a friend to do this for them.
They can also measure how big their hands are by laying beans across the hand or cutting it out and comparing against another child’s.
Talking points Is everyone the same height? Does everyone have the same sized hands? How many bricks tall are you? Who is tallest out of your friends? Who has the biggest/smallest hand?
Evidence of learning:e.g. Listen to children talking. Do they compare each other’s measurements? Do they understand we are all different?Observe children. Do they use the resources in different ways?
Outcome(s):I can understand that each of us is different.I can use apparatus to measure parts of my body and make comparisons with other children.
Unit 1: All about me!
AUTU
MN
Ourselves: U
nit 1, Exploring and Playing
Play Activity: Role-play PSED, MAims: To read and write using phonic knowledge (R, W).To create representations of events (EAD).To measure and use everyday language to talk about size (M).
You will need: Medical centre props e.g. tabards, clipboards, telephones, measuring tape, stethoscopes etc. (see ‘Health Centre’ resource), ‘Register’, ‘Health Centre Record’, ‘Measuring our heights’/ hands (see resources).
Preparation: Set up the role-play area as a health centre. Have props for children to use (as above). Print the Register and Health form (see resources).What to do: Children role-play a health centre. Some children might be
the patients and some the medical staff. They use the resources available to measure and check
their ‘patients’ as well as taking the register. They write the different children’s names and ages.
Talking points How would you write this
patient’s name? Can you read what this says
on the form?
Evidence of learning:Listen to children talking. Do they role-play as if in a medical centre/ use mathematical language when measuring?Observe children. Do they apply phonic knowledge to make plausible attempts when reading/ writing?
Outcome(s): I am beginning to read signs, labels and words by segmenting and blending.I am beginning to write names and labels.
Reception English: Autumn – Ourselves, Unit 1 All about me! Exploring and Playing
Unit 1: All about me!AU
TUM
N O
urselves: Unit 1, Exploring and Playing
Play Activity: Portrait artists S, PSED, EADAims: To look at facial features in detail; notice/ describe what is the same and what is different about faces (PSED, EAD, S).To draw a self-portrait and add labels (EAD, W).
You will need: Small mirrors, charcoal, A4/A5 sugar paper
Preparation: Set up a table with small mirrors and charcoal (ideally pencils as these are easier to use). Have A4 or A5 sugar paper available.What to do: Children look carefully at their faces using the mirrors. They use small strokes to sketch their faces as they see
them, adding their eyes, nose, mouth, ears and hair, as well as any other features which make them different.
Some children could add labels to their drawing or write their name at the top.
Talking points What shape is your face? What features are the same/different
from your friend’s? Can you describe your face and features?
Evidence of learning:Listen to children talking. Do use descriptive words for features as they are drawing?Observe children. Do they keep checking the mirror while drawing? Do they hold their charcoal pencil correctly?
Outcome(s):I can look closely at my face while drawing it.I can talk about the features of my face and compare these to my friends.
Unit 1: All about me!
AUTU
MN
Ourselves: U
nit 1, Exploring and Playing
Play Activity: Paper dolls PD, PSED, EADAims: To use scissors with control (PD).To recognise our unique features and how these are similar/ different to other children’s and draw these (PSED, EAD).
You will need: Paper; thick black pen; coloured pens or pencils; scissors.
Preparation: Fold sheets of paper with half a person drawn at the folded edge or draw half an outline on folded paper, unfold and photocopy. Re-fold copies to make an easier version.What to do: Children take one of the pre-prepared people (as
above) and cut around the person. They unfold to reveal a person shape. They draw/colour the person to make them look
like themselves, adding their own unique features.Talking points Why do you only have to cut along half of a
person? How can you make it look like you? Can you make this harder by using a sheet of
paper folded several times to get more people?
Evidence of learning:Listen to children talking. Do they talk about their features and how to draw these?Observe children. Do they hold the scissors correctly? Are they able to use scissors with control?
Outcome(s):I can use scissors with control to cut out shapes.I can draw my own features on a paper doll.
