This web page provides some links to the digital content material, and activity ideas for the COVID-19 days off! The newest material will appear at the top!

19th – 24th April

 

Emma (and Levia) have made a video for you to copy at home!

Justine has created a story all about the Coronavirus. Its called The Tigers Corona Time Diary!

Click here to download the book! (Its amazing)

Kinga has made a video called ‘Spin the Bottle’! Its a great activity to try at home!

Our theme this week is insects, and our mini-topics are Mini-beasts, Berries, Bugs we find at home and Volcanos.

And, to get us started… here is the wonderful Kinga with a Butterfly activity that you can do at home! Send us pictures of how your butterflies turn out!

Here are some great ‘no mess’ arts and craft ideas for Tigers, although the other groups may also like them 😉

Here are 30 quick ideas for Toddlers (Penguins, Tigers and Zebras). We would love to see pictures of you doing some of these at home!

Here are some art ideas for you to make from old CDs and bottle tops! 

And.. for Penguins some CRAFTY ideas for this week! 

Volcanos

What is a volcano?

Here is an introduction video for Tigers and Zebras

Here is an introduction video for Lions and Elephants:

Growing volcano experience to do at home! Click here for the instructions! 

Make Volcano slime with your children, and add your lego toys in to play with!!

Lava Slime Perfect for Lego Star Wars or Dinosaur Play

Why not make some ‘volcanic art’ at home.. here are some ideas!

12th – 17th April

Shabbat Shalom! Light the Shabbat Candles with Sara and Michelle!

Our theme the week is Artists, and our planned circle time topics were; hiking, different kinds of weather and the rainforest!

Science experiments with Kinga!

How are germs spread?

Water and Boat experiment:

And some other easy experiments you will enjoy 😉

Penguins, Tigers and Zebras – make some slime with Justine!!

Justine celebrates Easter!! – How is Easter is celebrated in Germany?

Phonics work!

Phonics is the teaching of sounds. At Rainbow we spend time working with the children to be able to isolate and discriminate the letter sounds. We can also support the children to link letter sounds and letter shapes together (phoneme-grapheme correspondence). We use the Jolly Phonics programme to teach the letters and sounds at Rainbow, we start with the song from Zebras, and work hard through Lions and Elephants in developing the programme to early stages of reading and writing in English.

 

So… you may wish to use some of these techniques whilst you are at home. This first video is an instructional video for teachers, with a brief introduction to Jolly Phonics and a demonstration of the actions that go with the song words!

However, here is the song that we use with the children (below) to introduce and practice each letter. The song introduces the letters in the correct order for learning (starting with S).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26uXtUYssuo

And, an amazing activity to go along with each letter sound is to help the children make the letter shapes. You can do this with play dough, with painting, with craft and modelling or by arranging items in the shape of letters. The process of doing this will help children to remember the letter shapes over time.

Sadeh has built the letter S with his mum and brother Geva. We would love you to take pictures and send them in to show us how YOU have built letters at home with your children!

A song from Avinoam!

Here is a song that Avinoam created last year with the Elephants (who left), but he still sings it often with the children in the gan – who love it! Why not play it and sing along with your children at home!

 

Kinga says…

Science experiments are always fun and so much to learn from them!

You can easily prepare and lead science activities at home!

Easy science activities, click on the links to see the activity ideas:

Melting Rainbow
Sink or float with oranges
Cloud in a jar
Making rain
How germs are spread
Oil and water experiment
Dry wipe pen and water

Here are some sensory Activities that will be fun for Penguins, Tigers and some Zebras! 

Discovery baskets and treasure baskets can be used to gather together a collection of heuristic play items (they are non-designed toys). You can theme the baskets to enable your child to explore and learn about different concepts; such as hard and soft, or big and small. Click here to learn more about this concept, by reading on the Imagination Tree.

Two basket ideas  – click on the link below for instructions of how to put together the baskets.

1. Hard and Soft
2. Big and Small 

Hot and Cold Activities

There are resources in this Zip appropriate for all children from Penguins to Elephants! Click here to download a zip with many activities ideas to explore the concepts of HOT and COLD – things you can easily do at home!

And here is a great blog CLICK HERE for activity ideas for children aged 1 – 2

Artists

Here is some information for teachers (parents!) on the top ten artists to teach preschoolers about! Click here to go to the web article!

Here is a video, showing a range of famous paintings, with classic music – suitable for all children, and would be great with some parent input to discuss the paintings.

Here is a children’s cartoon story about Van Gough:

Click here to download a Powerpoint about Van Gough, that you can use to discuss with your Lion and Elephant children. The presentation will help you to structure a discussion with your child.

Click here to download a photo-pack of Van Gough’s work (zip file) – you can print and display them at home or open them on the computer with your children and discuss the pictures.

Click here to download activity sheets, where children can add colour to create their own works of Van Gough!

Simple introduction to Picasso and shapes:

Here are some Picasso pictures. Click here to download. You could display them at home! Talk about the shapes and colours in the pictures with your children. You could also try to re-create some of these with your children!

Here is a Picasso factsheet for parents and teachers, so you can discuss Picasso’s life and achievements with your Elephant and Lion children. Click here to download There are also some ‘fact sheet cards’ – that you can download to use with your children. Click here to download

Kandinsky

Here is a famous painting by Kandinsky… if you have paints at home… can you make your own version? Click here to download a presentation about Kandinsky that you can discuss with your children, and instructions on how to make this painting!

Here are instructions for you to make your own paint. Take a piece of paper A3 or A4 and fold it into squares, and re-open it to make your template. Or you can download the template here: Click here to download

Please please bring in your paintings when all this is over, and we will make a display! You can also send in photos of what you made!

Here is a colouring sheet, with one of Kandinsky’s paintings, for you to add the colours! Use the presentation above to find the right colours! Click here to download

Here is a photo pack of Kandinsky’s work that you can download, display, discuss or make your own versions of! Click here to download

5th – 10th of April

Thanks to Chen… Ilil’s mum who has forwarded this book for children, all about COVID-19! Click here to download

Take a look at what Sivan is cooking today. Remember to send us your cooking photos and videos!

 

Take a look at Kinga’s Pesach frog art. Send us your photos of your frogs!

Kinga says…  “Holidays are getting closer! Let’s have some family fun by making easy crafts together!”

Passover

* Paper cup pyramids
* 10 plague masks
* Toilet paper roll frogs
* Clothespin grasshopper art

Easter

* Chick fork painting
* Sock bunny

* Paper bunny

Spring

* Noddles sunflowers
* Butterfly handprint art
* Spring tree craft:

Let’s go on a bear hunt with Justine!

The theme this week is Easter, Passover and Spring, and on Monday – don’t forget – it’s Earth Day!

Easter

Here is a video of the Easter story (beware… it contains a depiction of the crucifixion!)

Click here to download an entire Easter home learning activity pack. It will download in a Zip, and contains over 15 exciting ideas and activities that you can do with your children… including cooking!

Easter bunny story being read:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI2Z5ZvO1gk

Passover

Here is an animated story about passover:

You can revisit this story with your child, by retelling using this powerpoint! Click here to download

Seder Plate… can you make a seder plate with your child? Take a paper place, and use arts and craft materials to design your own seder plate. Click here to download information about the seder plate! You can also talk about the Seder plate with your child, using the Seder play Powerpoint! Click here to download…

Here is a short video to remind us what goes on the Seder Plate, and what it symbolises!

Spring

How doe we know it’s spring? Listen to the story…

 

If you can, when you go for your Daily Walk with your child, LOOK for signs of spring! What can YOU spot in the neighbourhood that tells us spring is here? You can record what you found when you get home, using this sheet. Click here to download! Ask you child to draw the signs of spring they saw!

 

Spring is here song! Why not sing along with your children, and make up a ‘Spring dance’ with them?! We would love to see videos of you dancing with your children to this song! Send them in!!

Arts and Crafts for springtime are superfun! We have lots of ideas for you. Click here to download a zip file, with lots and lots of springtime art ideas!

And, let’s end the Spring section, with a lovely story about Spring time!

Earth Day

Here is a short video to learn about what Earth Day is!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yl3zgcL0Tv8

If you have access to the outside – why not have your children make mud pie! Mix real mud with water, even make a mud kitchen! What could be more fun! Click here for an idea of how to do it!

You could do some real cooking too (sorry – not a very healthy recipe – see if you can substitute the things for something healthier!!):

 

Re-cycling is a big topic of the Earth Day project. Why not set up some recycling at home. Sort through all your things with your child and figure out what can be recycled! There is also a cool recycling sorting activity you can do here! Click here to download the activity!

Here is a storytime read aloud about Earth Day!

29th March – 3rd April

The theme this week is ‘Water’… here are some introduction videos, which will deliver similar messages to the kinds of discussions we have with children during circle times at gan!

Why not create a water play area at home for this week? Take a large container, and fill it with water! Let your child play! You can add things to the water, like containers for filling and emptying, or toys for imaginative play in the water, or food colouring to make the water different colours! Here are some ‘challenge’ cards for more ideas! Click here to download

Pencil control is a skill that children from Zebras through to Elephants practice in different ways. Here are some pencil control activities that you can print out and use at home on the theme of water. Click here to download

Water and how it is used:

The water cycle – how rain in formed:

Here are some printouts you can use with your child to reinforce the ideas of the water cycle. You can cut and stick to label the poster, and display it at home next to the sink or toilet! Click here to download!

And… here is a water cycle wheel you can use! Click here to download

What happens when we flush!?

Experiments to do at home – with ice! 

Can you make ice grow?

Can you make Ice sticky?

Staying safe around water

Talk to your children about how to stay safe around water. Click here to download a powerpoint presentation you can use to aid your discussion. Talk about the pictures with your child.

Nursery songs and rhymes related to water:

Five little ducks

.

Using Language: Fun circle time questions – > suitable for Lions and Elephants, and some zebras! Use these questions to prompt discussion and talk! Click here to download

What have your friends been up to?

Some Maths and number challenges for Lions and Elephants:

Find one more than, or one less than

Counting and ordering numbers to 20

Problem solving – doubling

Problem solving – halving 

Adding two single digits

Subtracting two single digits

Sharing out

Make Banana bread with Sarah and Michelle

Shake your body with Jescah!

Ideas from Kinga:

As in our daily life we use a lot of paper items/packages (like egg carton, boxes, toilet paper roll, paper cups, etc.), it gives us a great opportunity for recycling craft!
Making use of these inexpensive craft materials, you will be giving your children the needs of escalate their imagination and creative play!

Here are some examples:

Egg carton crafting

Egg carton building blocks:

Face crafting:

Option 1

Option 2

Toilet paper roll crafting

Making a snake:

Car crafting:

Paper cup crafting

Letter recognition:
Number matching:

Usage of mixed paper packages

Making a robot:

Creating a castle:

Kinga leads some activities for you to do at home:

Messy Play

And… great for younger children – messy play ideas! Download this booklet – with LOADS of messy play ideas you can easily make at home! And… here is a second book (click to download) with some great ‘messy play’ ideas for older children

Anna talks sport!

From Aliza… some inside activity ideas!

Click Here!

And… here is another easy idea from Aliza…

How to make your own butterfly name :
1) draw a butterfly
2) divide it into sections based in the letters in your child’s name
3) write your child’s name in each section
4) cut it out
5) glue the letters together to form the butterfly
6) it’s done ! Let’s decorate !

Pizza number puzzle
1) draw two pizzas and divide them into sections
2) on one pizza write the numbers and on the other pizza draw the correct amount/ number of shapes to match the numbers on the other pizza
3) cut out one of the pizzas
4) match the correct shapes to numbers of your pizza

 

This week’s theme is sports, and today there is a circle time topic of the Paralympics

What are the Paralympics?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58klQtIzxAI

Here is a video of a swimmer taking part in Paralympics. Why not watch it with your children. Talk about how wheelchair users can take part in a range of sport. Talk about how wheelchair users can access the water, and take part in competitive sport.

Letter formation practice

Click here to download the letter formation for Capital and lowercase letters. The Elephants, especially green and yellow groups might wish to trace these letters, and then try writing some themselves.

Fact sheet about UK Paralympics 

Download the fact sheet here; this is suitable to read to the Elephants children, and the yellow and green group from Lions. Its facts about the paralytics. Parents of younger children may wish to also download this, and tell their own version to your children.

Values related to Paralympics 

Click here to download the topic cards. These can promote a discussion about concepts like equality, determination and friendship. You can use the cards with your children as you watch Youtube videos of the Paralympics and look out for these values. Children can also talk about how they see these values in their lives; for example talking about their friendships that are important to them.

Different Paralympics sports

Click here to download images of different sports. Can you name them? Can you find videos online that show how people take part in each sport? Can you try the sport at home? Take pictures if you manage to try anything out yourselves!

Make Posters!

Click here and click here to download two different sets of images for children to make their own Paralympics posters. They can add colour, their own drawing and art and even words and titles. They can cut up the pictures also to practice their cutting skills! Take pictures and show us your creations!

From the Elephants Circle Time – Skimbleshanks the Railway cat!

This week’s theme is Sport! So, we have put together some ideas of sporty things you can do at home!

Learn Different Types of Sports:

 

Zumba Dance for Kids:

‘Do you like sports?’ song:

 

Opposite cards

Click here to download. Print these out, and cut them up with your children, and practice matching the opposites. Suitable for all groups with different levels of adult support.

Sports Activities

Click here to download. Print out these cards, or view them on the screen. With your child you can select a card, and do the activity together that is written on the card. There are many variations. You could put them in a box upside down, and pick out the cards as a ‘surprise’. You could also keep the card a secret, and ‘demonstrate’ the sport, for your child to guess. Different versions of this can be used with Tigers through to Elephants

Circuit cards

Click here to download. These cards provide you with ‘circuit’ ideas that you can do with your child around the house! Keep fit with circuits during sports week! Suitable for all groups.

Design your own football kit!

Click here to download. Print out this sheet, and let your child design their own football kit! You may wish to look at different football teams online, and discuss the different colours, patterns and sponsorship elements of the kits. This is suitable for Elephants and Lions

Counting – Sports theme

Click here to download. Print the sheet, and count with your children, and write in the box the number of items, Children from all groups can do this, with different levels of adult support.

Sports Day – What can you see?

Click here to download this Powerpoint presentation. This is a fun game, suitable for Elephants and Lions. The slides show you a ‘mini image’ of something, you need to guess what! The next slide shows the full picture. You can use the pictures as a stimulus to talk to your child about different types of sport.

Elephants:

Here is the material following our circle time this morning.

Macavity poem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LjaTP0T3Ew

Sunday 15th March to Thursday 19th March

Here is some of the digital content from this week:

Emma reads ‘Dear Zoo’

Lions staff make a language video

A tiger’s team video for the children:

Class Videos, with the children!

PENGUINS:

 

TIGERS

ZEBRAS:

LIONS

ELEPHANTS:

Baking Challah with Sivan:

Justine makes Cloud Dough

 

Kinga makes Playdoh