The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is an important period of development in a child’s life, where they learn and grow through play and exploration. As a teacher or parent, it’s important to provide your pre-school children with activities that engage their curiosity and help them develop a range of skills.
One such activity that children are sure to love is a jungle-themed tuff tray, which includes a variety of sensory experiences and opportunities for imaginative play. Take a look at out latest class activity which was used in our small play/sand area. This was a great idea that one of our Busy Kiddies teachers made which was linked to our story of the week, ‘Go tell it to the Toucan!’
Take a look at how it was constructed!
To set up this activity, you will need a tuff tray or a large shallow container, sand for the desert, pebbles for the shoreline, shaving foam mixed with blue dye to represent the lake, grass and leaves for the rainforest, and jungle animals. You can use plastic animals or small figurines, or even make your own using clay or playdough.
- Start by filling one corner of the tuff tray with sand to create a desert area. Encourage children to use their hands to make sandcastles or bury their animal figurines in the sand. This provides an opportunity for children to develop fine motor skills and sensory exploration.
2. Next, create a shoreline by placing pebbles around the shaving foam mixed with blue dye to represent a lake. Children can use the pebbles to make paths or bridges across the water, or they can use their hands to create ripples in the water. This activity promotes gross motor skills and imaginative play, as children can imagine themselves exploring the water or fishing for animals.
3. Add grass and leaves to another corner of the tuff tray to represent the rainforest. Children can use their animal figurines to explore the jungle, or they can use their imaginations to create their own stories and adventures. This area encourages imaginative play and provides an opportunity for children to learn about different habitats and ecosystems. Children can sort the animals by size or by what habitat they live in.
This jungle-themed tuff tray activity provides pre-school children with a range of sensory experiences and opportunities for imaginative play. It helps them develop fine and gross motor skills, as well as learning about different habitats and ecosystems. It also encourages children to use their imaginations and develop their storytelling abilities.
If you would like more information about our nursery/pre-school in Edmonton, please contact Busy Kiddies Nursery on 0203 633 2268 or 07943 643 084.
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You can message us or read more about our nursery at www.busykiddies.co.uk