Share activities
Below is a variety of Share activities that you can download.
Sort it out! activity
'Sorting' is often seen as a boring task - trying to match the same things or sort things into categories like all the white clothes or all clothes made from wool. However, the 'talk' that is involved in doing those jobs will really help your children to describe things accurately. The 'describing' words your children use are very important. The words they choose are the way that children understand the world around them. They will talk about the 'bigger' jumper, the 'longer' scarf, the 'smallest' t-shirt and so on.
The words they use - their vocabulary needs your help to grow! Adults have an important job to do in talking with children to help them understand and use a variety of language when describing something.
This is a great activity to do as a family - a job you need to do anyway!
Once you have completed the Sort it Out! activity, have a look at some fun ideas (PDF) on how to use it ...
Soundmakers Activity
Listening to and singing rhymes and songs are a great way to enjoy ‘together time’ with your child.
The good news about rhymes and songs:
- you only need a few minutes to enjoy a rhyme together
- you do not need to be a good singer or be able to play a musical instrument
- you will be helping your child to gain the confidence to express their own ideas
- you will be helping your child develop concentration and listening skills.
Rhymes and songs with actions are fun for you and your child. The Share CD Making time for rhyme has lots of action rhymes and songs for you and your child to learn together. Your local library will also have music tapes which you can borrow.
Some advice to help make singing with your child a special activity:
- find a comfortable place to sit (eg on cushions with your child facing you)
- use pauses and eye contact to help your child to anticipate and remember the actions and words
- repeat rhymes and songs as many times as your child wants to. Young children need and enjoy repetition.
Once you have completed the Soundmakers activity, have a look at some fun ideas (Word) on how to use it ...
Stick Puppets Activity
Talk is a natural and important part of all learning, especially reading and writing. For example, writing is a way of telling someone something, just like talking, so if children are unable to put their ideas into words and top talk them through then they will find it very difficult to write those words onto paper! We can help children to be better readers and writers by doing things together that lead to lots of talk.
When making and using the stick puppets with your child you will be giving them lots of opportunities to talk and listen for different purposes. For example, you may have talked about how to hold the scissors safely, how the characters feel, etc..
You will be helping your child to:-
- listen carefully and respond
- develop the ability to ask and answer questions
- develop the ability to retell a familiar story
- talk with confidence
- develop the ability to talk about feelings.
These are important learning opportunities and link to the curriculum areas your child will experience in school during both the foundation stage and key stage 1.
Once you have completed the Stick Puppets activity, have a look at some fun ideas on how to use it and a template for Little Red Riding Hood...
Story sounds activity
For the majority of people, sound is something that is heard continuously. From birth a child is surrounded by many sounds such as voices, the weather, body sounds, machinery, animals, vehicles, toys and television. Finding, talking about and imitating sounds provides fun ways for you to support your child in gaining the confidence to express their ideas as well as helping them to develop concentration and listening skills.
Fun with sounds can last a few minutes or longer depending on the interest shown by your child.
Once you have completed the Story sounds activity, have a look at some fun ideas (Word) on how to use it.
Ideas from Share participants
Below are some of the best resources and ideas from other parents and practitioners involved in Share around the country.
The Cube
Welcome activities give members of the group an easy activity to do when they arrive and are waiting for the full group to be present and get going. A welcome activity also encourages those present to talk to the other people at their table, passes the time quickly and breaks the ice.
The Cube is a very versatile activity. Copy the cube template onto card, provide scissors and glue sticks. As each person arrives ask them to cut out the cube and form into a dice. On each of the six faces they should write one word or phrase or draw an image to depict:
- Six things they like about their child
- Six things they are good at as a parent
- Six healthy foods
- Six forms of exercise
- Six nursery rhymes.
You get the idea; it can be six of anything.
Negotiating ground rules
The facilitator will have prepared one or two dice from the cube template. One dice will already have words written on such as:
- confidentiality
- respect
- time
- phones
- breaks
- time out.
The dice can be rolled and each subject discussed fully while developing the ground rules/ contract for the group.
The second dice can be used for other suggestions by the group.
Board game
Parents, who attended the KS1 Share group at Parkside Primary School, in Barnsley made a game for the teacher to use in the classroom. After completing their OCN Share accreditation, they wanted to continue as a group, so they decided to make a large table-top game, incorporating photographs of important places in Royston. Armed with a digital camera, they spent several sessions walking round and taking photographs of GP's surgeries, post offices, supermarket etc, then spent another five weeks devising and making the game.
Submitted by Diane Parker
Celebration day
Share families and practitioners took part in a celebratory Share picnic and fun environmental activities at Bishops Wood Environmental Centre.
The day was organised by Anthea Main, the Share Co-ordinator in Worcestershire and Pam Townsend, a Headteacher. Activities, which were based on using the different senses, included ‘Pond dipping’, a Skywalk and Earthwalk, and a parachute game. At the end of the day, everyone agreed that it had been a fantastic event and gave parents ideas of other activities they could try out at home.
Now email us with your ideas!