Resources

PLAYGROUPS AND FAITH FESTIVALS

Following her recent article in update 71, Di Turner from the Playleader magazine writes with the following:

"Stephanie Quennell (Resources Section) will be aware that, since the inspection by Social Services at St John’s pre-school playgroup Bedford, OFSTED have taken over all inspections.

"All pre-schools and schools are expected to conform and comply with the Early Learning Goals, as explained in my article in Newsletter 71. Christian schools are not exempt from this.

"I hope the following information may be of help to Christian pre-school leaders and teachers so they can meet the guidelines laid down in the Early Years documentation, without introducing other faith festivals."

Some Multicultural Celebrations and Ideas

1 March: St David’s Day (Welsh/Celtic)
David lived in Wales over a thousand years ago and taught people about Jesus. Welsh people wear daffodils or leeks today. Show children a leek and a daffodil, and ask them which is the prettiest? Give each child a daffodil to wear. You could ask them to wear something yellow, to help colour recognition.

17 March: St Patrick’s Day (Irish/Celtic)
About 1600 years ago slave traders took Patrick to Ireland. There he looked after sheep until he escaped and told the Irish people about Jesus and later became a bishop. On this day Irish people wear shamrocks to remind them of St Patrick. Draw outlines of a shamrock for the children to colour green. Count the three parts of the leaf. The three parts make one shamrock, reminding us that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one God, the Trinity.

4 July: American Independence Day (North America)
This is a day of celebration in USA. People sing God bless America. We can ask God to bless us all. Show the American flag with its stars and stripes and enjoy cookies and/or popcorn.

Notting Hill Carnival (African-Caribbean)
Talk about the enjoyment this brings to African-Caribbean people living in London. Talk about playing oil drums and look at pictures of carnival clothes and floats. Children enjoy dressing up.

Chinese New Year (Chinese)
Chinese New Year begins on a different day from our New Year with celebrations in large cities. Several people stand under a length of material and the front person wears a dragon’s face mask. When they move they look like a dragon going along. Help the children make masks.

Multicultural Bible Stories

The Good Samaritan
In this story that Jesus told, a man was attacked and hurt on a dangerous road. A person from another country rescued him as he lay dying. The story teaches us that we should help people, whoever they are and wherever they come from. Children enjoy acting out the story.

The Healing of Naaman
King Naaman lived a long time before Jesus. He had a horrible disease called leprosy. He was annoyed when a little girl told him to go and wash seven times in a dirty river in another country. But he did so, and became well. God used that little girl to help an important king, and he can use us to help anybody.

Books for story time and the book corner:
Topsy and Tim are always popular. In Topsy and Tim Make a New Friend by Jean & Gareth Adamson, the twins meet a new friend from a different ethnic background.
Shirley Hughes’ books include delightful illustrations of people of various nationalities.
The Naughty Mouse by Susheila Stone, Luzac Publishing Ltd - written in Hindi and English with beautiful illustrations, and typical of stories handed down in India over many generations. One of a series of bilingual paperbacks Susheila has written to keep alive tales from Indian oral tradition.

Artwork and clothes
Display pictures showing children of various ethnic origins and have multicultural dressing up clothes. We found Davy Crockett hats were always popular!
The head teacher of a Wolverhampton nursery school found the best way of involving Asian and West Indian mothers is to invite them to do some cooking with the children. "The nursery also had Asian mornings when helpers dressed in saris, very willingly lent by Asian mums, who brought them and showed and helped us to dress in them."

Food around the world

Prawn crackers: As these are cooked in a little hot oil, keep the children at a safe distance to enjoy watching them expand. You can buy crackers from oriental spice stores or large supermarkets. Explain they originate from Eastern countries.

Pasta: Taste cooked pasta and explain Italians make it.
Make a collage with raw pasta. Glue pasta shapes inside empty round cheese boxes. Afterwards spray them gold or silver. Add loops to hang them up and small calendars. Say we count the years from when Jesus was born.

Fruit: Discuss where fruit grows. Cut up and taste melon, pawpaw and mango etc.

Other Multicultural items

Jigsaws showing people of different nationalities.
World Family Duplo people.
An Asian or African-Caribbean-looking doll.
Asian cooking utensils for play purposes. In Wolverhampton the children love them because they are the same as those used at home.
Put a small wok, rice bowls and chopsticks in the home corner.
A good selection of multicultural dolls, puzzles, and books can be viewed and ordered from the Hope Education Pre-school catalogue www.hope-education.co.uk

Diana Turner. e-mail di.turner@lineone.net
Diana Turner is the editor of Playleader magazine, which is full of information and ideas to inspire, encourage and support all those involved with preschool children. Published three times a year, Playleader is an ecumenical resource, which was founded in 1985, and is funded entirely by donations. For further details visit the website www.playleader.freeuk.com or write to Diana at 125 Finchfield Lane, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV3 8EY.

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		PLAYGROUPS AND FAITH FESTIVALS Following her recent article in update 71, Di Turner from the Playleader magazine writes with the following: "Stephanie Quennell (Resources Section) will be aware that, since the inspection by Social Services at St John’s pre-school playgroup Bedford, OFSTED have taken over all inspections. "All pre-schools and schools are expected to conform and comply with the Early Learning Goals, as explained in my article in Newsletter 71. Christian schools are not exempt from this. "I hope the following information may be of help to Christian pre-school leaders and teachers so they can meet the guidelines laid down in the Early Years documentation, without introducing other faith festivals." Some Multicultural Celebrations and Ideas 1 March: St David’s Day (Welsh/Celtic) David lived in Wales over a thousand years ago and taught people about Jesus. Welsh people wear daffodils or leeks today. Show children a leek and a daffodil, and ask them which is the prettiest? Give each child a daffodil to wear. You could ask them to wear something yellow, to help colour recognition. 17 March: St Patrick’s Day (Irish/Celtic) About 1600 years ago slave traders took Patrick to Ireland. There he looked after sheep until he escaped and told the Irish people about Jesus and later became a bishop. On this day Irish people wear shamrocks to remind them of St Patrick. Draw outlines of a shamrock for the children to colour green. Count the three parts of the leaf. The three parts make one shamrock, reminding us that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one God, the Trinity. 4 July: American Independence Day (North America) This is a day of celebration in USA. People sing God bless America. We can ask God to bless us all. Show the American flag with its stars and stripes and enjoy cookies and/or popcorn. Notting Hill Carnival (African-Caribbean) Talk about the enjoyment this brings to African-Caribbean people living in London. Talk about playing oil drums and look at pictures of carnival clothes and floats. Children enjoy dressing up. Chinese New Year (Chinese) Chinese New Year begins on a different day from our New Year with celebrations in large cities. Several people stand under a length of material and the front person wears a dragon’s face mask. When they move they look like a dragon going along. Help the children make masks. Multicultural Bible Stories The Good Samaritan In this story that Jesus told, a man was attacked and hurt on a dangerous road. A person from another country rescued him as he lay dying. The story teaches us that we should help people, whoever they are and wherever they come from. Children enjoy acting out the story. The Healing of Naaman King Naaman lived a long time before Jesus. He had a horrible disease called leprosy. He was annoyed when a little girl told him to go and wash seven times in a dirty river in another country. But he did so, and became well. God used that little girl to help an important king, and he can use us to help anybody. Books for story time and the book corner: Topsy and Tim are always popular. In Topsy and Tim Make a New Friend by Jean & Gareth Adamson, the twins meet a new friend from a different ethnic background. Shirley Hughes’ books include delightful illustrations of people of various nationalities. The Naughty Mouse by Susheila Stone, Luzac Publishing Ltd - written in Hindi and English with beautiful illustrations, and typical of stories handed down in India over many generations. One of a series of bilingual paperbacks Susheila has written to keep alive tales from Indian oral tradition. Artwork and clothes Display pictures showing children of various ethnic origins and have multicultural dressing up clothes. We found Davy Crockett hats were always popular! The head teacher of a Wolverhampton nursery school found the best way of involving Asian and West Indian mothers is to invite them to do some cooking with the children. "The nursery also had Asian mornings when helpers dressed in saris, very willingly lent by Asian mums, who brought them and showed and helped us to dress in them." Food around the world Prawn crackers: As these are cooked in a little hot oil, keep the children at a safe distance to enjoy watching them expand. You can buy crackers from oriental spice stores or large supermarkets. Explain they originate from Eastern countries. Pasta: Taste cooked pasta and explain Italians make it. Make a collage with raw pasta. Glue pasta shapes inside empty round cheese boxes. Afterwards spray them gold or silver. Add loops to hang them up and small calendars. Say we count the years from when Jesus was born. Fruit: Discuss where fruit grows. Cut up and taste melon, pawpaw and mango etc. Other Multicultural items Jigsaws showing people of different nationalities. World Family Duplo people. An Asian or African-Caribbean-looking doll. Asian cooking utensils for play purposes. In Wolverhampton the children love them because they are the same as those used at home. Put a small wok, rice bowls and chopsticks in the home corner. A good selection of multicultural dolls, puzzles, and books can be viewed and ordered from the Hope Education Pre-school catalogue www.hope-education.co.uk Diana Turner. e-mail di.turner@lineone.net Diana Turner is the editor of Playleader magazine, which is full of information and ideas to inspire, encourage and support all those involved with preschool children. Published three times a year, Playleader is an ecumenical resource, which was founded in 1985, and is funded entirely by donations. For further details visit the website www.playleader.freeuk.com or write to Diana at 125 Finchfield Lane, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV3 8EY. © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.