horses

Thanks to Angie of Firthfields EYC for this planning example

Medium term planning, focus of interest, theme or interactive display:

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller life

Key area/s of learning: All areas

Children will have opportunities to learn:

Skills:

  • Recalling
  • Discussing
  • Communicating
  • Reflecting
  • Explaining
  • Express feelings
  • Listening
  • Caring for and helping others
  • Understanding own needs and the needs of others
  • Initiating ideas
  • Sharing, taking turns
  • Recreating patterns
  • Creating

Attitudes:

  • Enjoyment
  • Enthusiasm
  • Confidence
  • Co-operation
  • Respect
  • Interest
  • Joy
  • Self-esteem
  • Respect for other cultures, beliefs and points of view
  • Perseverance

Focused Activities and Experiences

    

Weeks beginning 7th. And 14th. June: to introduce the topic, looking at the lifestyle of Gypsy Traveller communities. Develop role play – both large and small scale.

  

CD D/6;
K&U f/6;
PSE A/6 D6

Weeks beginning 21st. and 28th. June; to re-create / make patterns and designs using paint / pictures onto paper plates.

  

PSRN C/6;
K&U A/6

Week beginning 28th. June: to have an outdoor meal / celebration looking at Gypsy Traveller life, creating some of our own party food and looking at the need for hygiene.

  

PD B/6;
PSE C/6 D6 A6

Weeks beginning 5th. July and 12th. July: to talk about where children live, what it is like and discuss how not everyone lives in a house, flat or bungalow – but in a trailer. Discuss holidays in a caravan and what it is like. Create a picture depicting their experiences.

  

CD A/6;
CLL B/6

Enhancement of Basic Provision and Interactive Displays

  • 5 topical jigsaws for the children to use – cognitive.
  • Small world – Roaming Rosie caravan, wooden caravan and truck with people and furniture.
  • Imaginative – large caravan for out door play, cushions and tea set.
  • Mark making – various mark making sheets connected to the topic, various lotto games.

Involvement of Parents / Carers

  • Open door policy.
  • Talk to parents about the topic.
  • Planning on display for parents / carers to read.
  • Questions of the day linked to the topic.

Resources: books, poems, songs, rhymes

  • “Where’s My Teddy” Margaret Hockey + activity book
  • “Reminiscence” A collection of photographs from the first Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month.
  • “Come and Count With Us” Nottinghamshire Traveller Education Service.
  • CD “Come and Count With Us”
  • CD “Where’s My Teddy” early learning mouse skills
  • “My Little Box of Books” Things I Can Do, Colours, Numbers, Shapes + activity book.
  • Shaun’s Wellies – Norfolk Traveller Education Service
  • Poster - Welcome To Our Carnival
  • Appleby and Its Fair – photographs.
  • “Travellers – A Talk About Book”
  • “Monday Morning”
  • “Gypsies and Travellers in Their Own Words”

Resources: equipment, materials, pictures

  • Pictures of caravans / trailers (outside & inside)
  • Pictures of old wagons / vardos (outside & inside)
  • Pictures of horses.
  • Paper plates, paints etc.
  • Box, sheet of card bent over and wheels (could make old wagon / vardo and decorate).
  • Ingredients for baking
  • Crown Derby pictures
  • Washing up bowls, towels

Vocabulary

  • Gypsy, Traveller , site, ground, caravan, trailer, wagon, vardo, home, house, flat, bungalow.
  • Families
  • Horses
  • Journeys / traveling / packing and unpacking
  • Furniture + fittings
  • Gas bottle, jacks, churn, press (cupboard), hitch up, unhitch, pull on, pull off
  • Plates, crockery, patterns, ideas, colours, swirly, shapes, dots, lines, thin, thick, straight, curved, shiny, outside, edge, middle, centre, round, next, special, careful.
  • Patterns on old wagons / vardos
  • Friends and neighbours – greetings & friendly talk
  • Clean, germs, bacteria, soap, water, sink, tap, towel, pour, carry.
  • Ingredients, cook, mix, cut, knife, spoon, spread, stir, scrape

Questions (present, future, past)

  • Where do you live?
  • Have you been in a trailer / caravan?
  • What is inside a trailer?
  • Where do you sleep in a trailer?
  • How can you heat a trailer?
  • Where does the gas come from?
  • How do you help a trailer to stay still / balance?
  • How is a trailer connected to a lorry?
  • Where does the water come from in a trailer?
  • What do we use water for?
  • Where can we find water?
  • How can water be carried?
  • Differences between an old wagon / vardo and a modern trailer
  • Why are horses important to Gypsies and Travellers?
  • Questions about different horses and characteristics and needs of a horse.
  • What pattern would you like to make?
  • What goes next?
  • Why do we need to wash our hands?
  • What might happen if we do not wash our hands?
  • What are we going to make?
  • Who lives with you?

Observational assessment Opportunities: Observations linked to focused activities, photographs & pieces of work.

Observations of children’s independent learning & photographs. Assessed to the EYFS document for all children. What next?


Recommendation

“I recommend you explore and make use of the resources within this booklet in order to provide children with experiences and support which will help them to develop a positive sense of themselves and others whilst promoting positive outcomes for Gypsy Roma and Traveller children.”

Liz Bradley Early Years Foundation Stage Improvement Manager, Early Years and Youth Service Leeds