The children at George Dent Nursery School, Darlington, enjoyed discovering how pattern is used as camouflage in the natural world as they created a display from animal print paper.
Planned learning intentions
To talk about, recognise and recreate simple patterns
To look closely at similarities, differences, patterns and changes
To explore colour, texture, shape, form and space in two or three dimensions
Resources
Paint ,glue ,3white paper ,brown backing paper ,paper for mounting children's work ,yellow border roll ,animal print paper (obtainable from early years catalogues) ,animal print fabrics ,books about wild life, for example in the jungle
Step by step
* Look at the animals featured in the books, and the animal print paper and fabrics, and discuss patterns the children see.
* Introduce the word 'camouflage' and explain the meaning. Explore pictures of animals hidden among vegetation and talk about how their external markings match those of their surroundings.
* Back the display board with brown paper and surround it with a yellow border.
* Cut out rectangles of animal print paper and invite children to glue them to a sheet of paper to form the body of an animal of their choosing.
Suggest that they add features, such as a head, tail and legs, using paint and collage materials.
* Mount the children's pictures on contrasting paper and attach them to the display.
* Entitle the display 'Animal patterns'.
* Drape the animal print fabric over a shelf below and stand appropriate books along it.
* Spend time with the children, talking about the patterns they notice on the display.
Activities
* Create a small-world African habitat in a builder's tray. Spread sand over the bottom and create trees and bushes from recycled materials to represent an African jungle and plain. Introduce appropriate small-world wild animals and hide them among the vegetation.
* Look for patterns in the children's everyday environment, for example on wallpaper, clothing and household fabrics such as bedding and curtains.
* Invite children to create patterns using resources such as beads and construction equipment.
