Although citizenship is not a subject which has to be officially taught at the Foundation Stage so much of what has always been considered good practice at nursery and reception level relates to a child's personal and social development, and underpins the requirements of the National Curriculum at a later stage.
ColorCards from Speechmark consists of packs of high-quality photographs designed to develop both language and social skills and featuring real objects, people, situations and activities. How's Teddy?, in the Pocket ColorCard series, introduces the topic of feelings in a very simple way.
There are illustrations of 18 different feelings - including happy, frightened, loving, cold, tired and strong. Each is represented by two cards; on one card the teddy demonstrates the feeling, on the other it is a child, although the teddy also appears in the picture. The set contains 36 picture cards and four instruction cards, each measuring 115 x 75mm. Priced 5.95.
Also from ColorCards is Emotions, another resource designed to promote a slightly more advanced awareness of feelings. It consists of pictures of real people in a range of situations from which the children can begin to understand facial expressions, postures and other body language. The set contains 48 cards, each measuring 210 x 148mm plus a booklet, priced 25.95.
Telephone 01869 244644 www.speechmark.net
Among its range of Storysacks LFC includes one which is suitable for personal, social and health education (PSHE) and is based on the picture book, Ringo the Flamingo. Ringo is not like the other flamingoes, because his legs don't work, but he overcomes his disability by his selflessness. A Fact Book on Disability is also included. The PSHE Storysack costs 52.99. LFC also has an interactive Feelings Wall Hanging (21.99) Telephone 08458 506507www.lfc-ltd.co.uk
Exploring Emotions (7.99) from Step Forward Publishing is specifically designed for nursery teachers, playgroup leaders and anyone else involved in the education of three- and four-year-olds. It contains ideas for using puppets, toys, pictures and photos to help develop the children's understanding of emotions and includes a page on how to help a child handle her emotions which can be photocopied for parents.
Telephone 01926 420046
Developing Citizenship is a new series of photcopiable books from A&C Black covering a whole range of activities to support the teaching of citizenship. Developing Citizenship Year R examines the issues of right and wrong, myself and people around me, independence, developing awareness of places and cultures and exploration. The book will be available in April, price 16.99.
Telephone 0207 758 0200 www.acblack.com
Bigfoot Supply Theatre Company will deliver PSHE and citizenship workshops for the whole primary school age range. The company uses role play, improvisation and drama games and provides 'a creative forum where the children can confront sensitive and controversial issues'. The workshops cover the topics of transition, helping children to deal with any concerns they may have about moving between key stages, bullying and promoting positive relationships.
The basic cost of a half-day visit from the Bigfoot Theatre Company is Pounds 200, a full day, 350.
For further information contact Claire Burnell, the PSHE and citizenship co-ordinator.
Telephone 0207 952 5542 www.bigfoot-theatre.co.uk
There is a new series of books for pre-school children from Keppel Publishing which is designed to encourage children to understand and explore the world around them. The series launched last summer with two paperback picture books, Our Wonderful World and Molly Muddle's Cake by Anne Butler and Sue Mayfield, each priced 3.99. The two books feature a group of characters comprising Molly Muddle, a jolly adult, Polly the parrot and Skip the dog who each have their own special personality and talents. The children are encouraged to identify with the experiences of the characters.
As well as the book there is an accompanying CD Sing Out and Dance About (9.99). In addition, one of the authors, Sue Butler, will visit nurseries in the character of Molly Muddle. Her performance is about an hour long and costs 100. Contact the company to see when she is in your area.
Telephone 01644 420272 www.keppelpublishing.com
Check out the Positive Press catalogue from Jenny Mosley Consultancies.
There you will find Moppy, the creation of Jane Asher and Gerald Scarfe, who features in books and on posters. Moppy is designed to help develop emotional intelligence in children; he feels his emotions so strongly that he changes colour according to his mood. The books are Moppy is Angry and Moppy is Happy (5.99 each). The A2 posters Moppy is happy, Moppy is sad and Moppy is angry, Moppy is calm cost 4.99 for a set of both.
Telephone 01225 767157 www.circle-time.co.uk
Citizenship: Using the Evidence of the Historic Environment is the title of a new book and CD-ROM from English Heritage. This shows how local buildings can be used in citizenship projects from the Foundation Stage to KS3 to help children develop skills like recording information and using resources, such as people in their local community, to gain insight.
The 72-page book and CD costs 9.99 and is available by mail order from English Heritage Postal Sales, c/o Gillards, Trident Works, Temple Cloud, Bristol BS39 5AZ or email ehsales@gillards.com.
Telephone 01761 452966 www. english-heritage.org.uk/education
Talking is for Kids: Emotional Literacy for Infant School Children is by Betty K Rudd, who is a counselling psychologist. The book addresses the six key concepts of emotional literacy: confidence building, social development, teaching how to learn, expressing emotion, environmental awareness and moving towards independence.
Available from the Accelerated Learning Centre priced 12.
Telephone 01267 211880 www.accelerated-learning.co.uk
..AND FOR KEY STAGE 1
The Not So Naughty Stories is a CD-ROM from Sherston, featuring a number of lively characters who don't know how to behave. In the 12 stories - each supported by three interactive activities - the children will meet, among others, a bossy brother, a cruel cousin and a hopeless helper, and in doing so will learn about the consequences of behaving badly and how such behaviour affects other people. The activities reinforce the stories and help the children to work independently or in small groups to further develop their understanding of the themes.
The CD-ROM contains a full narrative and highlighted text for those who are less confident about reading. It costs 44.95 for a single user and is available to schools on a free 28-day approval.
Telephone 01666 843200 www.sherston.com
Purr-fect Skills is a social skills programme for five- to seven-year-olds, which uses the combination of a book, a CD-ROM and two cat puppets. The stories feature two kittens, one who has just started school and the other who is looking forward to starting. It provides a series of lesson plans to help teach children how to interact with peers.
A further programme Citizen Cyd, is designed to develop citizenship. It comprises a photocopiable book and a mole hand puppet, Cyd, who tackles themes like feelings and telling the truth.
Both programmes are available from Sage Publishing, price 34.99 each.
Telephone 020 7374 0645 www.sagepub.co.uk
