Harry's Box by Angela McAllister (Bloomsbury Paperbacks, 5.99) is a charming picture book telling the story of Harry's wonderful adventures with his dog Woolfie as companion and only an old cardboard box as inspiration. As Harry moves the box from room to room, the box transforms into a shop, a lion's den, a pirate ship, a sandy cave and a castle. Use the story to help the children in your setting to discover exciting possibilities for imaginative play with the simplest of resources.
Adult-led activity
Harry's Box
Share the story of Harry's Box with the children.
Key learning intentions
To maintain attention, concentrate and sit quietly when appropriate To listen with enjoyment to stories and make up their own stories To show an understanding of the elements of stories, such as main character, sequence of events and openings
Adult-child ratio 1:6
Resources
* Harry's Box by Angela McAllister * large cardboard box
Activity content
* Show the children the box and explain about how you visited the supermarket to get it. Discuss what it might have contained. Explain that the story you are going to read is all about Harry and the things he does with a similar box.
* Show the children the cover of the book and point to the title and the name of the author and illustrator.
* Put the box in front of the children and read the story to them, pausing at each page so that they can look at the illustrations, make comments and ask questions.
* Once you have finished reading, talk about the things that the children liked about the story, asking questions to encourage their comments.
* Explain what is meant by a 'main character' and decide who this might be.
Talk about the different roles played by Woolfie, Harry's dog.
* Encourage the children to recall the sequence of events in the story.
* Ask the children what else they could use the box for and write down their suggestions. Invite them to make up a story using their ideas.
Extended learning
Key vocabulary
Supermarket, treats, treasures, customer, dangerous, brave, wild, scary, pirate, stormy, shipwrecked, precious, battle, foe.
Questions to ask
* Where did Harry get his box? What did he do with it?
* What would you do with a box like Harry's?
* Which part of the story did you think was the most exciting?
* Who is the main character? Are there any other characters mentioned?
* What was the first thing that Harry did with his box? What did he do next?
Extension ideas
* Obtain some larger packaging used for goods such as freezers and washing machines and create an outdoor home area with them.
* Fill an old cardboard box with props, such as dressing-up clothes and a soft toy dog, suitable for re-enacting Harry's story. Work with pairs of children to play the parts of Harry and his Mum and use a copy of the story for reference.
Child-initiated learning
Construction area
Additional resources and adult support
* Provide a selection of cardboard boxes of different sizes - initially, with no other props. Once the children have explored the boxes, join them and help them to create fantasy situations by supplying the props they need.
* Extend the children's ideas if necessary by looking at the book and drawing their attention to Harry's play, for example, 'I like the way Harry has made his box into a pirate ship. I wonder how you could do that?' Be ready to supply necessary items to support their responses.
* Visit the area as the children play with the boxes and introduce a box with a toy dog inside. Comment on how the dog is just like Woolfie, Harry's dog, and suggest that Woolfie joins their play.
Play possibilities
* Creating their own imaginary scenarios, sometimes related to Harry's Box.
* Working with other children to decide upon possible ways of using the resources, and using language to recall the story to support their ideas.
* Introducing a totally new focus to their play, suggested by the items provided and their current interests.
Possible learning outcomes Uses language to recreate roles and experiences.
Builds and constructs with a wide range of objects, selecting appropriate resources and adapting their work where necessary.
Plays alongside other children engaged in the same theme.
Sustains interest for a length of time on a pre-decided construction or arrangement.
Role-play area
Additional resources and adult support
* Share the story and look at the pictures of Harry's shop. Set up a shop with the children using cardboard boxes.
* Invite the children to choose things to sell in the shop, such as recycled boxes and dolls.
* Ask the children to decide what else they might need, such as a till and toy money, and provide these for them.
* Allow time for the children to play in their shop before visiting as a customer.
Play possibilities
* Setting up a role-play shop and deciding upon resources needed.
* Introducing a storyline or narrative into their play after enjoying Harry's Box.
* Finding out more about the world in which they live by taking on the roles of shopkeepers and customers.
Possible learning outcomes
Works as part of a group, sharing and taking turns.
Interacts with others, negotiates plans and activities and takes turns in conversation.
Shows an interest in the world in which they live.
Adult-led activity
Secret places
Harry made himself a dangerous lion's den and sandy cave from his box.
Encourage children to create their own secret places to hide.
Key learning intentions
To construct with large materials such as cartons, long lengths of fabric and planks.
To use their imagination in imaginative and role play and stories.
Adult-child ratio 1:4
Resources
* Harry's Box by Angela McAllister * large cardboard boxes * lengths of fabric, sheets or blankets * planks * cushions
Activity content
* Share the story again with the children before looking closely at the pages involving Harry's 'dangerous lion's den' and 'sandy cave'.
* Explain that dens are not always scary places and can be peaceful places to enjoy quiet times. Talk to the children about their experiences of hiding in a secret place where no one could see them, such as under the bedclothes.
* Explain the meaning of the word 'den', show the children the den-making resources and suggest creating their own secret hiding places from them.
* Encourage the children to explore the resources freely and be ready to support them by supplying joining materials, such as tape or string, or additional items to enhance play, such as a picnic set.
* When the dens are made, make up fantasy stories together, perhaps pretending to be bears scaring away other wild animals.
Extended learning
Key vocabulary
Den, cave, roaring, growling, frighten, wild, scary, peaceful, quiet.
Questions to ask
* What did Harry do in the lion's den? How did he make the sandy cave?
* How did Harry make his den? How did you make yours?
* Is your den a scary or a peaceful place to be?
Extension ideas
* Use a pop-up tent draped in grey fabric to make a cave and suggest going on a camping holiday, staying in a cave in the woods.
* Suggest building miniature dens for small world animals and people using natural materials such as twigs and leaves.
Child-initiated learning
Outdoor area
Additional resources and adult support
* Provide the children with large den-making equipment such as wooden crates, A-frames, planks and blankets. Emphasise safety rules, such as not climbing on the outside of frames draped in blankets.
* Provide dolls and domestic resources for the dens.
* Allow time for the children to explore the resources before asking them if you can share a pretend meal in their den.
Play possibilities
* Discussing how to use available resources to construct dens.
* Building secret places and outdoor dens to support imaginative play.
* Recalling events in the story to influence and extend their ideas.
* Enjoying the flexibility of space and mobile resources to explore their ideas.
Possible learning outcomes
Uses mathematical ideas and methods to solve practical problems.
Constructs with a purpose in mind, using a variety of resources.
Handles construction materials safely and with increasing control.
Areas of learning
* Personal, social and emotional development
* Communication, language and literacy
* Mathematical development
* Knowledge & understanding of the world
* Physical development
* Creative development
