This Christmas, as part of Wee People, Big Feelings, Scots Corner Early Learning and Childcare Centre are explored the story of The Gingerbread Man, focusing on creativity and emotional literacy.
Christmas can be a stressful time of year in lots of ways, and some of the more traditional festive activities, like nativity performances, step-by-step craft activities and rote learning songs, can add to the stress. So Scots Corner chose to explore a story together through expressive arts experiences that focused on emotional literacy and wellbeing including creative movement, drama, music, sensory play and visual art.
Wee People, Big Feelings is a collaboration between Starcatchers and Scots Corner Early Learning and Childcare Centre, a Midlothian setting that was opened in partnership with the Ministry of Defence to provide early learning and childcare for both military families and the wider community. Since February 2021, Scots Corner have been working with Skye Reynolds to develop their practice and experiences and examine how the expressive arts can help with our feelings.
Welcome to our new Agony Artist series – where each month we’ll be answering your questions about using the expressive arts with young children! This month, join us for ideas about emotional wellbeing and literacy in the lead up to Christmas!
Once you've introduced the story, bring out the musical instruments and wonder aloud "could we tell the story with these?" Can they be used to show actions? Or certain characters? Or how they feel?
Use your finger to draw faces in sand, dry rice, shaving foam, or whatever sensory material you fancy - as long as you can make a mark in it, you can make a face in it!
Soft toys, pegs, sticks - anything hand sized can be used in small world play to represent characters from your story. Use voices, sound effects and movement to bring them to life.
Costumes can be a great way to "transform" into a character - but they don't need to be expensive! Use different colours or textures of cloth to represent different characters in your story.
The best way to understand a character is to walk - or run - a mile in their shoes! Use your bodies to explore how the different characters from the story might move, sneak and run!
The secret to this fragrant dough is to steep spices in hot water - cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves and ginger are all classic gingerbread spices. Once cooled, mix the fragrant water with flour to make a smooth dough.
The secret to this fragrant dough is to steep spices in hot water - cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves and ginger are all classic gingerbread spices. Once cooled, mix the fragrant water with flour to make a smooth dough.
