Theme: Exploration, curiosity and expression
Caregiver tip:These questions are gentle ideas to begin play. Ask one, a few, or make up your own. You can try some today and others at another time. Please follow your child’s lead. Pause, listen, and enjoy the conversation as it unfolds, all answers are welcome.
A. Who Is the Farmer Today?
Set the Scene: Caregiver asks, “Would you like to play, Who is the Farmer Today?”
Let your child choose a farmer sticker and place it anywhere on the mat.
Song (to the tune ofFarmer in the Dell):
“The farmer today is (child’s name),
The farmer today is YOU!
Hi-ho on Bubbles Farm,
The farmer today is (child’s name)!”
Farmer’s Job of the Day:
Ask: “What would Farmer (name) like to do today?”
Let the children to free play on the mat, you could give them ideas such as:
• Let’s visit the animals today!
• Would you like to check on the vegetables?
• Shall we put the animals to sleep?
Encouraging questions during play:
- I wonder if Honey wants to go meet the chickens.
- Lulu enjoys swimming… what do you enjoy?
- Would you like to help Poco go from the barn to the vegetable patch?
- Where do you think Cruzo would like to sleep tonight?
· The horse is called Honey, and the pig is Poco…what would you like to call the cat?And what about the goat?
Animal discovery conversation starters:
· I see eggs! Tell me what you know about eggs?
· Do you like milk? Tell me about the animal that gives us milk.
· It’s dinner time! What do you think Honey, Poco and Cruzo are going to eat tonight?
· Do you know what Lulu, the duck, uses her beak for? What about her feet?
B. Look, Count & Discover
Encourage your child to explore the farm using prompts such as:
(For younger children reduce the numbers)
1. Eye spy with my little eye 7 pink flowers.
2. Eye spy with my little eye something yellow… now something blue. What did you spot?
3. Look closely, can you spot some big and smallbubbles on Bubbles Farm.
4. Let’s go to the vegetable patch. How many carrots do you see there?
5. Eye spy with my little eye 8 eggs around the farm!
6. There is a butterfly fluttering around, do you see it?
7. Eye spy with my little eye a haystack.
C. Animal Adventures:
Set the Scene: Sing or playOld McDonaldin the background.
Point to the animals on the mat, using fun voices and actions. Ask questions such as:
1. What sound does the cow make? Let’s whisper it together. Now loudly!
2. Did the rooster go Kaa-kaa or Cock-a-doodle-dooo?
3. I wonder which animal goes Baa Baa?
4. Is Cruzo the dog going Woof Woof or Ruff Ruff, today?
5. Shh… what is the cat saying?
6. I wonder, can we make all the animals talk at once?
Learning Through Play:
• Counting & finding skills
• Language & self-expression
• Animal knowledge
• Sensory exploration
• Storytelling & imagination
