Tag: Plan Bee

Faster, higher, stronger: some Olympic-themed fun to keep your children on track with learning

After a year that’s taken its toll on parents’ and children’s physical and mental health, we’re all longing for a bit of rest and relaxation. 

But the school holidays can leave children’s learning brains a little too relaxed. So with the Tokyo Olympics in full flow, keep the kids’ brains sharp with these Games-themed activities from former primary school teacher Abby Milnes of education champs PlanBee:

Learn about…

… time zones

There is an eight-hour time difference between the Games and the UK. This is a great opportunity to teach your children about time differences between countries and why they exist. Challenge your children to work out what time they will need to turn on the TV if they want to watch an event live (hypothetically of course; some of the events may be broadcast in the early hours of the morning in the UK!).

Download this FREE Time Zones Map to help teach your children about Time Zones.

… measuring time

Many of the Olympic events are measured and scored against how long it takes to complete the event. Events under a minute such as the 100m sprint, 200m kayak, team sprints in cycling etc will provide suitable contexts for younger children to think about when measuring time. Older children may like to take on slightly longer events.

This PlanBee lesson may help teach your younger child about measuring time.

Challenge your child to see how many things they can do within the same time as it took an athlete to complete their event. For example, the Olympic record for running 100m was 9.63 seconds set by Usain Bolt at the 2012 Olympics. How many blocks can your child stack in this time? How many ticks can they do on a sheet of paper? After showing children how to read the amount of time on a stopwatch, get them to time each other and take it in turns to see who can beat the record in your own events.

… measuring distance

Other Olympic events such as long jump, javelin, shot put and discus are scored and measured using distance.

Using a metre ruler or measuring tape, challenge your children to take part in a long jump event. They can take a run-up, or go from a standing jump. Mark where the back of their foot landed and help your child measure how far they jumped!

… averages

Some events such as gymnastics are scored by a judges panel. Each judge gives the performance a score which is then averaged out to give a final score. Challenge your child to take individual judges scores and find the average score by adding them up and dividing the total by the number of individual scores.

… variables

“I wonder… do you run faster on grass or concrete?” Challenge your children to think about conducting simple investigations with “I wonder…?” questions like the one above. Younger children may need help with timing but they should be able to make verbal conclusions with you such as “I ran faster on the concrete”.

Older children (7+) should be encouraged to think scientifically. Is it fair if you wear sandals to run on the grass, but running shoes on the concrete? No, they should be the same. What about the distance you run?

Other things they could test:

●        Do I run faster wearing trainers, or when I’m barefoot?

●        Will I jump further with a run-up?

●        Will I jump further with a long run-up or a short run-up?

●        Does someone with longer legs jump further?

… pentathlons

What’s the difference between a triathlon, a pentathlon and a decathlon? The number of events! (This is also a perfect opportunity to look at the prefixes tri- pent- and dec- to mean three, five and ten e.g. tri-angle, tri-cycle, pent-agon etc.)

Challenge your children to come up with their own events for a family tri, pent or decathlon! They don’t have to be Olympic events, just a number of events that an athlete will be timed to complete. They don’t even have to be sport related: Who will be the fastest person to put on their socks? Who will be the overall winner?

… drawing figures

Do you have a budding artist in the ranks? Why not challenge them to draw their favourite athlete from the Olympics. Up the challenge by asking them to draw the figure in motion as they complete their event.

Use these FREE Paper Mannequin Templates to help support your artist in their challenge.

… architecture

Having held the Games before in 1964, Tokyo already had venues to host different Olympic events. The newly built National Stadium was finished in November 2019. Challenge your child to investigate its design, including the different ways it has been designed to be eco-friendly.

Work together to create your own model of an Olympic stadium, making sure there’s enough room for a track and spectators.

… map skills

Some of the cycling events in the Olympic Games require a set route to be planned out over a certain area. Print out a map of your local area and identify where you are and any areas they are not allowed to go to. Together, plan out a cycling route for your own Olympic cycling event. You could repeat the route several times to try and beat your personal best!

Beware: If you are riding on roads, make sure your child can ride confidently on them and is aware of safety rules.

… clothing design

Take a look at the designs for the athletes’ kits. How is the country represented in the design? What functionality does there need to be? This could link nicely with investigating the different countries’ flags.

Challenge your children to design a uniform for the country of their choice using this FREE template: https://planbee.com/products/design-a-sports-uniform

  • PlanBee would love to see your OIympic achievements: give PlanBee a shout on social media or share your children’s work with them at info@planbee.com!
  • Want more in-depth learning about the Olympics? Check out  Olympics Topic with lessons in Art, History, Geography and more!

Why poetry is just what we need to lift our lockdown mood

WORLD POETRY DAY – 21st MARCH

World Poetry Day is the ideal opportunity to share poems with your youngsters. Playful, silly, beautiful, fun… there’s something for everyone. Former primary school teacher Becky Cranham of education resources experts PlanBee shows you how

A Lockdown Haiku
Another zoom call
Daily freezing groundhog walk 
Will this ever end?

Writing poetry has always been a way for people to express difficult feelings and emotions. There is something so cathartic about immortalising thoughts on paper, particularly if those words are arranged in a precise and pleasing arrangement of sounds and syllables. 

Yet as technology advances and people find other outlets for self-expression, poetry is becoming less and less mainstream. For those for whom poetry is unfamiliar, it can seem a daunting and curious art form, especially when it comes to introducing children. Where do you start? What forms should you teach? How do you condense something so vast into manageable and understandable chunks? 

Part of the joy of poetry, however, is its simplicity. It doesn’t have to be ‘The Iliad’; it can be playful and silly and freeing. It can also be tender or thoughtful, pensive or angry, hopeful or despairing. Poetry can be anything you want it to be, and that is its unique beauty. 

World Poetry Day is the perfect excuse to use poetry to help children (and adults) through these tough times.

So how exactly can poetry help? First and foremost, poetry is fun! Search ‘nonsense poetry’ online with your children and you will find a plethora of hilariously stupid poems to make your children laugh. Or look up the poems of the nonsense king, Spike Milligan, for some classic nonsense such as ‘On the ning nang nong’ or ‘Land of the Bumbly Boo’.

Funny poems, whether nonsense or not, are fantastic at any time of day to lighten the mood – and we could all use a bit more of that at the moment!

Poetry is also a great way of encouraging children to explore their feelings. Children have had to deal with so much this past year: a scary virus, school closures, virtual learning, missing family and friends, as well as the loss of loved ones for many.

Poetry gives children the chance to reflect on how they feel and give a voice to their feelings. Encouraging your children to write a poem, carefully choosing which words they want to include, can help them process difficult emotions. 

It also affords children the chance to look to the future and the (hopefully) brighter days ahead. We all need a big old dose of hope right now and poetry can help children express what they are looking forward to about the future, helping them recognise that current events are just temporary and that life will look different soon.

Which is why at PlanBee, we’re running a special poetry competition this year. 

Write a poem entitled ‘When Lockdown is Over’ for your chance to win a beautiful poetry anthology

In honour of World Poetry Day 2021, PlanBee is running a competition for children aged five to 11 to encourage them to engage with poetry. All they need to do is write a poem about what they will do, or are hoping for, when lockdown ends, called ‘When Lockdown is Over’.

The poem can be in any form at all but some ideas and templates are included in this free download to get them started. 

Five lucky winners will receive a copy of ‘The Folio Book of Children’s Poetry’ – a beautiful anthology of poems for children to treasure. 

Email your entries, along with your child’s first name and age, to info@planbee.com or tag them on PlanBee’s Facebook or Instagram pages. 

Entries close at midnight on Friday 19 March and the winners will be announced on World Poetry Day, Sunday 21st March, on our social media.

The winners will be emailed individually too, so keep an eye on your inbox! 

Fairtrade Fortnight

Food for Thought: 22 February – 7 March

This annual event is a great opportunity for children to learn about and celebrate the people who grow so much of our food. This year, the focus is on the climate emergency and how it impacts on producers in the developing world.

Former primary school teacher Laura Steele of education resource experts PlanBee has devised some games to make it lots of fun:

What is fair trade?

This is when companies in developed countries pay a fair price for products that have been made by producers in developing countries. A ‘fair price’ means that the producers are paid enough to be able to afford essentials like food, education and healthcare.

What is the fair trade movement? 

Started in 1992, fair trade is a global movement made up of producers, companies, consumers and organisations, whose aim is to support farmers and workers in the developing world by giving them a voice, and helping them to stand up for their rights.  Some 1.7 million farmers and workers are in fair trade-certified producer organisations across 73 countries.

How can you tell if a product is fair trade?

If a product is fair trade, you will see this label.

A Fairtrade label on a bunch of bananas
The blue sky symbolises optimism, and the figure’s raised arm represents empowerment. Green is used to symbolise growth.

In the UK, there are over 4,500 fair trade certified products available for sale, from food and drink to homeware and fashion. Among the best-known fair trade-certified brands are: AMT Coffee, Clipper Tea, Arena Flowers, Co-operative wine, and Divine Chocolate. Divine is the is 100% Fairtrade and owned by cocoa farmers.

What is Fairtrade Fortnight?

The first Fairtrade Fortnight was held in Edinburgh in 1997 to increase awareness of fair trade principles and products. It is now celebrated in many countries around the world, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and schools everywhere are encouraged to get involved too. 

Why should children learn about fair trade?

It is so important for children to be aware of what is happening in the wider world, and what life is like for people in different countries. Fairtrade Fortnight is a great opportunity to teach children about where some of the food on their plate comes from (not just the supermarket shelf) and the people and processes involved in making that happen.

Learning and talking about the fair trade Movement, and why it is needed, can lead to a better understanding of the wider world around them, and help to develop their empathetic skills.

If you are looking for a child-friendly introduction to the topic of fair trade, check out our Fair Trade Facts for Kids blog.

Fair trade games 

Providing fun and engaging activities to help children learn about fair trade will make the important lesson memorable. Here are two easy fair trade games you can play with children. 

A tall story!

Explain to children they will be paid in building blocks for completing a task. Set them a simple task – for example, to draw a picture or jump five times.

When the task is completed pay some children lots of blocks and the rest only a few blocks. Now ask the children to build a tower with their blocks and tell them the best tower will be the tallest tower.

Is this fair? Why? How did the activity make them feel?

You could repeat the activity a few times to show how quickly some children are left behind the others. Bring the activity back to fair trade and explain some farmers are not paid fairly for the crops they grow. Is this fair? How might it affect them and their families? 

The price of justice

Challenge children to find out the price of fair trade and non-fair trade bananas in different shops. What is the difference in the average price of fair trade bananas compared to others? Encourage children to find out how the farmer benefits when we buy a fair trade banana. Debate if the extra cost to the consumer is worth it. 

Did you know? 

There are more than 1,000 Fairtrade schools in the UK. If you would like to find out how your school can become one, read our blog: How to Become a Fair Trade School

More on Fairtrade Fortnight here.

Make Christmas TV educational

Do your children want to spend the festive holiday sprawled on the sofa watching Christmas films? Don’t despair: those old familiar favourites can be educational. Yes, really! 

Former primary school teacher Laura Steele of education resources experts PlanBee shows how to turn passive screen time into an active learning experience: 

Father Christmas

Based on the book by Raymond Briggs, this short animated film takes a look at what Father Christmas does on the other 364 days of the year.

  • Ask your child to choose one of the destinations Father Christmas visits on his holidays and put themselves into his shoes (or boots!) and write a postcard home, explaining everything he saw and got up to there.
  • Father Christmas doesn’t enjoy all the visits he makes. Encourage your child to write him a letter, suggesting where he should go next year, and why he might like it better than his holiday this year. 
  • Father Christmas spends time organising presents for us, but what present would like to receive? Ask your youngster to draw a picture of the gift they would get for him, and write a short explanation of their choice.
  • Download FREE Father Christmas activity sheets here

The Snowman

Also based on a Raymond Briggs book, in this film a young boy’s snowman magically comes to life, and takes him on an adventure to meet Father Christmas.

  • The boy and the Snowman never speak to each other, but if they did what would they say? Children could write an imagined conversation between them, or even act it out.
  • We see the boy building the Snowman step-by-step. Encourage your child to draw pictures and write instructions for each of the different stages of construction.
  • Ask them to design their own snowman! Ask them to label what they would use for his eyes, nose, mouth, buttons and so on.
  • If you watch the film carefully, you will see many different animals. Can your child spot them? As an extra challenge, they could choose an animal to research and perhaps make a poster or write a report about it.
    Download FREE Snowman activity sheets here

 Elf

Elf focuses on the character of Buddy, a human who has been raised by elves at the North Pole. On discovering that he is not actually an elf, Buddy travels to New York in search of his father

  • Buddy is given a snow globe of New York City. Children could design and draw their own snow globe, showing where they live.
  • Challenge them to describe and draw the film’s funniest, happiest and saddest moments.
    Download FREE Elf activity sheets here

The Grinch

Based on the 1957 book by Dr Seuss, a creature named the Grinch hates Christmas and everything to do with it. He devises a wicked plan to ruin the festive season for the town of Whoville.

  • Children could write a character description of the Grinch, detailing his appearance, his personality, what he does, and how he changes by the end of the film.
  • Ask children to draw a picture of, or describe, Whoville at Christmas. Would they like to live there? Can they explain why?
  • Ask your child to step into Grinch’s shoes, and describe or act out their thoughts about Christmas both at the beginning of the film, and then at the end, and discuss how they differ. 
    Download FREE Grinch activity sheets here

The Polar Express

A young boy who is beginning to lose his belief in Father Christmas boards a to the North Pole and has amazing adventures, makes some special new friends, and regains his belief in the magic of Christmas.

  • Ask your child to design a ticket for the Polar Express. Who would they give it to, and why? Which two letters do they think The Conductor would cut out on it, and why? Which full word would be created on reboarding the train?
  • In the film, the symbol of Christmas spirit for the Boy is the bell he receives from ‘Mr C’. Ask children to draw and explain what represents the Christmas spirit for them.
  • At one point, the train passes the Northern Lights. Encourage children to research exactly what this phenomenon is. They could also create their own artwork depicting the scene. 
     Download FREE Polar Express activity sheets here

Klaus

A young postman who is not very good at his job is sent to serve an unwelcoming, frozen town in the far North. When he meets an old toy maker, Klaus, and together they begin delivering presents to the children of the town, things begin to change…

  • Ask children to imagine that they are one of the children living in Smeerensburg. Challenge them to write their own letter to Klaus, telling him how they have been good, what gift they would like and why.
  • In the film, Klaus has carved alcoves into a tree trunk for a family of figurines. Ask children to draw or make their own version of this, complete with everyone that is special to them.
  • Klaus says: ‘A true selfless act always sparks another’. Ask children to name the selfless acts in the film. Have they made any selfless acts themselves in the past? Are there any that they could make in the future?
     Download FREE Klaus activity sheets here

Arthur Christmas (2011)

Santa’s rather accident-prone son, Arthur, sets out on a mission to deliver a present that was left at the North Pole on Christmas Eve

  • Encourage children to draw, and write a short description of, each member of Santa’s family: Santa himself, Mrs Santa, GrandSanta, Steve and of course, Arthur. What characteristics do they each have? How are they similar? How are they different?

Arthur is particularly fond of his slippers. Unfortunately, he loses them during his adventure. Can your child design a new pair for him?

  • Challenge your children to design and make their own version of ‘Christmas: the Board Game’. What will the board look like, what’s the aim of the game and how is it played? Will they need any extra items such as counters or question cards?
    Download FREE Arthur Christmas activity sheets here

Fun activities for ANY Film

Set one of these fun challenges to give a new dimension to your youngster’s watching habits, whatever their chosen film:

  • Turn the sound off and challenge your child to describe what is happening in the film. Ask children to imagine that they are helping a blind person experience the film so they need to use as much detail as possible for each scene. You could play a few short scenes using Audio Description to get them started: as a cartoon strip, a digital book, as a written account, as a series of drawings, or as a storyboard.
  • Challenge your child to write a review of the film. How many stars out of five would they give it? What was the best bit? Who was their favourite character? Or what about recording a vlog review giving their opinion to share online with friends and family?

Rosa Parks Day explained

What is the legacy of this extraordinary woman? Do you have the facts at your fingertips to share with your children when we celebrate her achievements on December 1? 

Former primary school teacher Catherine Lynch of education experts PlanBee is here to help:

In the US, Rosa Parks Day is a public holiday which honours the work of this inspirational woman who is known as ‘the first lady of civil rights’ and ‘the mother of the freedom movement’ by the United States Congress. 

Her influence spread far beyond the US and in the UK, too, we commemorate her work on this date.

The Montgomery bus boycott, which followed Rosa Parks’ protest, was the inspiration for the UK’s Bristol bus boycott in 1963, which arose from the refusal of the Bristol Omnibus Company to employ Black or Asian bus crews.

This was the UK’s own version of the civil rights movement that shook the American South.
 

This year, in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests, Rosa Parks Day is bound to take on a special significance all over the world.


Who was Rosa Parks?

She was born on 4 February, 1913, in Alabama, US. Her mother was a teacher and her father a carpenter. When her parents separated, Rosa and her younger brother moved with her mother to her maternal grandparents’ farm near Montgomery in Alabama.  

What was America like at that time?

African Americans did not have the same rights as white Americans and there was widespread racial segregation. In the 1960s, the civil rights movement called for widespread reform. Supporters wanted children with different racial backgrounds to go to the same schools and for everyone to have the same rights – for example, equal access to transport – and interracial marriages. African Americans and others who supported the cause took part in non-violent protests, resistance and civil disobedience.

Why is Rosa Parks famous?

Montgomery, the capital city of the state of Alabama, had a law saying bus passengers had to be separated by race. Conductors were allowed to make African Americans give up their seats for white passengers while white passengers didn’t have to share a row of seats with non-white passengers. The law also said that non-white passengers had to board the bus at the front to pay, then get off the bus, and get on again at the back. Sometimes passengers who had paid would not be able to board the bus again before it departed. 

How did she make her protest?

On 1 December, 1955, when Rosa was 42 years old, she boarded a bus to go home after work. Rosa sat in a seat in the first row of seats allowed for non-white passengers. After a while the seats allocated for white passengers filled up and the driver told the four people in Rosa’s row of seats to stand up so a white passenger could sit down. The other three passengers stood up, but Rosa didn’t. She moved towards the window making room for the other passenger. 

Describing the incident, she said: ‘When he [the bus driver] saw me still sitting, he asked if I was going to stand up and I said, “No, I’m not”. And he said, “Well, if you don’t stand up, I’m going to have to call the police and have you arrested”. I said, “You may do that”.’

Rosa was arrested, charged, and found guilty of violating the segregation law and disorderly conduct. She appealed against her conviction and challenged the legality of racial segregation. 

What is the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

On Sunday, 4 December, 1955, a bus boycott was announced in response to Rosa’s conviction. It lasted 381 days, severely damaging the bus companies’ finances. Eventually, the courts ruled that the Montgomery buses would become integrated. This meant that everyone using the busses had the same rights. 

What was the impact of Rosa Parks’ arrest?

Rosa Parks lost her job in the department store where she worked and had to find a new job as a seamstress. Her husband also had to leave his job as his employer forbade him from talking about his wife or her legal case. They also had to move from Montgomery to Hampton, Virginia. 

Was her conviction reversed?

Rosa Parks’ case moved slowly through the appeals court. In 1956, the Supreme Court ruled that bus segregation was unconstitutional.  

What did Rosa do after the boycott?

Rosa became a spokesperson for the civil rights movement and later wrote a book about her experiences. She died in 2005 at the age of 92.

Five facts about Rosa Parks 

  1. Detroit has named a street Rosa Parks Boulevard in her honour. 
  2. Claudette Colvin was the first Montgomery bus passenger to be arrested for refusing to give up her seat for a white passenger. She was arrested nine months before Rosa Parks. Rosa helped to raise money for Claudette’s defence in court. 
  3. A few weeks after her first arrest, Rosa was arrested again alongside many other boycott organisers.
  4. After her death, she was the first woman to lie in state in the US Capitol. This honour is usually reserved for a statesperson or military leader. More than 30,000 people filed past her coffin to pay their respects.
  5. On 1 December 2005, bus seats were left empty in New York City, Washington DC and other American cities, to honour Rosa Parks on the 50th anniversary of her arrest.


PlanBee has fabulous FREE Rosa Parks educational resources for download: 

Rosa Parks word searches and inspirational Rosa Parks quotes posters. 

How to stop your plans for November 5 going up in smoke

Guy Fawkes Night will be different this year, but it can still be fun. And what better opportunity to teach your children about the origins of the celebration? Former primary school teacher Catherine Lynch of education resource experts Plan Bee tells you how…

It is likely that most larger bonfire night events won’t be able to go ahead this year.The rule against social gatherings of more than six and added restrictions in parts of the UK mean that garden fireworks parties are also set to be smaller. A family-only event may be low key, but if you’re lucky enough to have an outdoor space you can still have a great evening.

A couple of packets of sparklers, delicious jacket potatoes and toasted marshmallows to eat, will lift the spirits of youngsters and adults alike.

And this year is a great opportunity to make sure that your children know what this annual celebration is all about.

When and why

Bonfire Night takes place on 5th November. On this night in 1605, Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators attempted—and failed—to blow up the Houses of Parliament.   

Who?

Guy Fawkes, also known as Guido Fawkes, lived in an era when Britain was riven by terrible religious intolerance and violence between Protestants and Catholics.

The Gunpowder Plot

It was planned that Fawkes would light the fuse, get across the Thames and then escape to Europe. However, news of the plot was leaked. On 5 November 1605, Fawkes was discovered underneath the Houses of Parliament guarding the gunpowder. He was arrested and tortured. 

On 27 January, Fawkes and eight of the plotters stood trial. The jury found them all guilty and the men were killed on 31 January 1606. 

For years, the failed Gunpowder Plot was marked by bonfires, special sermons and public events like the ringing of church bells. Over time, Bonfire Night has become the more commercial celebration we have today that includes firework displays, funfairs and hot food like jacket potatoes.

Five fun Bonfire Night facts:

1.          Guy Fawkes was born on 13th April 1570. He died on 31st January 1606.

2.          Guy Fawkes was Catholic. He didn’t think a Protestant monarch should rule Britain..

3.          There were 13 members of the Gunpowder Plot: Robert Catesby, Thomas Wintour, Robert Wintour, John Wright, Christopher Wright, Thomas Percy, Guy Fawkes, Robert Keyes, Thomas Bates, John Grant, Ambrose Rookwood, Sir Everad Digby and Francis Tresham.

4.          Fawkes was found with 36 barrels of gunpowder. There was enough gunpowder to reduce the Houses of Parliament to rubble.

   5.    An Act of Parliament named 5 November as a day of thanksgiving for the “joyful day of deliverance”. This act was in force until 1859.

Click here for FREE Bonfire Night resources for primary school-aged children.

Firework-Colouring-Pages-1Download
Bonfire-Night-Word-Search-1Download
Bonfire-Night-Anagrams-1Download

Ghosts needn’t be toast!

How to enjoy Halloween during lockdown 

With different parts of the country under different lockdown rules, the idea of celebrating Halloween may seem an impossibility. But Catherine Lynch of education experts PlanBee says you can keep your children spooked out – and stay within the law.

Halloween 2020 is going to be a bit different to previous years. Groups of children putting their hands into several bowls of communal sweets feels like something from another life. But we can incorporate dressing up, community spirit, an evening walk and trick or treating while observing social distancing. Here’s how…

Many communities are organising a Halloween trail for their young trick-or-treaters. Instead of knocking door to door, why not take your children on a trail, too? If you would like to take part in a Halloween trail, or organise one yourself, you could put this spooky picture from PlanBee in your window.

Parents can scan the QR code in the picture to receive a free Halloween activity pack with colouring sheets, puzzles and activities.

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Take your children on walks around your local area and see how many Halloween pictures you can spot. You could give your child the chance to pick a treat from your own selection each time they spot a picture on the Halloween treasure hunt. 

And while you’re at it, this short guide to the history of Halloween will ensure you can answer any questions your youngsters might have about the origins of this popular autumn celebration.

  • It all started with Samhain, an ancient Celtic pagan religious festival that marks the end of the harvest and the start of winter. The celebrations included lighting bonfires and wearing costumes to ward off ghosts. This festival is thought to date back to Neolithic times, pre 2500 BC. 
  • In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III decided 1st November should be a time to honour all saints. The evening before All Saints Day was known as All Hallows’ Eve, and later Halloween. All Hallows’ Eve, is a Christian religious observance that includes going to church and lighting candles on the graves of the dead. Traditionally, Christians didn’t eat meat on this day and Potato Pancakes were a popular choice of food. 
  • Over time, Halloween became the more commercial and secular celebration we have today that includes trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins, wearing costumes and eating treats.

How to give children a taste for World Food Day

Watch out for World Food Day on Friday (October 16). The date commemorates the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organisation by the United Nations in 1945. This year’s theme is Grow, Nourish, Sustain, Together.

This is a great opportunity to do some fun activities at home with your children to give them a better understanding of how a sustainable supply of food relates to their own lives and the local area as well as those in far-away places. 

And the event is of particular significance this year because it takes place at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic threatens food security in many parts of the world. 

Former primary school teacher Oli Ryan of education resource experts PlanBee reports:

Four great ways to celebrate World Food Day 2020

1. Discover fascinating food facts

World Food Day Facts

  • Eight hundred million people around the world suffer from hunger.
  • In parts of the world where hunger is a big issue, life expectancy is shorter, infant mortality is higher, and productivity is lower.
  • Around the same number of people around the world suffer from obesity due to unhealthy diets.
  • Obesity kills more people than hunger.
  • Inefficient, unsustainable food systems harm ecosystems and contribute to global warming. Changing the way we produce food is key to tackling climate change.
  • As the climate changes, we will have to change the way we produce food: yields will decrease, and new food sources will have to be found.
  • In developed countries, tackling obesity would save hundreds of billions of pounds in healthcare costs.
  • In countries where hunger is an issue, eliminating hunger would dramatically increase productivity and national wealth.

2. Make it meaningful.

Food security and food poverty are significant issues in the UK too. It’s a good time to talk about food banks, free school meals and the importance of eating nourishing food for health, happiness and even for effective learning.

What is ‘food security’?
Food security means being having access to adequate supplies of food to live healthily. To have food security:

  • People must have enough money to buy food
  • Food must be affordably-priced
  • There must be reliable supply chains for food
  • There must be enough reserves of food, or reliable enough supply chains for a variety of foods, to ensure that access to food is not interrupted
  • The food available must be nutritious, so those who consume it can lead active, healthy lives

What are ‘sustainable food systems’?
Effective, sustainable food systems affordably provide an adequate amount of food to meet demand while also supporting the ecosystems they rely on for the production of food.

A good example are the new greenhouse system in Norfolk and Suffolk, set to produce 10 per cent of UK tomatoes.

The greenhouses will be heated by warm water pumped from nearby water treatment plants, producing far lower carbon emissions than traditional growing methods. It also reduces food miles and establishes a more reliable supply of food in the local area. Can you think of an example of a sustainable food system in your own area?

3. Link it to your local community

Church of England schools have a long-standing tradition of celebrating harvest festival by collecting store cupboard food items for the elderly and vulnerable in their community. This year, Sukkot, the Jewish harvest festival, is celebrated 2nd-9th October.

If there’s not much happening locally, why not arrange to do something to help those less well-off in your community? Find out where your nearest food bank is. Many will list the items they are most in need of each week on their website.

4. Make healthy, nutritious food together

Talk ‘around’ the recipe you choose to follow; for example, you might try to find out about the food journey of one or more of the ingredients. 

You can find out more about what’s happening during World Food Day 2020 by following the hashtags #WorldFoodDay and #FoodHeroes on social media.

For more activity ideas and resources for celebrating World Food Day, check out PlanBee’s World Food Day collection.

Former primary school teacher Oli Ryan is a senior member of the team at PlanBee, the education resources and lesson planning experts

World Mental Health Day: Six tips to help your child develop emotional intelligence

How to help your child find emotional intelligence

The global pandemic and lockdowns on top of all the usual life challenges can affect children just as much as adults. To mark World Mental Health Day on 10 October, former primary school teacher CATHERINE LYNCH of education resources experts PlanBee provides six stepping stones, and free downloadable resources, to help parents support youngsters to develop good mental health: 

  1. Name emotions and feelings 

Until someone has the vocabulary associated with emotions and feelings, they will not be able to explain how they feel or identify how others are feeling. Name emotions when your child experiences them, it might feel like you are stating the obvious, but you are giving your child an important tool to becoming emotionally intelligent. 

Photo Emotions Cards

Emoji Emotion Faces Cards

Synonym Booklet of Emotions

  1.               Explain the physical sensations linked to emotions and feelings

Help children to recognise how different emotions present in their bodies. Do they normally feel a bit sick when they are anxious? Do their shoulders feel tight when they are stressed? Do they become very busy when they are avoiding something? By helping them notice these physical representations of emotions they will begin to recognise when they are starting to feel something and might be able to react before their brains get flooded with the stress hormone cortisol. 

Design your own Emotion Emojis

Draw the Emotion

  1.               Understand when and why a feeling or emotion is felt

The better children become at naming and spotting their emotions the easier it will become for them to notice the triggers for their emotions. If they always get a knot in their stomach on the way to school and know it is because they feel anxious you can start to explore where the anxiety comes from. Are they worried about the moment of goodbye, is it walking into a formed group of people or is it something else? By pinpointing the cause of the feeling, you and your child will be able to understand it better. 

Feelings Check-in Cards 

Worry Monster Activity Sheets

Mood Tracker

  1.               Develop strategies to regulate emotions

When you and your child are able to notice, name and understand the source of a feeling or emotion you can begin to work out ways to help them regulate. Is a big calming and focusing breath needed? Or maybe a few star jumps? There isn’t one route to regulating the child’s emotions, what works best for your child will be something you need to figure out together. 

Meditation for Kids Guide

Mindfulness Colouring Sheets

  1.               Maintain boundaries to keep everyone safe

Rules that maintain safety should be non-negotiable. These will vary depending on the age and developmental stage of a child. When a child is feeling a big emotion, their brain will not be working in the same way it does when the child is calm. Expectations and language may need to be adjusted to help the child stay safe. Rather than seeing a rule as something that a child should be punished for breaking, work with your child to help them succeed in staying safe and maintaining the boundary.  

  1.               Relate with your child

Once they have calmed down and are able to listen, empathise with your child. Talk to them about a time you felt the same way and what happened. This will help them to understand their own feelings and feel like you understand and care about them. 

Here are a few practical examples of the steps 

Name, explain, understand, regulate, boundaries, relate

Excited

  1. “I can see you are really excited.”
  2. “You can’t stay still!”
  3. “I am wondering if you are excited about seeing your friend.”
  4. “Take a deep breath with me.” 
  5. “I can see you are finding it tricky to stay close by. Hold my hand as we cross the road to keep us safe.”
  6. “One time I was so excited I had so much energy that I thought I might be able to fly.”

Angry

  1. “I can see you are really angry.”
  2. “Your face is scrunched up and your fists are clenched.”
  3. “I am wondering if you are angry because someone didn’t let you play.”
  4. “Take a deep breath with me.” 
  5. “I cannot let you hit me. If you need to get your angry out try hitting this cushion or blowing away the clouds in the sky.”
  6. “Once I was so angry I wanted to throw everything I could see but your grandad helped me calm down by giving me play dough to squeeze.”

 Sad

  1. “I can see you are really sad.”
  2. “Your eyes are hidden and your shoulders are hunched.”
  3. “I am wondering if you are sad because it is time to leave.”
  4. “Would you like a hug?” 
  5. “It is ok to feel sad. We need to go home now to have dinner.”
  6. “I sometimes feel really sad about things ending too. Shall we make a plan to come back here again?”

As the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup, so make sure you are getting the support you need to help you support the people around you.

Catherine Lynch is an experienced teacher, play therapist and senior manager at PlanBee, which creates teaching resources for primary school aged children (aged five-11). The resources have been created to meet the English National Curriculum objectives.

Battle of Britain Day explained

The national celebration of Battle of Britain Day on 15 September is a major event. But do you know what we are commemorating and why, and how can you explain its significance to your children? Former primary school teacher Laura Steele of leading education resource creators PlanBee has all the answers.

What was the Battle of Britain?

The Battle of Britain was a decisive air battle between Britain and Germany in the Second World War, which took place between July and October 1940. 

How did the Battle of Britain begin?

Germany, led by Hitler, had invaded much of Europe, and Britain was the only country left to conquer. Hitler ordered the Luftwaffe, Germany’s air force, to fly over and bomb towns and army defences on the south coast of England, hoping to weaken the British defences before invading by land. The first bombs were dropped on 10th July 1940. 

How did Britain respond?

Hitler did not anticipate the strength of the Royal Air Force, and Britain’s determination to fight back. He decided to focus the attack on the air force bases of Britain instead, bombing airport runways and radar stations, hoping to weaken the RAF. Hitler became impatient at how long it was taking to defeat Britain, so he also ordered the bombing of large cities such as Cardiff, Glasgow, Belfast and London.

What was ‘The Hardest Day’?

18th August 1940 was named ‘The Hardest Day’ after a particularly fierce air battle between the RAF and the Luftwaffe. Germany aimed to destroy RAF Fighter Command, the control centre of Britain’s fighter aircraft. Both sides suffered heavy losses. Despite shooting down twice as many German planes in the sky, the RAF lost many of their aircraft when they were destroyed on the ground. 

What happened on ‘Battle of Britain Day’?

The Germans felt that they were getting close to victory. On 15th September, a huge bombing attack was launched on London. Immediately, RAF pilots took to the sky in their fighter planes, shooting down many German aircraft. This was a key turning point; although more air raids occurred after this date, they became less frequent.

How did it end?

At the end of October 1940, Hitler abandoned his plans to invade Britain. After the Battle of Britain, the RAF had seriously weakened the Luftwaffe and caused Hitler’s first major defeat of the war.

Seven fascinating facts about the Battle of Britain

●        The name ‘Battle of Britain’ was coined by Prime Minister Winston Churchill. In a speech he made after the defeat of France, he said, ‘ …the Battle of France is over. The Battle of Britain is about to begin.’

●        The leader of the RAF was Sir Hugh Dowding. The leader of the Luftwaffe was Hermann Göring.

●        Despite the Luftwaffe having more aircraft, the RAF had the advantage of radar which gave them advance warning of where and when German aircraft were approaching. 

●        The Hawker Hurricane and the Supermarine Spitfire were the main RAF fighter aircraft. The Hurricanes were responsible for 60 per cent of German losses.

●        The Messerschmitt bf 109 was the most dangerous German fighter plane. The Luftwaffe’s Heinkel He III was capable of carrying bombs weighing up to 250kg.

●        At the beginning of the Battle of Britain, the RAF had 1,963 aircraft while the Luftwaffe had 2,550. By the end, the RAF had lost 1,744 and the Luftwaffe 1,977.

●        After the Battle of Britain, Winston Churchill said, ‘Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.’ This is why the pilots who fought in the battle became known as ‘The Few’.


Download free resources at https://planbee.com/products/battle-of-britain-freebee-pack