Mathematics ELG: Numerical Patterns. Compare quantities up to 10 in different contexts, recognising when one quantity is greater than, less than or the same as the other quantity; The author, environmental expert Sarah Roberts, is well placed to deliver this important message about plastic pollution, but she has also created a poignant narrative with a deft lightness of touch that will charm children as well as educate them. Understanding the World ELG: People and Communities. Describe their immediate environment using knowledge from observation, discussion, stories, non-fiction texts and maps.

Plan a party for dragons, then break out the balloons, explore shapes and numbers, and learn why plastic bags don’t belong in the sea, suggests Hilary White… Amazing Understanding the World ELG: People, Culture and Communities. Explain some similarities and differences between life in this country and life in other countries, drawing on knowledge from stories, non-fiction texts and – when appropriate – maps. We love this non-fiction book because unusually for a book aimed at EYFS, it has photographs rather than illustrations. This book contains 24 National Geographic photographs of water being collected, stored, transported and shared in different ways around the world. Each picture has a brief caption of two or three words, with longer descriptions of the photographs and a map of the world at the end of the book. For water related activities, see our looking through water STEM at home activity and our floating flowers activity. Understanding the World ELG: The Natural World. Understand some important processes and changes in the natural world around them, including the seasons and changing states of matter. Learn about the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling waste. How can we encourage people to do more of this?

International

Understanding the World ELG: People, Culture and Communities. Describe their immediate environment using knowledge from observation, discussion, stories, non-fiction texts and maps.

Balloons are interesting items and fun to explore – as Kipper and the little boy in The Blue Balloon discover. Experiment yourself. What happens when you blow up a balloon and let it go, or draw on a deflated balloon with a marker pen and then blow it up, or if you’re brave enough to try squeezing and squashing a balloon, or if you put a water-filled balloon in the freezer? What do balloons filled with water and cornflour feel like? Try introducing different shaped balloons and modelling balloons. 9 | Coloured balloonsRewrite the story (or a part of it) in the form of a playscript. What would Stanley and the animals say?

It just so happened, my daughter spotted a plastic bag just like Stanley floating in the ocean during our boat ride a few months ago. My daughter exclaimed 'Stanley!' and asked why it didn't have eyes like Stanley in the book 😄 It's sad that the problem is so real though 😕 This story is written by Sarah Roberts, who is an animal behaviourist and wildlife expert. Think of some questions that you would like to ask her. This video gives more information about Sarah and her work: Understanding the World ELG: People, Culture and Communities. Explain some similarities and differences between life in this country and life in other countries, drawing on knowledge from stories, non-fiction texts and –when appropriate – maps.

The blue balloon in the story takes the little boy and his dog Kipper on an exciting journey into space. Where might the magical blue balloon take you? Working either individually or in very small groups, talk to the children about imaginary journeys. Record their narratives, and provide dressing-up clothes and props to reflect their ideas so they can act out and further develop their journeys. Take photographs, scribe the children’s words and turn them into a book of stories to share with the whole group. Somebody Swallowed Stanley is a gorgeously illustrated book with a critical message—highly recommended.