Planned learning intentions
To attempt writing for different purposes
To look closely at similarities and differences
Resources
* A copy of The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister, (North-South Books, Pounds 5.99) * white paper * blue paint * bubble wrap * foil * silver card * textured and smooth blue foil * binca * thick embroidery needles * embroidery threads of various colours * silver thread * scissors * PVA glue Step by step
* Read the story and suggest that the children create their own rainbow fish display.
* Invite the children to prepare the backing paper by painting white paper with watery blue paint and then dribbling thicker blue paint down it.
* Create a border from foil strips and bubble wrap.
* Cut out silver card letters for The Rainbow Fish title.
* Invite the children to create the head, fins and tail of the fish from pieces of textured and smooth blue foil glued to a large fish outline.
* Supply the children with binca cut into the shape of fish scales and invite them to sew different coloured threads over the surface. Glue the scales in rows across the fish.
* Create bubbles coming from the mouth of the fish using bubble wrap.
The practitioner role
* Explore the patterns the children have made by dribbling paint down the backing paper, arranging the fish scales in rows and creating designs by sewing threads on to binca.
* Read each page of the book slowly before inviting the children to write and illustrate their own pages, scribing their words for them to copy if necessary.
Extension ideas
* Create an 'Under the sea' table display and invite the children to bring in related resources.
* Design repeat fish patterns by printing with sponge cut into different fish shapes.
* Create displays related to other stories with the same theme, such as Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae (Orchard Books, 5.99).
Alison Gowland is a nursery nurse at Rainbow Nursery at Durham High School.
She spoke to Jean Evans