Cause a sensation

Displays are a great way to celebrate children's work and develop and consolidate their understanding. Equally, display can be a very effective tool in engaging the senses, stimulating children's imagination and motivating them to learn.

To capture children's interest, practitioners can offer displays that attract and engage children visually, but also encourage them to participate in tactile or perhaps auditory explorations. By activating the senses and presenting displays in a creative way, practitioners can add another valuable dimension to delivering the early years curriculum.

Try some of the suggestions below.

Special objects

Set aside an area to display a single 'special' object, like a chunk of rock, a crystal, an exotic shell or a kaleidoscope. Display it simply on a wooden cube covered in black material, or on a mirrored surface. Make sure the children can access it easily and change the display items regularly, perhaps weekly. Encourage the children to explore the object, to ask questions and to think imaginatively about it.