An exciting new exhibition in Bristol is attracting the attention of early years providers eager to give children a taste of life in the jungle.
'Let's Imagine: In the Jungle' has been developed in collaboration with nurseries, scientists and educationalists and caters specifically for children under eight.
Based at Wildwalk-At-Bristol, a not-for-profit science centre, the travelling exhibition enables children to use their sight, hearing and touch to learn about creatures and their habitats.
Dressed in monkey, snake, crocodile or gecko costumes, children can crawl through the fallen log tunnel in the role-play area, meet minibeasts, insects and other wildlife under a giant microscope in the investigation section and practise throwing toy bugs into a giant Velcro spider web in the interactive play area.
They can then enter the storytelling area to listen to the tale of 'Gabby the Gecko', written specifically for the exhibition, and play with puppets of butterflies, snakes and geckos.
Amanda France, learning officer at Wildwalk-At-Bristol, says, 'Our aim, when we were developing the exhibition, was to create a range of different areas - role play, physical play spaces, interactive and story areas - that covered the key areas of Foundation Stage learning outcomes as well as making the experience relevant and fun.'
She adds, 'Activities are designed to stimulate children's curiosity to observe and identify features in the natural world. Children can also improve their social development and co-ordination and better their knowledge and understanding of the world.'
During the development stage of the project, local nurseries took part in creative workshops to help define the activities within the exhibition.
Vicky Cave, an exhibitions consultant with an early years specialism, said, 'The project team identified that they would like to focus on small animals, because 95 per cent of the animal kingdom is smaller than your thumb, and also because young children are often fascinated by minibeasts.
'We found that the children were inspired by scales, teeth, claws and tails, and wanted to know which animals ate what or who.'
Nursery practitioners were also involved in focus groups to ensure that the exhibition's content was in line with Foundation Stage learning outcomes and the Birth to Three Matters framework.
Pat Burnham, nursery manager at Bristol's Children's Playhouse, attended the exhibition's preview launch night. She says, 'It's an age-appropriate interactive opportunity to experience a hands-on, thought-provoking, imaginative experience for the pre-school age group. The Foundation Stage learning outcomes were subtly met through exciting play opportunities, while providing the differentiation required for the more mature child.
'The stimulating resources were well-made and exciting. We especially enjoyed the story area. The Velcro spider's web and the idea of throwing safely within a confined space was fun.'
More information
* 'Let's Imagine: In the Jungle' is on display at Wildwalk- At-Bristol until 22 March 2007. A discounted nursery group rate is available at 2.95 per child. For group bookings call 0845 345 3344 or visit www.at-bristol.org.uk/ Education/planning.htm.
* Two more travelling exhibitions for under-eights, 'Fossils and Funnybones' and 'Jet, Set Go' have also been developed by Wildwalk-At-Bristol. 'Jet, Set Go' is on display in Bristol until November 2006.