EYFS. Playtime - Turtle

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Information and guidance

Before using the content

Tell the children that today’s theme is ‘turtles’ and that they will be pretending to be a turtle swimming in the sea.
• Share some simple turtle facts.
• Where do they live?
• How do they move?
• What do they eat?

Movement language

The following vocabulary will be used in the programme:sway, swim, swoosh, swish, splash, splish, pull, waggling, smoothly, turning, side to side, wriggle, jerky.

Movement

During today’s song the children pretend to be underwater. Firstly they sway with the moving water, and then hold their hands to their eyes to represent ‘diving goggles’. As they explore they look up, down and all around, ‘swimming’ slowly and reaching out with their arms.

Then, they wriggle their fingers all about, like shoals of tiny fishes. Reaching up, like sea plants in the ocean, they sway slowly, holding their arms up above, and side to side.

Standing up, they follow Steven’s instructions as they mime becoming sea turtles, slowly waggling and pulling their hands, like a turtles strong front flippers. Next they move slowly, as the turtles swim among the fishes, turning and swaying their whole body in time with the music.

Then they kneel down making jerky wiggling actions as the turtles clumsily move from the water to dry land.

Song

Little Turtle…swim, Little Turtle, swim
Little Turtle…swim, Little Turtle, swim

Now Turtle turn among the fish,
Now Turtle splash, now Turtle splish
Now find the beach, now swim to land
Now Turtle wiggle across the sand.

Little Turtle…swim, Little Turtle, swim
Little Turtle…swim, Little Turtle, swim

(very quietly:)
Little Turtle…swim, Little Turtle, swim
Little Turtle…swim, Little Turtle, swim
Shhhhhhhhh…

Story: Anansi and Turtle

Anansi the trickster-spider doesn’t want to share his meal with his family. However, he learns a lesson about good manners on visiting the turtle’s home for a meal underwater.

See the Teacher's Notes for more information and guidance on using the content.

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