Play activity 10 - hidden treasure

This activity develops discovery and learning about the body, exploring and experimenting, making choices and communicating preferences, making connections with the world.

What is in the box?

• Honey stick
• Spatula
• Driftwood
• Shell
• Loofah
• Coconut shell
• Wooden spoon

Activities

• Position the child so that they have most use of their hands for exploring.
• Place all of the items in front of the child.
• Give the child plenty of time and as much support as they require to explore each of the items.
• Let them explore using all of their senses.

Moving on

• Find other natural objects to use, for example pebbles, shells, rope, conkers, spoon, toothbrush (being careful if the child uses their mouth to explore).
• Use visits to make up some baskets that will relate to experiences, for example going to the park for tree bark, pine cones, feathers, pot pourri.

Observation and assessment

• Note down likes or dislikes.
• Use items the child likes to make up a pack of known positive items.
• Discuss features of different objects, for example, texture and shape.
• Do not dismiss objects that the child does not seem to like. Reintroduce them at a later date to see if there are any changes.
• Make up some other treasure baskets – linked to topics.

Inclusion guide

• With treasure baskets, encourage children to find objects that are the same texture, size or material.
• Use feely boxes – see if the children can work out what is in the box.
• Have an outdoor treasure hunt – for example, to find objects that are smooth or hard.

How this fits into the Early Years Foundation Stage.