Story - A Squash and a Squeeze 

Week 1

Welcome to our story of the week. This week we are focusing on the story 'A Squash and a Squeeze'. Please watch the video below of this lovely story. How many animals can you count? Do you know what noise each animal makes? How about pretending to be each animal and seeing if your family can guess what you are!

Story Role Play Activities: 

• Farm Role Play Masks- Use these role play masks to help you re-tell the story. Can you choose the correct mask in the right order? 
• Farm Stick Puppets- Use these farm stick puppets whilst you are listening to the story. Once the story has finished, see if you can remember the order of the animals and have a go at re-telling the story with your family!
• Old MacDonald had a Farm (Singing Hands)- Watch the 'Singing Hands' video of 'Old MacDonald had a Farm' below and practice your Makaton signs. Do you know any other animal signs? 
• Farm Animal Lotto: Play a game of Farm animal lotto with a parent or sibling. Who can cover all the animals on their board first? You could play by not saying animal names and only using animal noises as the clue! 

All resources for the activities can be found below:

Sensory Activities:

• Farm Themed Playdough Mats- Use the playdough to make different pictures on the mats for example; use your playdough to make some ducks on the pond. 
• Find and Identify- For this activity you will need; a bowl or tray, mud and animals. Fill the bowl or tray with mud, then hide the animals inside. See if you can find and identify the different animals in the mud. Do you know the name of the animal? Do you know the sound the animal makes? 
• Bags of Fun- Have hours of fun with these squash and squeeze sensory bags! 

All resources for the activities can be found below:

Fine Motor Skills Activities: 

• A Squash and a Squeeze drawing activity- After watching the story, see if you can complete this worksheet. Can you draw the animals you have seen in the story? Who came in and chased the hen? Do you remember who came in first? If you need help, watch the story again and see if you can find the answer!
• Farm themed cutting skills- This activity will help you develop your cutting skills. Can you carefully cut along the lines? Make sure to follow the shapes! 
• Farm Animals Handwriting- Practice your handwriting skills with these lovely pictures of animals names! You can also practice your pencil control with the writing patterns. 

Literacy Activities: 

• Fill in the missing words activity- Once you have watched the story, see if you can complete the missing words sheet. If you need help, watch the story again and see if you can find the answer!
• Word search- Challenge- See if you can complete this word search all by yourself! Look at each word one at a time and see if you can find it within the grid. Remember words can be horizontal (across) vertical (down) or diagonal! 
• Story Map- Use the story map to help you sequence the events from the story. See if you can remember the order of the animals entering the house. Cut and stick the symbols in the correct order and write the animals names underneath. You can use the word bank to support you with your spellings. Remember to have a go at sounding out the letters first using your phonics fingers!  
• Read and Draw: Read the words in each box using your phonics skills. Can you draw a picture of that object in the box? Colour in your pictures. What colours have you used? 

Creativity:

• Build your own farm: Use the Farm Poster and Farm Cut outs to recreate your own farm. Cut out and stick the pictures of your choice!
• Get Creative: Make a Hand Print Pig or a Paper Plate sheep. Scroll through the file list below to find the instructions and the equipment you will need. 

All resources for the activities can be found below:

Geography Activity: 

• Where do different farm animals live (Matching Activity)- First, cut out the houses and cut out the animals. Then see if you can match up the animals to their correct house. If you are not sure, try researching for the information yourself for example; type into google 'where do horses live?' This might give you a clue! You can then stick them down onto a piece of paper in their correct pair. 
• Mothers and their Young (Matching Activity) - First, cut out the pictures of the baby animals. Then see if you can match them up to their mothers. Can you notice things that are the same between mummy and baby? Can you notice things that are different between mummy and baby? Stick the baby animals next to their mummy's. 

Maths Activities: 

• Farm Animals Number Sequencing Photo Puzzles- Practice your number skills with these lovely pictures of real life animals. Cut them out and see if you can put them in the correct order. Use the numbers to help you! 
• Maths Challenge!- Can you answer the following questions related to the story: How many animals lived in the house? How many eyes did they ALL have? How many legs did they ALL have? How many tails did they ALL have? Use any counters to help you with your counting; for example, you could use building blocks or pasta. 
• Complete the Pattern: Cut out the squares on the second page. Can you place them in the correct order to complete the patterns? When you think you've got it right, stick them down. Can you make your own pattern for someone else to complete?

All resources for the activities can be found below: