In this post you’ll find a compilation of Gruffalo (Julia Donaldson & Axel Schedfler) themed early years activities and interest tray.
Take a stroll through the deep, dark wood…
A Gruffalo Hunt. Make a list in advance of your adventure (we used pictures), pack a pen and tick each character off as you find them. Story recall is assured in this adventurous bout of active learning!
A feast fit for a Gruffalo…
🦊 Roasted Fox – Sweet Potato Wedges 🐍 Scrambled Snake – Wholemeal Pasta (dyed with green colouring!) & Cucumber 🦉 Owl Ice Cream – Vanilla Ice Cream with smashed up Milk Chocolate and Waffer Fingers 🐁 Mouse on Bread – Quorn Sausages with Ketchup on Bread Gruffalo Crumble – Blueberry Muffins
Interactive story telling…
Natural resources create scenery and props for small world play and interactive story telling or recall.
“He has terrible tusks and terrible claws, and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws… He has knobbly knees and turned-out toes and a poisonous wart at the end of his nose… His eyes are orange, his tongue is black, he has purple prickles all over his back”
Abstract thinking in recreating a representation of the Gruffalo. A chance to prove an understanding and use of positional language, story recall and to name body parts. A real opportunity to engage in sustained shared thinking.
Who lives in a house like this…?
Another hunt. Hidden in their respective “houses”, once all the characters were found, the task was to match them to the representation of their homes. There’s an opportunity to extend learning and build connections/make links to the real world by discussing native wildlife, where they live and what their homes are called.
Gruffalo Crowns
As it sounds… Bit of foam, bit of felt, bit of glue!
“And his favourite food is…”
MESSY PLAY and sensory exploration! 🦊 Roasted Fox – Cornflakes 🐍Scrambled Snake – Cooked Spaghetti (top tip, cooked spaghetti is a great resource to use in developing scissor skills) 🦉Owl Ice Cream – Foam Soap, Weetabix & Oats
Free Range Childhood 