Planning for Learning, Animals, Colour, Shapes, ICT and Growth

Activities involving animals designed to get children thinking and playing creatively while supporting their progress towards the EYLF learning outcomes.

These ideas help educators to easily shape weekly plans and involve parents in the chosen topic. Educators are encouraged to dip into the activities, choosing those that best meet the characteristics of each child and the families they are working with, and balancing these activities with those initiated by children themselves.

Ages: 0-7 years

Planning for Learning: Animals

Planning for Learning: Colour

Planning for Learning: Shapes

Planning for Learning: ICT

Planning for Learning: Growth

About the Authors

Debra Maltas

Debra Maltas is a chartered science teacher and has worked within the primary education sector for over 20 years. She works in Foundation and Key Stage 1 level in a Primary school and also teaches applied science in a Further Education college.

Judith Harries

Judith Harries is a writer, editor and teacher, living and working in Northampton, UK. She contributes to several early years magazines, including Practical Pre-School and Early Years Educator. She is currently studying for an MA in Music Psychology in Education.

Bridie Raban

Bridie Raban was the Foundation Mooroolbeek Professor of Early Childhood Studies at the University of Melbourne. She is currently an Honorary Professorial Fellow at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education and in 2021, she was awarded an Honorary University Fellowship by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU). Her past research has focused on language and literacy development, teacher change and development, curriculum and assessment for the early childhood years and quality provision. She was the first Professor of Early Childhood Education in Victoria and the second in Australia, and before this she was Professor of Primary Education (Early Years) at the University of Warwick and President of the UK Reading Association.

Rachel Linfield

Rachel Sparks Linfield has worked in education for over 25 years. She has written a wide range of articles and books for early years educators and non-fiction texts for children..

Kay Margetts

Kay Margetts is an Honorary Principal Fellow and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education, The University of Melbourne. She has a strong background in early childhood development, learning and teaching both as a practitioner and as an academic. Her main areas of research are transition and adjustment to school, accompanied by a strong record of publications. Kay is regularly engaged in knowledge exchange activities with the education sector including teachers, educators and parents.

Penny Coltman

Penny Coltman accumulated wide experience throughout the range of early years education as a teacher and freelance consultant before engaging in initial teacher training. She has written widely for a number of educational publishers.