Introduce the significance of remembrance in a gentle, age-appropriate way with these thoughtful and creative poppy activities for EYFS. Through art, sensory play, and storytelling, children can explore the symbol of the poppy while developing key skills across all EYFS Areas of Learning.
Blossom’s Recommended Poppy Activities for Early Years:
1. Make a Fingerprint Poppy Field
Provide some red paint for the children to dip their fingertips into to create poppies on a large sheet of paper. Add green stems with paintbrushes or pens, and display the collaborative field as a symbol of remembrance.
EYFS Areas of Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Expressive Arts and Design
- Creating with Materials: Finger painting promotes creativity and understanding of symbolic art.
- Being Imaginative and Expressive: Creating a shared artwork encourages expression through colour.
- Creating with Materials: Finger painting promotes creativity and understanding of symbolic art.
- Physical Development
- Fine Motor Skills: Dabbing and painting with fingers builds dexterity.
- Fine Motor Skills: Dabbing and painting with fingers builds dexterity.
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Self-Regulation: Talking about respect and remembrance helps children explore big feelings gently.
2. Sensory Poppy Tray
Fill a tray with red and black rice or oats, laminated poppy shapes, scoops, and small containers. Let children explore freely while you talk age-appropriately about the meaning of poppies.
EYFS Areas of Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Understanding the World
- People, Culture and Communities: Introduces the concept of remembrance.
- People, Culture and Communities: Introduces the concept of remembrance.
- Physical Development
- Fine Motor Skills: Scooping, pouring, and picking up small items develops hand strength.
- Fine Motor Skills: Scooping, pouring, and picking up small items develops hand strength.
- Communication and Language
- Speaking: Describing textures and colours supports expressive language.
3. Poppy Collage Craft
Provide red tissue paper, cupcake cases, black buttons, and glue so children can build their own poppy designs. Put all the poppies together at the end to create a wreath.
EYFS Areas of Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Expressive Arts and Design
- Creating with Materials: Exploring different textures supports creativity.
- Creating with Materials: Exploring different textures supports creativity.
- Physical Development
- Fine Motor Skills: Scrunching, sticking, and placing builds finger strength.
- Fine Motor Skills: Scrunching, sticking, and placing builds finger strength.
- Understanding the World
- Past and Present: Introducing the concept of poppies and what they represent.
4. Poppy Counting and Sorting
Use paper poppies or poppy-themed counters for number activities. Children can count, sort by size or colour, and match to numerals.
EYFS Areas of Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Mathematics
- Number: Counting and number recognition.
- Numerical Patterns: Sorting encourages comparison and pattern recognition.
- Number: Counting and number recognition.
- Communication and Language
- Speaking: Talking through counting choices builds vocabulary and reasoning.
5. Playdough Poppy
Provide red, green, and black playdough for children to create their own poppies. They can roll small balls or use shape cutters for petals, and use tools to cut stems. Add poppy photographs or real poppies for inspiration.
EYFS Areas of Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Expressive Arts and Design
- Creating with Materials: Using playdough and different tools
- Creating with Materials: Using playdough and different tools
- Physical Development
- Fine Motor Skills: Rolling, pinching, and shaping playdough strengthens hand and finger muscles.
- Communication and Language
- Speaking: Talking about what they’re making helps expand vocabulary related to Remembrance Day, flowers, and colours.
These poppy activities for EYFS are a wonderful way to explore and learn about remembrance day through creativity, discussion, and play. Each idea supports early development while introducing the poppy as a symbol of peace, kindness, and care.
