Theme Notes
Series 234: Wheels
Wheels
This week in Play School we explore wheels and the many ways they help us in our daily lives.
Children are given the opportunity to explore how wheels help us move, work and play through activities, films, stories and songs.
Monday
PRESENTERS
Andrew McFarlane – Karen Pang PIANIST
Peter Dasent STORY
Gordon’s Biscuit
Author & Illustrator: Kerry Millard Publisher: Puffin
FILM
Fair Entertainment (Play School, ABC) ANIMATION Bags. Bags, Bags (Play School, ABC) IDEAS FOR LATER
Take your bike for a ride in the park.
Set up an obstacle course in the backyard with recycled boxes.
Invite your friends over for a backyard treasure hunt.
SONGS
Push Bike Song
Composers: Idris & Evan Jones Publisher: Universal
The Wheels on the Bus Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing Five Currant Buns
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing Put a Spot Over Here
Composer: John Fox & Warren Carr Publisher: ABC Music Publishing Let Me See You Do the Monkey Composer: Genevieve Jereb Publisher: Gellybean Records Round and Round and Round Composer: Colin Buchanan Publisher: Rondor
Donkey Riding
Composer: Beatrice Landek Publisher: Edward B. Marks
Theme Notes
Series 234: Wheels
MAKE AND DO
How to Make Animal Biscuits
You will need:
For biscuits
85g unsalted butter, softened 75g caster sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract 225g plain flour
Plastic wrap
2 large baking trays Baking paper A rolling pin A pastry wheel
A pencil Safety scissors
Dried fruit, such as sultanas, glacé cherries and apricots (optional) Sprinkles (optional)
For icing
1 cup icing sugar 20g unsalted butter 1 tablespoon hot water Food colouring
Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
Add egg and vanilla extract and beat until combined.
Stir in flour. Add more flour if the dough looks too sticky to roll.
Divide dough in half. Wrap each half in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.
Preheat oven to 160ºC.
Line two large baking trays with baking paper.
Remove dough from refrigerator (one half at a time, as needed). Roll on a floured work
Theme Notes
Series 234: Wheels
Tuesday
PRESENTERS
Georgie Parker – Andrew McFarlane PIANIST
Peter Dasent TOLD STORY
Paper Doll Dress Ups
(A story told by the Play School team) FILMS
Pottery Wheel (Play School, ABC) ANIMATION
Stop, Look and Listen (Play School, ABC) IDEAS FOR LATER
Make some paper clothes for a cardboard doll.
Invite a friend over to play at your house.
Go for a “wheely” walk and count how many different types of wheels you can see.
SONGS
The Lizard Song
Composers: Val Donlon & Marion Ord Publisher: ABC Music Publishing My Hands are Clapping
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing The Wheels on the Bus
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing Do You Put Your Hat On
Composer: Val Donlon & Claire Henderson Publisher: ABC Music Publishing
Hip Hip Hooray
Composers: Peter Dasent & Sophie Emtage Publisher: Origin/Control
Lazy and Warm
Composer: Carter Harman Publisher: Silver Burdett
Theme Notes
Series 234: Wheels
MAKE AND DO
Playing with Clay You will need:
A plastic sheet to cover your work space Clay
A bucket of water A rolling pin
Things to make patterns with, such as toy cars, a pastry wheel and chop sticks Start by feeling a lump of clay in your hands. Squish it and feel its consistency and texture. If the clay starts to get dry, sprinkle it with water to add moisture.
Roll out a lump of clay on a covered work space with a rolling pin. Use different objects to make patterns in the clay. You might like to drive a toy car through the clay and see what patterns the tyres make, or make a pattern with a pastry wheel or a pair of chopsticks.
Mould an animal from clay and use a chopstick to add details, such as eyes, a nose and a mouth.
Theme Notes
Series 234: Wheels
Wednesday
PRESENTERS
Georgie Parker – Andrew McFarlane PIANIST
Peter Dasent STORY
Greedy, Grumpy Hippo
Author & Illustrator: Stuart Trotter Publisher: Koala Books
FILM
Zoe’s House (Power House Museum) (Play School, ABC)
ANIMATION
Dingle Dangle Scarecrow (Play School, ABC) IDEAS FOR LATER
Make a picnic lunch and share it with your friends.
Pretend your toys are sick in hospital and take care of them.
Plant some flowers in your garden or in window boxes to brighten up your home.
Make a small scarecrow for your garden.
SONGS
Round and Round, the Wheels
Composers: Warren Carr & Jenny MacKenzie Dem Bones
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing Let Me See You Do the Monkey Composer: Genevieve Jereb Publisher: Gellybean Records Let’s Go Driving
Composer: Jeffrey Moss
Publisher: Festival Attractions Inc.
Dingle Dangle Scarecrow
Composers: Molly & Geoffrey Russell-Smith Publisher: EMI
Theme Notes
Series 234: Wheels
MAKE AND DO
How to Make a Tyre Garden You will need:
A tyre
A large round pot that fits inside the tyre Potting mix
Small plants – such as herbs, vegetables or flowers Gardening gloves
A small hand shovel A watering can Water
Fit the large round pot inside your tyre.
Put on some gardening gloves and fill the pot with potting mix.
Use a small hand shovel to make some holes in the potting mix.
Plant the herbs, vegetables or flowers in the holes your have made in the potting mix. We made a vegie garden with cherry tomatoes, mint and lettuce and a flower garden with pink, white and purple flowers.
Water the plants with a watering can.
Theme Notes
Series 234: Wheels
Thursday
PRESENTERS
Georgie Parker – Andrew McFarlane PIANIST
Peter Dasent STORY
Polly Jean Pyjama Queen Author & Illustrator: Steve Webb Publisher: Red Fox
FILM
Bicycle Courier (Play School, ABC) ANIMATION
Bananas in Pyjamas (Play School, ABC) IDEAS FOR LATER
Invite your friends over for a special sleep over.
Send a letter to a friend or family member.
Go to the Post Office and buy a stamp for your letter and then post it in the post box!
Save stamps from old letters and then glue them onto a piece of paper to make stamp patterns.
SONGS
Riding in a Helicopter Composer: Sean O’Boyle
Publisher: ABC Music Publishing/EMI Bananas in Pyjamas
Composer: Carey Blyton Publisher: ABC Music Publishing Three Cheeky Monkeys
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing Flying Everywhere
Composer: Noni Hazlehurst Publisher: ABC Music Publishing Man-Man-Mangia
Composers: Rosemary Sheldon & Pauline Mitchell
Publisher: ABC Music Publishing
Theme Notes
Series 234: Wheels
MAKE AND DO
How to Make Letters for Your Toys You will need:
Coloured paper
Coloured crayons, pencils or markers Stamps and an ink pad
Fold coloured paper to make envelopes.
Draw a picture of the person you would like to send your letter to on the front of your envelope. You also might like to write their name and draw or write where they live on the envelope. For example, we drew a picture of Humpty and a picture of Play School on a letter for Humpty.
Don’t forget to add some stamps!
Theme Notes
Series 234: Wheels
Friday
PRESENTERS
Andrew McFarlane - Georgie Parker PIANIST
Peter Dasent TOLD STORY
Meeka Moves House
(A story told by the Play School team)
FILM
Paddle Steamer (Play School, ABC) ANIMATION Incy Wincy Spider (Play School, ABC) IDEAS FOR LATER
Collect some old plastic bottles that are safe and clean. Take them in the bath for some pouring fun.
See how many pictures you can find of boats.
Collect things to put in a rainy day box! You can play with these things next time you are stuck inside on a rainy day.
SONGS
Ducks Like Rain Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing The Dino Stomp
Composer: Judith Simpson & Max Lambert Publisher: ABC Music Publishing
Incy Wincy Spider Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing May We Come Over to Your Place Composer: Henrietta Clark
Publisher: ABC Music Publishing Boats
Composer: Beatrice Krobe
Publisher: Follet Educational Corp.
Theme Notes
Series 234: Wheels
MAKE AND DO
How to Make a Rain Picture You will need:
Paper
Powdered paint in different colours A spray bottle filled with water
Sprinkle some powdered paint onto a piece of paper. Add a few different colours.
Spray with water and watch as the paint turns into rain, falling and splashing on the paper.
