Caterpillars & Acorns Room
2-3 Years

Caterpillars and Acorns Room Curriculum (Ages 2-3 Years)

 

Our Caterpillars and Acorns curriculum for children aged 2-3 years, aligned with the EYFS framework. This curriculum focuses on fostering early learning in all the core areas, with simple, engaging, and developmentally appropriate activities for toddlers.

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Focus Areas (EYFS Areas of Learning):

1. Personal, Social, and Emotional Development (PSED)

2. Communication and Language (CL)

3. Physical Development (PD)

4. Literacy (L)

5. Mathematics (M)

6. Understanding the World (UW)

7. Expressive Arts and Design (EAD)

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All About Me

• EYFS Focus:

  • PSED: Developing self-awareness and beginning to recognise emotions.

  • CL: Learning body parts, using simple words for feelings.

  • EAD: Self-expression through drawing and movement.

• Activities:

  • Circle Time: Introduce names, favourite things, and talk about the body (e.g., "I have two eyes!").

  • Self-portrait Painting: Toddlers will use safe, non-toxic paints to create simple self-portraits.

  • Songs & Rhymes: "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" to help identify body parts.

  • Feelings Flashcards: Show pictures with different facial expressions (happy, sad, surprised) and encourage toddlers to mimic them.

• Skills Focus:

  • PSED: Recognising emotions.

  • CL: Building vocabulary related to feelings.

  • EAD: Creative expression through drawing and facial recognition.

 

Colours and Shapes

• EYFS Focus:

  • M: Recognising colours and simple shapes.

  • PSED: Working on sharing and turn-taking during activities.

  • EAD: Creating with colours and shapes.

• Activities:

  • Colour Sorting: Use coloured toys or blocks for toddlers to sort by colour.

  • Shape Stamps: Provide large, simple shapes to stamp on paper with washable ink pads.

  • Songs & Rhymes: "Red and Yellow, Green and Blue" (a fun colour song).

  • Shape Hunt: Go on a hunt around the room to find items that match different shapes (circles, squares).

• Skills Focus:

  • M: Sorting, identifying colours and shapes.

  • PSED: Working together during group play.

  • EAD: Exploring textures and colours through stamps.

 

Animals and Their Sounds

• EYFS Focus:

  • UW: Learning about animals and their sounds.

  • CL: Expanding vocabulary (names of animals, sounds they make).

  • PSED: Sharing and taking turns with animal toys.

• Activities:

  • Animal Sounds Game: Play an animal sounds guessing game, either with toys or flashcards.

  • Animal Play: Use animal figurines for pretend play, mimicking animal sounds.

  • Songs & Rhymes: "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" or "Five Little Ducks."

  • Animal Sorting: Have toddlers sort plush animals or toys by size or type (farm animals, wild animals).

• Skills Focus:

  • UW: Understanding animals and their environments.

  • CL: Developing vocabulary related to animals.

  • PSED: Sharing and cooperating during group activities.

 

My Family and Friends

• EYFS Focus:

  • PSED: Learning to form positive relationships with peers and adults.

  • CL: Talking about family members (mum, dad, siblings).

  • UW: Understanding the concept of family and relationships.

• Activities:

  • Family Tree Art: Create a simple family tree using cut-out pictures or drawings of family members.

  • Role Play: Set up a "family home" area with dolls and pretend kitchen items.

  • Songs & Rhymes: "This Is the Way We Welcome Our Friends" (interactive song).

  • Talking about Families: Discuss different family members and their roles in the family.

• Skills Focus:

  • PSED: Building relationships, social skills.

  • CL: Using words to describe family members.

  • UW: Recognising the concept of family and friendship.

 

The Outdoors and Nature

• EYFS Focus:

  • UW: Learning about the natural world and outdoor environments.

  • PD: Developing gross motor skills through outdoor play.

  • EAD: Expressing creativity using natural materials.

• Activities:

  • Nature Walk: Take a walk outside to look for leaves, flowers, insects, and animals.

  • Nature Art: Collect leaves, twigs, and flowers to make nature collages or simple leaf rubbings.

  • Songs & Rhymes: "In the Green Grass" or "The Green Grass Grows All Around."

  • Outdoor Play: Free play with outdoor toys like balls, tricycles, and climbing structures.

• Skills Focus:

  • UW: Exploring the natural world.

  • PD: Gross motor development through physical activities.

  • EAD: Creating art using natural materials.

 

Everyday Objects and How They Work

• EYFS Focus:

  • UW: Exploring how things work and the materials around us.

  • CL: Describing and naming everyday objects.

  • PD: Handling objects (tools, toys, etc.) safely.

• Activities:

  • Toy Cars or Trucks: Show how cars or trucks move and let toddlers explore pushing them around.

  • Toy Tools: Provide simple plastic tools for toddlers to "fix" objects or play with.

  • Songs & Rhymes: "The Wheels on the Bus" (incorporate the sounds of vehicles and everyday objects).

  • Object Sorting: Sort objects by type (e.g., things that are soft, hard, round, square).

• Skills Focus:

  • UW: Understanding how everyday objects work.

  • CL: Expanding vocabulary related to household items and tools.

  • PD: Fine motor skills through manipulation of small objects.

 

Feelings and Emotions

• EYFS Focus:

  • PSED: Recognising and managing emotions.

  • CL: Using language to describe feelings.

  • EAD: Expressing emotions through role play and art.

• Activities:

  • Feelings Flashcards: Show different facial expressions and talk about what each one means.

  • Emotion Stones: Use colored stones or picture cards to express feelings like happy, sad, angry, etc.

  • Songs & Rhymes: "If You're Happy and You Know It" (to help children express emotions).

  • Role Play: Provide dolls or stuffed animals and encourage toddlers to act out different emotions with the toys.

• Skills Focus:

  • PSED: Managing emotions, recognising others' feelings.

  • CL: Building vocabulary related to emotions.

  • EAD: Role-playing and using emotions in creative play.

 

Review and Celebration

• EYFS Focus:

  • PSED: Celebrating achievements and building self-confidence.

  • CL: Sharing experiences and expressing thoughts.

  • EAD: Creative expression through art and music.

• Activities:

  • Show and Tell: Toddlers bring an object or favorite toy to share with the group.

  • Art Display: Display their artwork or craft projects from the previous weeks.

  • Songs & Rhymes: Sing the children's favorite songs from the curriculum.

  • Class Party: Celebrate with snacks, games, and a mini dance party.

• Skills Focus:

  • PSED: Celebrating achievements, confidence-building.

  • CL: Sharing thoughts and experiences.

  • EAD: Creative celebration of learning.

 

Ongoing Daily Activities:

• Story Time: Read short, simple stories daily to build language skills.

• Free Play: Encourage toddlers to explore toys, art materials, and role-play areas.

• Outdoor Play: Daily outdoor activities to promote physical development and social interaction.

• Sensory Play: Offer opportunities for sensory exploration, such as playdough, sand, water play, or finger painting.

 

This curriculum is designed to be flexible and encourages both structured and free play, allowing toddlers to explore their environment, develop basic skills, and express themselves. It’s essential to keep activities simple, fun, and interactive, offering a variety of sensory, physical, and social experiences.