Discover fantastical fictional animals such as the dragon, unicorn and phoenix. Listen to their stories and look at art and listen to music inspired by them. Invent your own versions of these imaginary animals and represent your ideas through the creative arts. Investigate the creatures that have been held in special regard by people through the ages such as the cow and bald eagle. Explore why they are considered special animals. Compose and perform class poetry and explore descriptive language.

Session 1 The Dragon!

Objectives

Early learning goals

  • Listen attentively in a range of situations.
  • Listen to stories, accurately anticipating key events and respond to what is heard with relevant comments, questions or actions.
  • Follow instructions involving several ideas or actions.
  • Safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function.

Lesson Planning

Children learn that the dragon is a popular mythical creature from around the world. They explore popular dragon stories, describe the appearance and behaviour of dragons and create dragon puppets and models.

Teaching Outcomes
To know that dragons are a mythical animal, explore different cultural interpretations of the appearance and behaviour of dragons, to respond creatively to stories and ideas about dragons.

Children will:

  • Understand that dragons’ are a mythical animal popular in different countries around the world.
  • Appreciate that dragons from different cultures have different personalities and traits.
  • Create a dragon puppet and model.
  • Select and write descriptive language.

You Will Need

  • Toy knight’s helmet, sword and shield
  • Chinese dragon puppet template
  • Glitter
  • Paint pots
  • White paper plates
  • Stapler
  • Circles of coloured paper

Session 2 The Phoenix!

Objectives

Early learning goals

  • Listen attentively in a range of situations.
  • Listen to stories, accurately anticipating key events and respond to what they hear with relevant comments, questions or actions.
  • Give attention to what others say and respond appropriately, while engaged in another activity.
  • Show good control and co-ordination in large and small movements.
  • Move confidently in a range of ways, safely negotiating space.
  • Handle equipment and tools effectively, including pencils for writing.
  • Use what has been learnt about media and materials in original ways, thinking about uses and purposes.
  • Represent ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music, dance, role-play and stories.

Lesson Planning

Children learn that a unicorn is a mythical creature. They will be able to describe its appearance and character, and use this to create their own representations of unicorns.

Teaching Outcomes
To know the Phoenix/Firebird is a magical mythical animal, to listen to music and story inspired by the Phoenix, to work collaboratively with adults and peers.

Children will:

  • Know the Phoenix or Firebird is a mythical animal.
  • Respond creatively to music and story.
  • Combine materials with imagination and control, selecting and using appropriate tools.

You Will Need

  • Masha and the Firebird by M Bateson-Hill
  • Ingredients/utensils for crispy cakes
  • Chicken wire
  • Fabric
  • Role-play props/small world forest
  • Ribbons
  • Eggs

Session 3 The Unicorn!

Objectives

Early learning goals

  • Listen attentively in a range of situations.
  • Listen to stories, accurately anticipating key events and respond to what they hear with relevant comments, questions or actions.
  • Express effectively, showing awareness of listeners’ needs.
  • Develop narratives and explanations by connecting ideas or events.
  • Show good control and co-ordination in large and small movements.
  • Handle equipment and tools effectively, including pencils for writing.

Lesson Planning

Children learn that a unicorn is a mythical creature. They will be able to describe its appearance and character, and use this to create their own representations of unicorns.

Teaching Outcomes
To know that a unicorn is a mythical animal; to share ideas with adults and peers and justify opinions; to select and use equipment and tools to create own images of unicorns.

Children will:

  • Know that a unicorn is a mythical animal and be able to describe its appearance and behaviour.
  • Speak confidently and fluently in front of their peers.
  • Use imagination to create stories and narratives.
  • Use equipment and tools with precision and control.

You Will Need

  • Sugarlump and the Unicorn by J. Donaldson
  • Pastel shades of A4 paper
  • Black felt-tipped pens
  • Strips of colourful paper
  • PE cones, hoops and quoits
  • Clothes pegs
  • Pictures of unicorns
  • 3 different small world scenes

Session 4 The cow - an animal sacred to Hindus

Objectives

Early learning goals

  • Speak confidently in a familiar group, talk about ideas, and choose the resources needed for chosen activities.
  • Know about similarities and differences between themselves and others, and among families, communities and traditions.
  • Use what has been learnt about media and materials in original ways.
  • Handle equipment and tools effectively, including pencils for writing.

Lesson Planning

Children learn that many Hindus consider the cow to be a special animal and are able to identify why. They identify how their behaviour can have a positive impact on others.

Teaching Outcomes
To know that a unicorn is a mythical animal; to share ideas with adults and peers and justify opinions; to select and use equipment and tools to create own images of unicorns.

Children will:

  • Understand that some religious communities have special animals.
  • Recognise why cows are sacred to Hindus.
  • Identify different ways Hindus celebrate the cow.
  • Recognise that offering to help other people is a positive behaviour trait.

You Will Need

  • Socks
  • Fabric
  • Ingredients and utensils for milk shakes
  • Ribbons
  • Tissue paper
  • Glue/stapler
  • White rectangles of cloth
  • Bright powder paint
  • Mist spray
  • Handwriting pencils

Session 5 The bald eagle - an animal sacred to Native Americans

Objectives

Early learning goals

  • Express self effectively, showing awareness of listeners’ needs.
  • Use phonic knowledge to write words in ways which match their spoken sounds.
  • Use everyday language to talk about size and distance to solve problems.
  • Know about similarities and differences between themselves and others, and among families, communities and traditions.

Lesson Planning

Children learn that the Bald Eagle is a special animal to Native American people. They carefully describe its appearance and movements to compose a class poem, which they perform. Children select their favourite scared/mythical animal and give reasons for their opinion.

Teaching Outcomes
To understand that a Bald Eagle is a special animal to Native Americans; to share and justify ideas and opinions; to use descriptive language effectively; to contribute to class discussions and performances.

Children will:

  • Know why the Bald Eagle is a special animal to the native people of America.
  • Contribute to group/class discussions and presentations.
  • Share thoughts and provide reasons for their opinions.
  • Respond creatively to stimuli.

You Will Need

  • Sticky-labels
  • Handwriting pencils
  • Brown/white/yellow paint
  • Paper airplanes
  • Colouring media
  • Non-standard measuring unit
  • Coloured paper