Go Away, Foxy Foxy Education: Creative Thinking and Working Together

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Drawing on the themes of creative thinking and working together to solve a problem in Karen Hendriks and Naomi Greaves’ picture book, Go Away, Foxy Foxy, today we will be focusing on writing and discussion activities, a fun partner craft and a calming task to relieve the nerves. Children will be able to brainstorm problem solving ideas and utilise fine motor skills and creativity. 

*Go Away, Foxy Foxy is written by Karen Hendriks, illustrated by Naomi Greaves, published by Daisy Lane Publishing, August 2020.

Key Curriculum Areas: Early Years Learning Framework Outcomes

Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity      

Children feel safe, secure, and supported

Children develop their emerging autonomy, inter-dependence, resilience and sense of agency

Children learn to interact in relation to others with care, empathy and respect

Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing  

Children become strong in their social and emotional wellbeing

Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners      

Children develop a range of skills and processes such as problem solving, inquiry, experimentation, hypothesising, researching and investigating

Children resource their own learning through connecting with people, place, technologies and natural and processed materials

Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators                

Children interact verbally and non-verbally with others for a range of purposes

Children engage with a range of texts and gain meaning from these texts

Children express ideas and make meaning using a range of media

–

Reference: Early Years Learning Framework

Age Range 

4 – 6 years

Discussion

Look at the cover of ‘Go Away, Foxy Foxy’. What do you notice on the cover? What do you think this story might be about? How do you know?

What is the problem in the story?

What kinds of things did the bunnies already know about foxes? How did they know?

Do you think this Foxy Foxy wanted what they thought he wanted? How do you know?

What were some of the ideas they thought of to solve their problem of the sneaky fox?

Can you think of any other ideas for scaring foxes away?

How did the bunnies feel about Foxy Foxy? Did they all feel the same way?

How did the bunnies work together?

Think of a time you were afraid of something. What did you think to yourself? What kinds of ideas did you have / do to solve your problem?

Creative Thinking and Problem Solving Task Cards

Objective: Use household (or treehouse-hold) items to work together to solve the creative thinking problems identified on task cards.

Materials:

Paper to create your own Creative Thinking Task Cards

Pencil

List of household items, such as umbrella, scissors, torch, pots, clock, chair, balloon, bucket, book, etc.

Task: Write up some prompt cards with a problem that requires children to work together to brainstorm some possible solutions, using some common household items.

For example, “How would you use a bell, an umbrella and a wheelbarrow to help rescue a bunny from a treehouse?”

“How could a basketball, a broom and a balloon make a trap to catch a sneaky fox?”

“Your treehouse has sprung a leak in the roof and the rain is pouring in. How could you use a chair, a book and a blanket to stop the leak?”

“The Mummy bell is broken and you need to call for help. How will you use a can, some string, and pots and pans to talk to someone far away?”

Extra! Use the task cards for story writing, drawing, or dramatic role play.

Partner Craft: Cardboard and Natural Materials Fox

Objective: Work with a partner to collect and use natural materials to create your own fox cardboard craft.

Materials:

Cardboard

Sticks / leaves

Coloured paper

Glue

Scissors

Task: Design and create your own fox or woodland creature (owls, rabbits, deer, hedgehog etc) by cutting out a cardboard body shape and gluing on sticks, leaves and coloured paper to decorate it.

Adapt your design from these examples at Hello Wonderful.

Stress Relief Balloon Squishies

Objective: To create a balloon squishy to use as a strategy / tool for relieving anxiety in difficult situations.

Materials:

Balloon

Flour or water pearls or rice

Funnel

Small plastic bottle

Permanent marker pen

Optional: paper / foam for ears

Task: Fill a small plastic bottle half way with flour (or other options) using the funnel. Blow up the balloon and place around the bottle neck. Tip the bottle over so the flour empties into the balloon. Tie and decorate to your liking! Use your squishy balloon to help relieve worries as a relaxation tool.

Adapt your design from these examples at Mas and Pas.

#goawayfoxyfoxy #creativethinking #problemsolving #teamwork #mindfulness #calmingstrategies #animals #nature

Follow Karen Hendriks at these links:

Website: www.karenhendriks.com

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Go Away, Foxy Foxy is available to purchase at Daisy Lane Publishing | Booktopia.

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Let’s have a blast with Karen Hendriks and her sweet and empowering picture book, Go Away, Foxy Foxy, with special appearances at the following media sources…

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