Blog

Persephone

This week we’re diving into the underworld to rescue Persephone from Hades! A classic Greek myth with some interesting imagery and symbolism… Play Ignoring the slightly out of age range themes going on in this complicated myth (?!) there are lots of wonderful references to the seasons, fruit and harvest and seeds! We’re rolling with […]

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How the Animals Got Their Tails

How the Animals got their Tails Have you ever wondered how the animals got their tails? And why the guinea pig hasn’t got one…? Play: Can you make tails for any of your soft toys which don’t have one? Have a go at your own version of “pin the tail on the donkey” – draw […]

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Five Little Ducks

Five Little Ducks Less a traditional tale this one, but a story based on the ‘five little ducks went swimming one day’ nursery rhyme, as we explore where the ducks might have gone… Play: Make  a ‘pond’ based play tray for some good old fashioned water play. If you don’t have many rubber ducks to […]

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Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Goldilocks and the Three Bears Our story this week is the infamous Goldilocks and her porridgy encounter with the three bears… Play: Porridge platter! Have lots of different toppings (like grated apple, peanut butter, cocoa powder, cake sprinkles, golden syrup, cinnamon) and if you were goldilocks, what would your ‘perfect’ porridge be?! Can you gather […]

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The Kangaroo’s Pouch

How the Kangaroo got her Pouch This week we’ll be heading off to Australia for the story of how the kangaroo got her pouch, featuring a young Joey who just INSISTS on being carried all the time…  Here are some ideas linked to the story.. Play: Have you got any balloons? or tennis balls? You […]

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Magic Porridge

The Magic Porridge Pot This is the story of two sisters who are entrusted with a magic porridge pot – lots of stirring and gloopy golden porridge! Here are a few ideas for activities, linked to this story, in lockdown in Becky’s house we really went to town with these porridge based activities, and the porridge […]

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The Little Red Hen

The Little Red Hen This week its the Little Red Hen, who is baking a loaf of bread with no help from her farmyard friends. Here are a few ideas to link to this week’s story: Art, crafts and play: * We will probably use this as an excuse to plant a few more seeds! […]

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The Enormous Turnip

The Enormous TurnipThis is one of our ALL TIME favourite Beanstalk Arts stories, all about team-work and valuing everyone’s contributions. Oh, and a very catchy song about turnip pulling! I’ve not gone particularly turnip-specific (!) in the ideas, but here’s a few things we’ll use as starting points for our day…  Play prompts: Gather a […]

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The Fox and the Star

The Fox and the Star… Story written and illustrated by and our resources based on the work of Coralie Bickford-Smith. You can find out more about her and her beautiful work here: https://cb-smith.com/ This is a story about a Fox. Fox has one, particularly special, special friend. Star. Fox and Star do everything together. They […]

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The Magic Paintbrush

It’s week one of our Spring 2022 term, and we’re delighted to be telling a story that’s a brand new one to our Beanstalk Arts canon, the magical Chinese folktale ‘the Magic Paintbrush’. We’re going to be leading live, interactive Zoom classes all this week, and you can book your spot in here, so you […]

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