Reception - Mermaids and Pirates

These topic plans will give you plenty of ideas and inspiration for getting your children immersed in their learning outdoors! They will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the fictional worlds of pirates and mermaids – through the 7 main principles of play and outdoor enquiry-led activities!

Lesson Plans

Mermaids and Pirates Enhancement Plan

Engage children in the outdoor provision by exploring pirates, boats, mermaids and the natural environment. Your children will have endless fun exploring this theme outdoors with this pack! Each of these mermaid and pirate themed play ideas also offer adult-led learning opportunities to deepen children’s learning through hands-on exploration.

Lines of enquiry:

What do pirates do?
How do pirates travel?
Where do mermaids live?
How can we look after the natural world around us?

Mermaids and Pirates Activity Bank

Use the outdoors to bring your mermaids and pirates topic to life! Inside there are 5 hands-on and engaging activities, with simple setups, key questions, and suggested extension opportunities. Your children will be encouraged to get moving, get thinking, and explore your whole outdoor space whilst role-playing pirates and mermaids and exploring their worlds.

Lines of enquiry:

How does a pirate live?
What is a mermaid?
What do pirates do?
How might you catch a mermaid?
How do pirates make themselves known?

Reception Topic Planning Guidance

Use this guidance document alongside our planning to ensure you are able to use them in a way that works for your setting and get the most from the plans.

Before you get started

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