Nursery > English > Maths_Numeracy > Numbers and algebra > Sets – Farm animals – ‘The Very Busy Spider’ by Eric Carle

Lesson by F Davis

Learning Intentions:

  • To listen and join in with a story and song.
  • To make sets of three.

Step 1: Activity overview for parent, carers and pupils

This activity encourages children to listen, join in and discuss different animals that live on a farm. There is a short video (four minutes) where the children can listen to the story of ‘The Very Busy Spider’ by Eric Carle. Following is a short sing-a-long video (three minutes).The activities are practical and can be completed on different days.

Step 2: Introduction to the activity and additional information

Listen to the story below and join in.

Discuss the different animals that are in the story.

Now join in with the farm animal song below and move to the beat.

Can you count the animals in each group (for example, how many chickens were there?)

Step 3: Tasks to carry out for this activity

Activity 1: Choose your favourite farm animal.

  • Draw a picture of your animal.
  • Write the animal’s name (optional). This might just be a few pencil marks that your child makes to represent the letter for the name of the animal. 

Activity 2: Making sets of three.

Using any materials like small bricks, animal pieces or dried food like pasta.

  • Can you make one set of three? Count out three pieces, put a piece of string/wool around the three objects or place them on a piece of paper.
  • Now make another set of three, how many sets do you have? How many pieces altogether?
  • Now make a third set of three, how many sets do you have? How many pieces altogether? (optional)

Once you have completed the task you can email anything you create (photos, documents, screenshots etc.) directly to your teacher or directly upload it to any of the available places in Step 5.

Step 4: Look over the success criteria for this activity: 

Success criteria #1:  I can listen to and join in with a story.

Success criteria #2:  I can listen to and join in with a song.

Success criteria #3:  I can make a set of three.

Look at the learning intentions ‘how well do you think you have done?’

Step 5: Upload your work

Click on the relevant link below if you have any work to upload to your online areas J2e   Google Drive   OneDrive   Seesaw