Our World Together

Overview

This 60-minute session uses Here We Are by Oliver Jeffers as a springboard to explore how to be a kind, caring human on our planet. The lesson is designed for a mixed Reception/EYFS class of 11 children aged 3 to 5 years, including varying abilities and SEN needs. Activities are tactile, engaging, and easy to resource within a classroom and outdoor environment, inspired by Rosenshine’s principles and aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and the National Curriculum for England.

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Learning Objectives

Aligned with the Early Learning Goals (EYFS Framework) and National Curriculum Early Years Outcomes:

• ELG Communication and Language:

  • Listening, Attention and Understanding - Children listen attentively to the story and demonstrate understanding through discussion.
  • Speaking - Children express ideas about kindness and caring for others and the planet.

• ELG Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED):

  • Self-Regulation - Begin to identify feelings and consider others’ feelings.
  • Managing Self - Show respect and care for the environment and people around them.
  • Building Relationships - Demonstrate friendly behaviors with peers.

• ELG Understanding the World:

  • People, Culture and Communities - Understand diverse ways people live, focusing on kindness and care.
  • The Natural World - Recognise ways to look after the planet.

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Success Criteria

Children will be able to:

• Listen and talk about the story Here We Are and name ways to be kind and gentle to others and the Earth.
• Participate in tactile, group and individual activities demonstrating understanding of caring behaviours.
• Show empathy by suggesting actions to look after our planet and people.

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Materials Needed

• Here We Are by Oliver Jeffers (book or printed story cards)
• Large world map or globe (toy version or poster)
• Paper plates, sticky notes, coloured pencils, glue sticks
• Natural materials from outside (leaves, twigs, stones)
• Large roll of plain paper or mural paper
• Playdough or modelling clay
• Small containers for sorting (e.g., recyclable/non-recyclable)
• Visual emotion cards (happy, sad, caring, sad etc.)

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Lesson Outline

1. Welcome and Story Time (15 mins)

• Come together in a quiet, cosy area with the book Here We Are.
• Use expressive tone and pictures to engage all children.
• Pause to ask open questions to embed understanding:
  • “What do you think it means to be a good human?”
  • “How can we look after this big round planet?”
• Connect story parts to children’s real-world experiences (e.g., caring for family, plants).

Differentiation: Use picture cues and emotion cards to support children with language delays; older children encouraged to predict and describe using 2-3 word sentences.

2. Hands-On Activity 1: "Our Kindness Garden" (20 mins)

• Outdoor or indoor table setup. Children create a “Kindness Garden” using natural materials and paper plates as the base.
• Each child decorates their ‘flower’ (paper plate) with drawings or glue natural items to represent how they show kindness or care.
• Children add sticky notes naming their kindness acts (helping, sharing, listening).
• Display flowers on a large mural paper representing the Earth.

Curriculum link: PSED and Understanding the World exploration through art and discussion.

Differentiation: Children with fine motor difficulties use pre-cut shapes; SEN children can focus on one favourite kindness action and verbalise it.

Extension: Advanced learners write or dictate simple sentences about their kindness action.

3. Hands-On Activity 2: “Planet Protectors” Sorting Game (15 mins)

• Provide a mixed collection of classroom items (e.g., paper scraps, plastic bottle, fruit peel) and two containers labelled ‘Planet Protectors’ and ‘Not Good for Planet’.
• Discuss briefly simple recycling/litter rules from the story’s message, relate to real actions.
• Children work together to sort items and explain why.

Curriculum link: Understanding the World, Developing Awareness of Environment.

Differentiation: Support with visuals and sentence starters (“This goes in... because...”), paired work for collaboration.

Extension: Ask advanced children to think of additional ways they can ‘protect our planet’ and share with the group.

4. Reflection and Circle Time (10 mins)

• Gather circle time. Reflect on activities by asking:
  • “What did you learn about being a good friend and planet helper?”
  • “How can we remember to care for our world every day?”
• Use emotion cards and encourage children to share thoughts or feelings.
• Recap key points from story and activities.

Differentiation: Provide sentence starters on the board; allow non-verbal responses through drawings or gestures.

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Assessment

• Observe children’s participation and communication during story and tactile activities.

• Use a simple checklist for:

  • Listening and responding to story
  • Expressing ideas of kindness
  • Demonstrating understanding in sorting activity
  • Engagement in reflective dialogue

• Photographic evidence of children’s Kindness Garden creations and notes for progress records.

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Extension Activities (for advanced learners)

• Create a ‘Kindness Book’ compiling drawings and sentences about how to be kind humans and protect Earth.
• Use simple role-play to demonstrate scenarios of helping friends or nature.
• Compose a small collaborative poem or song about Earth care inspired by the story.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Use multi-sensory approaches: visual story cards, tactile materials, emotion visuals.
• Pair or small group work to support less confident children or those with SEN.
• Provide extra adult support during sorting or fine motor tasks where needed.
• Simplify language where appropriate or extend with challenging vocabulary for more able learners.

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Links to National Curriculum & EYFS

• EYFS Statutory Framework 2021:

  • Communication and Language: Listening and Attention, Speaking
  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development: Self-Regulation, Managing Self, Building Relationships
  • Understanding the World: People, Culture and Communities

• Promotes characteristics of effective learning:

  • Playing and Exploring (engagement)
  • Active Learning (motivation)
  • Creating and Thinking Critically (thinking)

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Final Notes

This plan builds confidence for Early Career Teachers by combining story-led discussion with tactile, meaningful activities that nurture the whole child — socially, emotionally, and cognitively — in your rural Cumbria setting. It creatively engages developing language and social skills through hands-on exploration and peer collaboration, perfectly suited for your mixed-age EYFS group.