Burns Night

**kel1983** · 04-01-2011, 01:55 PM

I am having Burns Night as my January Theme but cannot seem to find a lot of activities. So far I have a recipe for oatcakes, Listening to scottish music, designing their own tartan and making scottish flag bunting.

I currently mind a 20 month old and an 8 year old and as of next friday a 3 year old.

I would like to stretch the activities over the month and would really like some more ideas.

If anyone can help me I would be so greatful.

Many thanks

**Kelly** · 04-01-2011, 03:17 PM

Try looking here: http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scotlan...arly/index.asp
It may be useful

**kel1983** · 04-01-2011, 04:08 PM

Thanks Kelly

But that is the website I got my original ideas from. Its a good website too

**Gizmo** · 04-01-2011, 04:49 PM

What about learning some scottish songs or some Burns poetry, then Haggis Neeps and Tatties for dinner on Burns night

**sarah707** · 04-01-2011, 06:03 PM

Errrmmmm... I don't want to knock your planning but if you aren't inspired by a theme and it's not relevant to the children then I would say think about something different.

It's just come into winter and there are lots of themed activities for seasonal crafts etc knocking around on the forum.

It's Louis Braille's birthday this week which gives you lots of opportunities to explore sensory books, crafts, messy play, games with shapes, sight experiments (blue tac the tail on the donkey) etc.

it's Australia Day at the end of the month - think about differences between our countries, learn about the indigenous animals, the 8 year old will love Aborigine art...

I think it's so important that themes reflect the children and things that interest them or things they understand.

yes of course they need to learn new things, but if it's not exciting and interesting to you then they are likely to pick up on that.

Hth

**miffy** · 04-01-2011, 06:04 PM

There's lots of ideas here and links to other websites

http://activityvillage.co.uk/burns_night_for_kids.htm

Miffy xx

**kel1983** · 04-01-2011, 08:44 PM

So i have decided to give up on the whole burns night theme.

Im gonna use winter as my theme as I think I can do so much more with it.

Thanks everyone for the ideas though.

**Chimps Childminding** · 04-01-2011, 10:14 PM

We do Burns Night activities, but usually just a day or two like we would with any other celebrations. Have a general theme for the month and then add festivals/celebrations in as they come up

**shelly2012** · 05-01-2011, 09:21 AM

Hiya I'm doing winter as my theme and Healthy Living as a topic but adding in Burns Night and Australia Day as 1 of celebrations.

Burns lunch I got some scottish music, make shortbread, haggis, neeps and tatties but not a lot of kids like it so ill do mince for them too. Little bit of irn bru as it is a scottish tradition lol. Make some tartan pictures etc and learn a wee poem. Thats me covered burns. In ma wee red motor is a great poem for the kids. If you have a coupee car even better they can act it out too.

Check out activity village and sarah has some great ebooks for topics and celebrations to cover.

**angiemog** · 13-01-2011, 09:40 AM

Hi,
I think it's nice for the children to learn about different cultures, festivals and celebrations.... Why not celebrate Burn's night just 1 or 2 days? You have given me a couple of ideas, so I am just going to do a few things on
25th. If you are playing scottish music you could add in a few scottish dance moves. Thanks x

**jo.jo76** · 17-01-2011, 06:04 PM

Hi
I just stumbled across this and remembered someone asking about burns night. I'm not registered yet so not really looked properly at activities but thought they might be of help to someone.
I've never attached link before so hope this link works

http://*******************/tags/browse/...our+activities

Jo

**sillysausage** · 25-01-2011, 12:41 PM

Well we've had a fun morning celebrating Burns night. I have had 3 mindees aged 14 months, 2 and 2. We've....

danced to Scottish music
sung...Ye canny shove granny from a bus .....a funny song! (http://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=2970&c=110 for words and a mpeg)
and Ali Bali (http://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=787&c=110 for words and tune)

We've had haggis, tatties and neeps for lunch and all of them ate the lot! (which surprised me because, whilst I like haggis I can find it a bit peppery)

We've made our own 'tartan' pictures by rolling cars through paint and onto paper.

OK so the children won't understand anything about the celebration but the activities we've done tap into their interests, so job done! (12.30pm and they're all asleep!!)

Roll on tomorrow for Australia day (dot painting, waltzing matilda, indoor BBQ, anzac biscuits, boomerang decorating)