Jack and the Beanstalk – Follow-Up Activities for Child Care Centres and Families.
These activities focus on art, drama, and exploration, encouraging creativity, imagination, and reinforcing the story’s themes of adventure, bravery, and resourcefulness.
1. Art Activity: Growing Beanstalk Craft
Objective: Create a 3D beanstalk that represents Jack’s magical adventure.
Materials Needed:
- Green construction paper or tissue paper
- Paper towel rolls (for the stalk)
- Glue, tape, and scissors
- Cotton balls (for clouds)
- Jack and giant cutouts (or draw your own)
Instructions:
- Help children wrap green paper around the paper towel roll to create the beanstalk.
- Cut out leaves and glue them up the stalk.
- Attach cotton balls to the top to represent clouds.
- Children can draw or color Jack and the giant, placing them at different heights on the beanstalk.
Extension: Ask children to describe what Jack might find at the top of the beanstalk if the story continued.
2. Drama Activity: Acting Out the Story
Objective: Recreate the adventure through role-play, encouraging imagination and teamwork.
Materials Needed:
- Simple props (plastic golden eggs, toy flute, fabric for tent for the giant’s castle)
- Dress-up clothes (optional)
Instructions:
- Assign roles such as Jack, the giant, Jack’s mother, and the cow. Let the children take turns playing different parts.
- Drape a blanket over a table or chair for the giant’s castle
- Encourage the child playing the giant to use a deep voice and say, “Fee-fi-fo-fum!”
- Act out Jack’s escape and cutting down the beanstalk.
Extension: After the play, ask the children how Jack might feel climbing the beanstalk or how the giant feels when Jack takes his treasures.
3. Science/Exploration Activity: Planting Magic Beans
Objective: Learn about growth and nature by planting beans.
Materials Needed:
- Dried beans (e.g., lima or green beans)
- Small pots or cups
- Soil and water
- Spray bottles for watering
Instructions:
- Let each child plant a bean in a cup of soil.
- Show them how to gently water their beans using the spray bottle.
- Place the cups by a window to get sunlight and encourage the children to observe their “beanstalks” as they grow.
Extension: As the beans grow, talk about what plants need to thrive and ask children to imagine what might be at the top of their beanstalks.
These activities spark curiosity, creativity, and hands-on learning, enhancing the storytelling experience for young children.