Hi wendy bob welcome to silkysteps
I agree with heidi, having table top displays as an ongoing part of a setting is a great way to focus on issues, campaigns, themes, topics ..
Would you enjoy getting together resources & play ideas for a Tea party table top display?
Keep resources equally interesting for girls and boys using a mix of colours and designs for tea pots, cups, mugs, warm water, tea bags, milk and sugar if you're feeling adventurous ..
Have a 'hot water burns' message over riding the activities - this helps children to be aware of their bodies and at the same time find out that play tea sets are good fun but that kettles/pans/teapots that hold boiling water can hurt, burn and be a danger - this will in turn help you to promote children's rights by giving them information that they can use to inform and protect themselves.
Teapot image for children to mark make with, collage, use as a sign or as a menu - let children colour code a drink they enjoy - orange for orange, water for transparency, pink for strawberry, purple for blackcurrant, white for milk, brown for chocolate, tea .. beer maybe if some have older siblings
...
Resources could include: Table cloth, cake display plate, napkins, silicone cup cake moulds, playdough, rolling pin, cutters and 100 & 1000's to make play biscuits - check allergy & diet information.
I'm a little tea pot lyrics and actions
Mrs Spiders tea Party story book from Amazon
Clara's counting Tea party from amazon
Background information:
Origin of tea, countries and tradition -
Tea and UK from wikipedia and for cultural inclusion -
Tea culture
Questions that could be asked:
Who drinks tea - at home, in the setting & who drinks other types of drink
Where does tea come from
How does it get to the UK
What colour is tea
How to make leaves crumble .. - always good for Autumn
Boston tea party - narrative read from
Socialstudiesforkids.com
China tea ceremony
Focus for learning could be pouring, rolling, serving, communication - language & literacy, counting.
Alternatively Rhubarb is in season this month - maybe red and green, custard, crumble and umbrella leaves?
www.eatseasonably.co.uk or fish .. always a nice display
or tadpoles & lifecycles ..
Hope this helps
Enjoy Silkysteps xx