Clubbing together – ideas for breakfast and after school clubs

Breakfast activities

1. Nature walk

Use an early walk around the school grounds to stimulate discussion with the children. Depending on the environment and time of year, use this time to name trees and plants and talk about the changes you see in them on a daily/weekly basis. If the school is fortunate to have a wildlife area, focus children’s interest in the insects and other animals that inhabit the area.

Build up a collection of non-fiction books about trees, birds and insects that children can take with them on their walk and refer to. Afterwards, allow the children to express themselves on paper by drawing or writing about what they have seen. If space allows , have a pinboard area dedicated to ‘breakfast’ children where these drawings can be displayed for others to see.

2. Setting the table

If there are sufficient funds available, invest in a tablecloth and mats (and anything else that makes a table look good for breakfast!). Spend time showing children how to lay the table. Transfer this responsibility to the children so that it becomes their job. Talk about how a table might look different when set for lunch or tea. Find pictures in magazines that show different table settings for the children to look at and talk about.