The Three Bears’ cottage

Read together the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Invite the children to help set up the role-play area as the cottage belonging to the Three Bears, where they can play freely and recreate scenes from the story. As you set the scene, focus on developing the children’s understanding of number and size, which feature very strongly in this story. Place a table in the cottage and ask the children to find three sets each of large, medium and small spoons, plastic dishes, plastic cups, chairs, beds and teddy bears, and a fair-haired doll to represent Goldilocks. Provide other play items such as a role-play microwave or cooker for making pretend porridge, dressing-up clothes such as a waistcoat for Father Bear, a necklace for Mother Bear and a bib for Baby Bear.

Encourage the children to think of other activities, not mentioned in the story, that the bears may be involved in, such as going shopping, talking about the weather, discussing what they want to eat, bedtime routines and so on, to help them broaden their play activities in the area. Leave the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears in the role-play cottage for the children to refer to.

Suggested resources

Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Flip Up Fairy Tales series, Child’s Play) three sets each of large, medium and small spoons, dishes, cups, chairs, beds and teddy bears; fair-haired doll; table; dressing-up clothes such as a waistcoat and bib; role-play microwave or cooker; cushions; paper and pencils.

1 Porridge for breakfast

EYFS Area of learning > Understanding the world > The Natural World