Talking Turtles Practitioner’s Notes
Introduction
These ten little turtles are a really versatile resource. They can be used
indoors and out. They are designed to be used in water but can also be an
imaginative part of small world play. There is a recording element which
lends itself to a host of learning opportunities.
Ideas
nMake a number line with the turtles. Mix them up and ask the children
to place them in the correct order. Try removing one and asking the
children what is missing.
nMatch amounts to the number, e.g. place 9 pebbles next to the number
nine turtle.
nPlay ‘find me’ games. Try hiding the turtles and leaving clues.
They make a great treasure hunt activity. Try leaving a message on each
one as to where to find the next, e.g. ‘I’m under a red box.’
nAsk the children to find specific numbers, e.g. the turtle that is one
more than six, and one less than eight. Try leaving other messages and
the children have to match the statement to the turtle. e.g. ‘Goldilocks
met this many bears.’ As well as numbers you may record words and
spellings etc. e.g. if you said to the children ‘find me a turtle that is
about a small furry pet’, or an animal that starts with ‘c’ and ends with
‘t’. Other listening games could be, e.g. ‘find me a name of a bird,
number, a tree etc’. This is a good way of encouraging children to listen
carefully and match the turtle to the recorded word.
nTry recording in different languages, e.g. un, deux, trois, etc.
nPlay with the turtles in the water trough. Provide tasks, e.g. ‘find me
all the odd numbers’, ‘find me all the numbers bigger than six’. The
children will need access to scoops, sieves, buckets etc.
nColour the water to look like the sea and include large rocks, pebbles,
sand etc. Include other pretend marine life.
nAlign to stories about turtles so that children are familiar with the
creatures. Try to include fact and fiction.
