What Did You Do At School Today?

[Guest]

Can anyone help me or point me to a link? I am sure I have copy of a poem for parents written in the eyes of a child for that parent who wants to see a take home product at the end of the day but I can't find it anywhere. You knoiw the one- where the child is trying to communicate to parents that they 'just played' (but oh, how much do children get out of play.......).

 

Any help gratefully received as ever!

[Marion]

What did you do?

 

What did you do at School today?

Well, I sat at the dough table and rolled the dough in my hands.

Lucy said hers was a snake but mine, mine was a worm.

The lady talked about long ones and short ones, and medium sized ones,

and Sarah rolled her dough so long it went right over the edge of the table.

(And nobody said “what are you going to make – a cake would be nice”)

 

Yes, but then what did you do?

I played on the climbing frame

and do you know

I can jump off the very top step.

 

Yes, but did you do anything today?

Sarah and me went to the paint table.

It was lovely, all gooey and slippery on our hands.

We made lots of patterns with our fingers and elbows.

Sarah had yellow paint and I had red

and Mummy, do you know what,

if you mix red paint and yellow paint together it goes ORANGE!

(And nobody said “what a mess you’ve made”).

 

Yes, but what else have you done?

At milk time a big boy pushed me over

and I bumped my head.

The lady picked me up and loved me better,

and the boy said “sorry”.

 

And then did you do anything?

The lady sang a new song

and I can remember it,

it was about our fingers, thumbs and toes.

 

But, did you do anything today?

I made lovely traily patterns in the sand,

and then Sarah and me had a race to see

who could put the sand in the sand-wheel quickest.

 

So, what did you do at School today?

We sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to Nicholas

and then the lady read us a story.

 

But, did you do anything today?

Yes, when the lady said “it’s time to tidy up”

I quickly painted you a picture

‘cos I knew you’d say ....................

 

‘What did you do at school today?”

 

 

A Child's Plea Original Author Unknown

 

Today I did my maths and science.

I toasted bread, I halved and quartered, counted,

measured, and used my eyes, ears and hands.

I added and subtracted on the way.

I used magnets, blocks and memory tray.

I learned about a rainbow and how to weigh.

So please don't say -

 

'ANYTHING IN YOUR BAG TODAY?'

You see. I'm sharing as I play, to learn to listen and speak clearly when I talk

to wait my turn and when inside to walk.

To put my words into a phrase, to find my name and write it down.

To do it with a smile and not a frown,

to put my pasting brush away. So please, don't say -

 

'WHAT NOTHING IN YOUR BAG TODAY?'

 

I learned about a snail and a worm.

Remembered how to take my turn.

Helped a friend when he was stuck.

Learned that water runs off a duck.

Looked at words from left to right.

Agreed to differ, not to fight.

So please don't say -

 

'DID YOU ONLY PLAY TODAY?'

 

Just Playing"

When I'm building in the block room,

Please don't say I'm "just playing."

For, you see, I'm learning as I play.

About balance and shapes.

When I'm getting all dressed up,

Setting the table, caring for the babies.

Don't get the idea I'm "just playing."

For, you see, I'm learning as I play.

When you see me up to my elbows in paint,

Or standing at an easel, or molding and shaping clay,

Please don't let me hear you say "he's just playing."

For, you see, I'm learning as I play.

I'm expressing myself and being creative.

I may be an artist or an inventor someday.

When you see me sitting in a chair

"Reading" to an imaginary audience,

Please don't laugh and think I'm "just playing."

For, you see, I'm learning as I play.

I may be a teacher someday.

When you see me combing the bushes for bugs,

Or packing my pockets with choice things I find,

Don't pass it off as "just playing."

For, you see, I'm learning as I play.

I may be a scientist someday.

When you see me engrossed in a puzzle,

Or some "plaything" at my school,

Please don't feel the time is wasted in "play"

For, you see, I'm learning as I play.

I'm learning to solve problems and concentrate.

I may be in business someday.

When you see me cooking or tasting foods,

Please don't think that because I enjoy it, it is jut "play.

I'm learning to follow directions and see differences.'

I may be a chef someday.

When you see me learning to skip, hop, run and move my body,

Please don't say I'm "just playing."

For, you see, I'm learning as I play.

I'm learning how my body works.

I may be a doctor, nurse or athlete someday.

When you ask me what I've done at school today,

And I say, "I played."

Please don't misunderstand me.

For, you see, I'm learning as I play.

I'm learning to enjoy and be successful in work.

I'm preparing for tomorrow.

Today, I'm a child and my work is play.

- Anita Wadley

 

 

Through the eyes of a child!

 

Oh, what a busy morning! I've been playing with the dough

and with a little help upon a card I learnt to sew.

I helped my friend, nurse Sarah, to perform an operation,

then fixed the track together for my train and built the station.

I popped inside the home corner to make a cup of tea,

and stood beside the cooker making lunch for twenty-three.

I completed three whole jigsaws and played a new board game,

and had a turn on all the bikes and the slide and climbing frame.

I counted out the biscuits at milk and snack time.

Then listened to a story and sang some nursery rhymes.

But now the morning's over and the grown-ups are all waiting,

I hope someone doesn't say

"I wish you had done a painting".

 

 

We have these on our walls

[Guest Wolfie]

Those are great! I've got a very simple line drawing of a child playing with a phrase underneath which says:

 

"Remember that what your child brings home in their head is more important than what they bring home in their hands."

 

Simple but effective!

[Guest]

Marion - tank you for posting those verses - they really say it all - wonderful!

[hali]

wow they are great

[Guest]

Thanks Marion, those are brill. They'll be up round my class by Monday too.

[Guest]

I think I'll put them up in the staff room to educate all the key stage 1 and 2 teachers!!!!!! :wacko:

[Guest]

Fantastic- thank you so much!