STEP STARTER SACKS
Cultural PLAY-BASED LEARNING
STEP Starter Sacks is an exciting early years programme bringing play-based learning activities into the homes of Gypsy/Traveller children. Our aim is that every child is able to learn through play, offering the best start for going to school and improving opportunities throughout life.
– What’s in the sack? –
Watch these videos to find out what you receive in each of the three STEP Starter Sacks: My first red literacy Sack, My yellow Science Sack and my green Health and Wellbeing Sack.
How to get involved in the Starter Sack Programme
When families get involved they will be offered a Starter Sack containing paints, craft materials, puppets and lots more. The Sacks also contain activity cards with links to ideas and activities on this website. You will have a key contact person who will be able to answer any questions. This will usually be a someone from the local school or nursery or a Traveller site manager. The contact person will let you know when more materials are available. Find your local Gypsy/Traveller educator, community learning contact or site manager using our interactive map to get involved or contact your local school directly or email STEP at step@ed.ac.uk
Teachers and local authority staff please visit Starter Sack information for teachers
Find lots of fun and easy learning activities to do as a family at home in our learning resources.
– Idea Starters –
Playing inside and outside the home helps children to make sense of their world, to challenge themselves, manage their emotions, interact with others and enjoy time alone. These skills are all important for starting school. Watch our short videos to get started. Remember, there is no right way to play and the important thing is to have fun!
Messy Play
Exploring nature
Construction
Patterns
Growing
Exploring colours
Exploring insects
Growing cress
Finding footprints
Emotions
The lifecycle of a butterfly
Routines
health & wellbeing activities for families!
Check out our family learning activities to support the wee green Health and Wellbeing Starter Sack. You’ll receive a ‘My morning tasks‘ activity card and an emotions chart to use with your emotion stone that you’ll find in your sack. You also get things like a toothbrush and a skipping rope to help you stay fit and healthy. Have fun!
Get in touch with STEP or your local authority education contact about STEP starter sacks.
– Chatting and counting With Pictures –
Every STEP Starter Sack includes a Counting with Pictures learning activity as a set of 10 hand-drawn family activity cards. The cards were made by Scottish Traveller Kelly Stewart and her artist friend, Jo Waterhouse. You can use them to chat about Traveller life past and present or share stories. You can get all generations involved.
Find the online Counting with Pictures activity in our learning resources or get in touch with STEP if you’d like a printed pack.
Science and outdoor activities for families!
Check out our family learning activity cards to support the wee yellow Science Starter. You’ll receive a set of 3 activity cards: Exploring insects, growing cress and finding footprints. Remember you can find ‘idea starter’ videos below for each set of cards showing you how to do the activities.
Get in touch with STEP or your local authority education contact about STEP starter sacks. Have fun!
Teachers and local authority staff please visit Starter Sack information for teachers