Nurses Day
My name is Sarah Isaacs and I am an author and a teacher. Today we are going to be learning about nurses. We will be learning about the history of nursing, what goes in a nurse’s bag and how to look after someone when they are unwell. Get ready for a fabulous day ahead.
9.30am Activity:
Florence Nightingale
We are going to learn about who Florence Nightingale was. She was a nurse and helped make nursing what it is today. Let’s find out a little more.
Grown Ups:
You can talk about how hospitals used to be before Florence Nightingale made changes. What does your child expect to see when they walk into a hospital today? It may help if you show them some pictures from a magazine or the internet to see all the hard work which goes on in hospitals today. This supports children’s knowledge and understanding of the world.
10.30am Activity:
Make a Doctor's/Nurses Bag
This activity shows us what might be inside a nurse’s or doctor's bag. You could draw your own pictures and cut them out so you can add them to your own doctor’s bag. What other things might you find in there?
Grown Ups:
It is a good idea to discuss each item that might be used by a nurse or doctor. A stethoscope, thermometer or maybe a syringe all have important jobs in helping the doctor keep us healthy. This might be a good time to demonstrate that these items are nothing to be afraid of. This activity develops children’s knowledge and understanding of the world. It also develops their communication and language and skills.
1:30pm Activity:
Make a Stethoscope
What would it be like to have a stethoscope and listen to our own heart? For this activity we are going to make our own stethoscope.
You will need:
An egg carton
A paper plate
Some string or ribbon
Scissors.
By following the instructions on the video, you can make your own play stethoscope and use it on your toys to listen to their heart just as a nurse or doctor would.
Grown Ups:
Look at some pictures with your child of nurses or doctors with stethoscopes so they can see how they are used. You could discuss where your heart is and see if your child can feel it beating with their hand.
You will need to help when cutting out the paper plate and making holes for the string too. This develops children’s imaginative play and knowledge and understanding of the world around them.
2:30pm Activity:
Role Play
Nurses and doctors have really important jobs looking after us. What if you were a doctor or nurse for a day? Are any of your toys feeling poorly? How can you help them? What do you need to ask them?
Grown Ups:
Talk about how it might feel to be unwell and how important it is to tell an adult if your child feels like this. Talk about how their toys may feel and how your child can help them feel better.
You can try dressing up with them too. Find some clothes which may be worn by a doctor or make a nurse’s hat with card and paper. Get your child to colour in the cross on the front. This develops children’s imaginative and creative play. It supports their language and communication too.
