"Happy Diwali" by Sunita Patel 

A delightful board book that introduces young readers to the festival of Diwali with colorful illustrations. 

"Big Fire Engine and the Emergency Crew" by Sarah Creese 

A fun book featuring firefighters and their big red fire engine, perfect for exploring fire safety. 

Week 1: Festive Preparations

• • Explore the cultural significance of Bonfire Night and Diwali.

  • Engage in group discussions about traditions and preparations for these festivals.

Week 2: Fire Safety

• • Discuss the importance of fire safety during Bonfire Night and Diwali.

  • Conduct a fire safety drill outdoors.

Week 3: Light and Darkness

• • Explore the concepts of light and darkness associated with Diwali and Bonfire Night.

  • Create outdoor art using glow-in-the-dark materials.

Week 4: Sharing and Celebrating

• • Host a small outdoor celebration that includes elements of both festivals.

  • Encourage children to share their experiences and learnings.

Week 1: Festival Vocabulary

• • Introduce new words related to Bonfire Night and Diwali (e.g., fireworks, lanterns) during nature walks.

  • Encourage children to identify and name festival-related objects outdoors.

Week 2: Storytelling with Light

• • Use outdoor settings with candles or lanterns for storytelling.

  • Encourage children to invent their own festival stories.

Week 3: Rhyming Festival Words

• • Explore rhyming words associated with these festivals (e.g., light, night, bright).

  • Create a collaborative outdoor festival rhyme.

Week 4: Festival Alphabet Hunt

• • Conduct an alphabet scavenger hunt outdoors, finding items related to Bonfire Night and Diwali.

Week 1: Festive Dance

• • Teach simple dance moves related to festival celebrations.

  • Have an outdoor dance session with music.

Week 2: Firework Painting

• • Engage in outdoor painting activities using bright colours and outdoor canvases.

  • Encourage children to create their own firework-inspired artwork.

Week 3: Outdoor Yoga and Meditation

• • Practice outdoor yoga poses inspired by festival themes.

  • Include a short meditation session focusing on light and inner peace.

Week 4: Sharing and Celebrating

• • Organize an outdoor dance or movement performance to celebrate the festivals.

  • Encourage children to express themselves through dance and movement.

Week 1: Counting Lights

• • Use outdoor string lights or lanterns for counting and sorting activities.

  • Encourage children to count and arrange them by color or size.

Week 2: Shape Recognition

• • Create outdoor art using shapes inspired by fireworks.

  • Discuss the names of shapes and how they relate to festival symbols.

Week 3: Measuring with Light

• • Use outdoor lanterns for non-standard measurement activities (e.g., "How many lanterns long is this stick?").

  • Explore concepts of light intensity.

Week 4: Festival Patterns

• • Create simple festival-themed patterns using outdoor materials like leaves or stones.

  • Ask children to extend and replicate the patterns.

Week 1: Festival Traditions

• • Explore the traditions and customs associated with Bonfire Night and Diwali.

  • Share stories and experiences related to these festivals.

Week 2: Festival Symbols

• • Discuss the significance of festival symbols (e.g., fireworks, rangoli).

  • Create outdoor art representations of these symbols.

Week 3: Light and Nature

• • Explore how light affects the natural world (e.g., how animals and plants respond to light changes).

  • Conduct outdoor experiments with light and shadows.

Week 4: Outdoor Festival Exhibition

• • Organize an outdoor exhibition displaying children's festival-inspired artwork and creations.

  • Invite families to attend and share in the celebration.