Identify the rhyming words used throughout the book. Can you make your own rhyming dictionary, adding other rhyming words for the ones found? Invite the children to dress up like one of the characters from the book and re-tell the story for a friend, grandparent or other relative over Skype or Facetime. Read the story of ‘What the Ladybird Heard’ by Julia Donaldson – or listen to it being read here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu9mPX7DuLA

Look at the vocabulary used to describe how the thieves are planning to steal the cow. What other direction words can you think of? Look at the adjectives that are used to describe each animal. How many other adjectives can you think of to describe them? Use the animal posters (see Resources below) and write adjectives on them. Think about the different sounds that animals make. How do we write these (e.g. miaow, purr)? Can you think of any other examples of onomatopoeia? Are there any other examples in the story?Can you make up a song which includes lots of examples of animal sounds? Get some ideas by watching this performance of a song by the author and her husband:

Write a character profile about Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len? what kind of people are they? Where do they live? Think of some speech bubbles to show what the ladybird might be thinking at each point in the story. Why not do some baking? Here is the recipe for red velvet cupcakes - https://www.cookingwithmykids.co.uk/red-velvet-cupcakes/

Find a Scheme of Work

Gather lots of leaves and try to arrange them to make a picture. Look at the work of Andy Goldsworthy to find more examples of how nature can be used to make art. Use these as inspiration to make your own. At DISCOVER CHILDREN’S STORY CENTRE magic really does happen, as their new Axel Schefflerand Julia Donaldsonexhibition brings 12of their most enchanting picture books to life. A World inside a Book – The Gruffalo, Dragons and other Creaturesopens to the public on Saturday 21 October 2017 – September 2018. For P1 (and older children) – the children might want to design a red lunch menu and invite their family to their red lunch! For nursery children – can they make a ladybird using playdoh, junk materials, or draw it with coloured pencils, chalks or paint? What shapes can they see? Talk about circles.

For P1 (and older siblings) - Learn how to draw a ladybird with illustrator, Lydia Monks - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpleGh5-6zU There are follow on videos from which the children can learn to draw all the characters in the book.Ladybird Hunt – depending on the time of year, you might want to ask the children whether they can find a ladybird when they are outside? This might lead to a discussion about seasons and when you would find ladybirds. Where do ladybirds live? How many legs do they have? What shape is their body? (Some facts for adults to help answer questions - https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/animals/insects/ladybird-facts/ ) We have another wonderful set to share with you today, this time we are sharingPrintable What the Ladybird Heard activities. Messy play. Making red playdough - https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/playdough-recipe Add some food dye to colour the playdough.

Invite the children to create their own Wanted Posters for the robbers, Lanky Len and Hefty Hugh! Encourage them to use descriptive words about how the robbers look, whether they are tall or short and what they were wearing. (Some free resources of poster templates can be accessed here - https://www.twinkl.co.uk/search?term=wanted+poster) It gives 51%+ profits to Reverence for Life, who fund a number of important initiatives in Africa, including bringing running water and basic equipment to a school in Tanzania. Create a simple model of the farm and use some programmable robots (e.g. roamer, remote control vehicles) to move around it. Could you decorate the roamer so that it looks like the ladybird?The thieves ‘crept’ into the farm. Think of synonyms which describe how people can move. Can you demonstrate each one (e.g. sprint, crawled, paced).