Our LifeBase programmes are in-school workshops providing interactive, inspiring enrichment during COVID-19 restrictions.
Click here to view our full leaflet with details on our LifeBase programmes including the learning outcomes of each programme.
“The children were engaged and enjoyed Harold the giraffe and linked him to our Harold – remembering the sessions we’ve done weekly.”
Our LifeBase Programmes
TAKING CARE OF MYSELF for 3 – 4 year olds:
We meet Harold the Giraffe and the children help him to get ready for Nursery by showing him how to use the items in his wash bag. Using a specially designed body tunic the children learn about the functions of some major internal organs and then exercise with an imaginary walk to Harold’s Nursery. They see what Harold does at Nursery before he returns home for a nap, when the children imagine a sleep under the stars. Harold sings them a song about how special they all are before they each have a chance to say goodbye to him.
ALL ABOUT ME for 4 – 5 year olds:
We meet Harold the Giraffe who is very excited about going to his grandparents’ house. The children help him check he has everything in his bag including the items in his wash bag. Using a specially designed body tunic the children learn about the functions of some major internal organs. Harold gets plenty of exercise at the park and the children all join in exercising their bodies too. Later, Harold is feeling sad and calls us for ideas to cheer him up. Everyone feels a lot better after a sleep under the stars and Harold comes out to thank us for our help before singing one of his favourite songs about being happy and healthy.
MY WONDERFUL BODY for 5 – 6 year olds:
The children learn about the major food groups before looking at the interactive body model to learn how food, water and oxygen get into the body to give it energy. We look at the Healthy Wheel, considering the different things we need to be happy and healthy. Harold the giraffe wakes up after a good night’s sleep and checks his lunch box for school but there is something missing! The children help Harold to work out what he needs to add, to ensure a balanced meal in his lunch box. Harold sets off to the school garden which gives us all some exercise. At the school garden Harold’s friend Kiki the Kangaroo tries to help Harold find some fruit for his lunch box but upsets their friend Derek the Penguin by mistake. The children help to resolve the conflict before Harold returns to sing them his special song about different foods.
FEELINGS for 6 – 7 year olds:
We being by considering what our bodies need to stay physically and emotionally healthy, using our Healthy and Wellbeing Wheel. Harold tells us that he’s very excited as he is having a party for all his friends! He is disappointed that one of his friends can’t come to the party because he is not feeling well. After a discussion about the safe use of medicines the children learn about the body using interactive techniques. They then joi Harold at his party and his friend Derek offers to take photos. Using some of Derek’s photos the children become ‘Feelings Detectives’ to work out how the children in the pictures might be feeling and the possible reasons why Back at the party Kiki turns up late but feels left out of the action – the children help her think through how she could solve the problem and everyone is friends again. After a final ‘body shake’ exercise routine Harold meets the children agin and sings them his song about the importance of friendship.
MEET THE BRAIN for 7 – 8 year olds:
We explore the Wellbeing Wheel and discussions about its five ways to emotional good health are woven through the workshop. We also consider how to ensure that online behaviour is healthy and balanced. Using interactive techniques, the children consider the importance of each body organ before meeting the classroom brain. We learn how a brain sends and receive signals through the nerves and how it controls movements. Helping with Harold’s homework, the children explore whether choices about taking a medicine, exercise, sleep, drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes help or harm the body. At his school talent show Harold argues with his friend Derek over who should take the last place in the performance. The children help out by defining key friendship qualities and skills. Harold meets and thanks the children for helping and sings them his song about the importance of self-belief and friendship.
IT’S GREAT TO BE ME! for 8 – 9 year olds:
Using the Wellbeing Wheel, the Five Ways to Emotional Wellbeing are explored. We also consider how to ensure that online behaviour is healthy and balanced. Harold is looking forward to his trip to Diversity World – a theme park where there is something for everyone. Using interactive techniques, we consider how choices we make, such as exercising and taking a medicine, can affect what happens inside the body. At Diversity World Harold and his friends notice the park rules on smoking and alcohol and we discuss why there are these rules. The three friends can’t agree what to do, all wanting something different. They decide to split up but Harold finds himself lonely without his friends. He decides to go on ‘The Conformation’ where he learns how important it is for us to be able to make our own choices, and that we can still be friends with other people despite of, and even because of their differences. Harold finds his friends and they happily spend the rest of the day together.
FRIENDS for 9 – 10 year olds:
The theme of looking after our mental health, as well as physical health – and the connection between the two – is further explored, using the Wellbeing Wheel. We also consider how to ensure that online behaviour is healthy and balanced. Using our interactive resources we explore how our body systems work together to keep us alive. The children are given the opportunity to discuss not only what a drug is, but how drugs can be used for medical and non-medical reasons. The risks of smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are explored, although there is an emphasis on the fact that an increasing number of young people choose not take these risks. Through role-play the children explore the influence of friends on decision making. They identify and practise assertiveness skills. The importance of our basic human emotional needs in our decision making is threaded through the programme.
DECISIONS for 10 – 11 year olds:
We introduce the theme of decision-making and explore how the decisions a person makes can impact on both their mental and physical health. We explore the Wellbeing Wheel, looking in greater depth at the importance of looking after our mental health and the strong connection between mental and physical health, also considering how to ensure that online behaviour is healthy and balanced. We review children’s knowledge of the body. Children list drugs they have heard of and then consider how these drugs have medical and/or non-medical uses. Tobacco, alcohol, cannabis and solvents – and any other drugs that children ask about – are all touched on this programme. They learn about the basic laws on drugs and how drug misuse can affect a young person’s future aspirations. Through the use of specially created films and role-play, the children explore aspects of peer dynamics and risk-taking in relation to alcohol and devise strategies for managing both influence and risk. Children consider the types of activities most young people enjoy doing which do not present the same risks as using drugs, legal or illegal.
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