**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with Healthcare Science Week. For official information, themes, and resources, please visit the NHS England website for Healthcare Science Week: www.england.nhs.uk/healthcare-science/healthcare-science-week.
Understanding Healthcare Science Week in EYFS & KS1
Let's discover the amazing science that helps us stay healthy! š§āš¬š©ŗ Healthcare Science Week is an annual, UK-wide celebration that promotes and raises awareness of the incredible work done by healthcare science professionals. Organised by NHS England, it typically takes place in March. This special week aims to showcase the diverse range of scientific roles within healthcare, from laboratory scientists who diagnose diseases by looking at samples, to clinical scientists who develop new treatments, medicines, and technologies that keep us well. It's all about inspiring the next generation to be curious about how science helps people.
For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this week provides a fantastic and tangible theme for exploring health and hygiene, the human body, medicine, problem-solving, understanding the world (science and people who help us), and personal, social & emotional development (PSED). It's about introducing children to the wonders of how science and caring professionals work together to keep us healthy, reducing anxiety about visiting healthcare settings, and inspiring an early interest in science. This week offers wonderful planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about health and science both essential and fascinating.
Why Is Learning About Healthcare Science Important for Young Children?
Integrating Healthcare Science Week into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) helps develop an early understanding of health, promoting well-being, and demystifying healthcare environments.
Promotes Health & Hygiene: Teaches children about the importance of good health practices and the people who help us stay well.
Reduces Anxiety: Familiarises children with healthcare settings (like doctors and dentists) and the professionals who work there, making future visits less daunting.
Introduces Science Concepts: Provides a real-world context for early scientific concepts related to the human body, health, and how things work.
Fosters Empathy: Encourages children to think about caring for themselves and others when they are poorly.
Inspires Future Learning: Sparks curiosity about science and healthcare, potentially inspiring future interests and career paths.
Understanding the Body: Helps children learn about their own bodies and how they function.
Engaging Healthcare Science Activities for EYFS & KS1 (0-7 Year Olds)
Let's put on our lab coats and explore how science helps us feel better for Healthcare Science Week with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on understanding health, the human body, and the amazing work of healthcare scientists and professionals! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by our extensive 'Health', 'Medicine', 'The Human Body', and 'Science' resources.
Here's some inspiration for celebrating healthcare science in your setting: (Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)
Role Play: Doctor's Surgery & Hospital: Set up a 'Doctor's Surgery' or 'Hospital' role-play area. Use our 'Doctor's Surgery Role-Play Pack', 'Medical Word Mat', and 'Medical Word Cards' to support authentic play. Children can act as doctors, nurses, or patients.
Poorly Teddy Clinic: Have children bring in a 'poorly' teddy or toy. Use our 'Poorly Teddyā resources to help them identify ailments. Encourage them to write 'Get Well Soon Cards' for their toys.
X-Ray Investigations: Introduce the concept of X-rays (how doctors can see inside us without cutting us open!). Use 'X-Ray Multimats' for drawing or building 'bones'.
Exploring the Human Body (Simplified Science): Discuss basic body parts and how they work. Use our 'The Human Body' resources.
Dental Health Focus: Set up a 'Dentist's Surgery' role-play. Use 'Dentist Dramatic Role-Play Pack', 'Dentist Word Cards', 'Dentist Word Mat'. Emphasise good oral hygiene with 'Brush Your Teeth Morning And Night Poster', and 'Dentist Teeth Posters'.
Eye Health Exploration: Discuss how eye doctors (optometrists) help us see clearly. Use 'Eye Health - Glasses - 2-Piece Puzzles', 'Eye Health - 'Keep Your Eyes Healthy!' Poster', 'Eye Health - Word Cards', 'Eye Health - Word Mat', and our 'Optometrist Dramatic Role-Play Pack'.
Healing & Caring: Talk about what happens 'When I Got Hurt' or 'When I Was Ill'. Use these specific sheets to encourage reflection and discussion.
Medical Themed Literacy & Numeracy:
Alphabet/Phonics: Use 'Plaster Alphabet Display Cards', 'Plaster Alphabet Colouring Cards', and 'Ambulance Letters And Sounds Game - Phase 2 & 3 Phonics'.
Counting: Practice counting with 'Plaster Counting Puzzles (1-10)'.
Colour Matching: 'Colour Match Medicine Bottles' is a fun matching game.
Critical Thinking about Health: Engage children in problem-solving scenarios related to health with 'What Happened To Teddy? - Critical Thinking'.
Healthy Choices: Connect to healthy eating (see our 'Food' pages) and exercise (see our 'Exercise' page).
Explore More: Please visit our āMedicineā, āThe Human Bodyā, āExerciseā, āHandwashing & Hygieneā, āEye Healthā, āTeeth & Oral Healthā, āFoodā (Fruit & Vegetables plus Balanced Diet), āMental Healthā, āSun Safetyā, or āScienceā pages to explore our extensive catalogue of Health resources!
These activities offer great inspiration for making Healthcare Science Week a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering health awareness, scientific curiosity, empathy for healthcare professionals, and an understanding of how science helps us stay well.
To explore ideas surrounding additional early years events, please visit our 'Special Dates Calendar' page.
Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: āHealthcare Science Weekā
Free āHealthā resources for EYFS & KS1:
The following is a small selection of our inspirational āHealthā resources for EYFS & KS1:
(Please visit our āMedicineā, āThe Human Bodyā, āExerciseā, āHandwashing & Hygieneā, āEye Healthā, āTeeth & Oral Healthā, āFoodā (Fruit & Vegetables plus Balanced Diet), āMental Healthā, āSun Safetyā or āScienceā pages to explore our extensive catalogue of Health resources.)
Additional Pages you may like to explore which cover relevant &/or Connected themes
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Explore special dates (including awareness dates, festivals, celebrations & events) relevant to your EYFS & KS1 children
Browse our āSpecial Dates Calendarā page using the link below. Youāll find calendars for every month of the year to aid your planning!
SEARCH āLITTLE OWLS Resourcesā USING THE FOLLOWING MENU BUTTONSā¦
Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to 'Healthcare Science Week'. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by NHS England, which organises this event. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this event. For official information, themes, and to learn more about the diverse roles of healthcare science professionals, please visit their website at www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/career-options/healthcare-science/healthcare-science-week.
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