Stirring, Squishing and Sharing: P1 Learn All About Instruction Writing

Our P1 children have been having a wonderfully busy time exploring instruction writing through two exciting, hands?on activities: making jelly and creating their own playdough. 

There’s nothing quite as motivating as the promise of a tasty treat, and our pupils were full of excitement as they set out to make jelly.

Working together, the children followed a sequence of steps: pouring, mixing, stirring, and—perhaps the hardest step of all—waiting patiently for it to set!

Through this process, the children learned:

• How instructions work: that they must be in the right order or the final result won’t turn out as expected.
• Sequencing language: first, next, then, after that, finally.
• Fine motor skills: carefully stirring the mixture and handling equipment safely.
• Scientific thinking: watching how the jelly cubes melted and how a liquid turns into a solid; making predictions and observations along the way.

Of course, the highlight was the moment they finally got to taste the jelly they had made themselves—and it was met with smiles all round, especially when we added some ice cream to our bowls!

The fun didn’t stop there! The children put on their “maker” hats again to create batches of playdough. This was another rich opportunity to explore instructions in action.

As they measured flour, salt, water and oil, the children developed:

• Early maths skills: counting scoops, comparing quantities, and using vocabulary like “more,” “less,” and “full.”
• Sensory exploration: feeling textures change as the mixture transformed from sticky to soft and squishy.
• Teamwork and communication: taking turns, sharing tools, and talking through each step together.

The process was messy, sensory, and full of joy—everything early years learning should be!

By taking part in practical, real-life tasks, the P1s now have a solid understanding of what instructions look and sound like. Soon, they’ll be ready to write their own—step by step!

The room was filled with laughter, chatter, and plenty of proud faces. Through stirring, squishing, and sharing, our youngest learners are developing skills that will support them throughout their learning journey.

We can’t wait to see what they create next!