Litha – Year R Session Plan

Litha falls on or around 21st June, the longest day and the turning point of summer. Elderflower hangs in the hedgerows, insects fill the grass with sound and movement, and the sun sets later than at any other point in the year. In the old calendar this was Midsummer, marked by bonfires on hilltops and the belief that the night held unusual power. This Year R session plan marks that day outdoors, through story, observation, and making.

Centred on the original folklore story The Night the Sun Stood Still, the session moves children through a welcome circle and perimeter walk looking for yellow and gold, the folklore story, a golden hunt and sun pattern made from natural materials, turmeric dyeing on fabric, Midsummer Apple Rings cooked at the fire, and a mindfulness close. Includes a welcome and goodbye song, detailed SEND adaptations, and full EYFS curriculum links including Characteristics of Effective Learning.

A complete, ready-to-deliver outdoor session for Year R. Three hours.