St. George is the patron saint of England and we celebrate St. George’s Day on the 23rd April. Although it is not a big event or a national holiday, on St. George’s Day many pubs and other buildings will fly the St. George’s Cross flag. St. George is most famous for the story in which he rescues the princess from the dragon. For childminders it is a great excuse to learn about some of England’s customs and traditions, and also to do activities involving knights, princesses and dragons!

Here are some ‘English’ activity ideas you could do on St. George’s Day:

• Learn how to sing the hymn Jerusalem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc9Ww3rmT7I
• Find an English oak tree in the wood
• Visit a real castle
• Learn about the royal family
• Play cricket or rounders

English Foods

Here are some ideas of stereotypically ‘English’ foods you could eat on St. George’s Day:

• Shepherd’s pie
• Fish and chips
• Full English breakfast
• Victoria sponge
• Flapjacks
• Elderflower cordial
• Roast Beef and Yorkshire puddings
• English cheeses with pickles
• Eat some English puddings such as suet pudding, jam roly-poly, spotted dick, bread and butter pudding, sticky toffee pudding, apple pie, trifle, Eton mess

Products that can help you to explore St. George’s Day

Childminding Best Practice Club – themed packs

Join the Childminding Best Practice Club and get monthly packs of themed activities emailed to you. As well as art projects with templates, each pack includes a planning guide to help you plan around a theme.

Diversity Awareness Pack

Printable diversity craft projects and printable diversity colouring pages to help childminders to teach 20 diversity topics including disability, religion, race, families and multicultural holidays.