Early Years Activities

Jack and the Beanstalk Early Years Activities

Posted on by Eden Training Solutions
jack and the beanstalk activities image
31
Mar

Jack and the Beanstalk EYFS activities and story quiz for nursery

Early Years · UK EYFS

Jack and the Beanstalk Activities

Five practical ideas for nurseries & preschools, plus a calm story quiz children can play with a grown-up, with no fast reactions needed.

Explore activities Story quiz
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Why this tale works in nursery

The story supports Communication & Language (new words, retelling), Maths (counting beans and eggs), and Understanding the World (growing things). Our tabletop ideas match typical UK nursery themes: sensory play, building, counting, science, and movement.

5 activitiesPrint-ready ideas
EYFS linksIn each card
Low costEveryday items
Story quizRecall & talk

Jump to an activity

Icons scroll to each section

🌱 Jack’s Story Quiz

Read each question aloud. The child taps the answer (or points). Five gentle questions, ideal for Communication & Language and Literacy (story recall).

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0 / 5 golden eggs

Take turns with Jack, Mother, the giant, and the hen. There are no wrong answers in the room, only learning!

Dried beans in a tray for sensory play
Activity 1

Magic bean sensory bin

Best for: sensory play, counting, talk

What you need

  • Large tray or tuff tray
  • Mixed dried beans; scoops & pots
  • Gold-painted stones or toy eggs

How to set it up

  1. Fill the tray and hide a few “magic” golden items.
  2. Add scoops for pouring, filling, and emptying.
  3. Name textures and sizes together.
💬 Adult prompts
  • “How many magic beans can you find?”
  • “Which bean feels the smoothest?”
  • “Can you plant the beans in the pot?”
📚 EYFS links
  • Understanding the World (exploring materials)
  • Maths (counting, comparing sizes)
  • Communication and Language (descriptive vocabulary)
💡

Supervise closely. Dried beans are not safe to put in mouths. Extend with small-world Jack & cow figures if you have them.

Cardboard boxes for construction play
Activity 2

Build a giant’s castle

Best for: PD, teamwork, imagination

What you need

  • Large cardboard boxes and tape
  • Grey paint or sponge “bricks”
  • Fabric scraps for curtains; cushions

How to set it up

  1. Plan a simple castle shape: towers can be separate boxes.
  2. Paint or stamp brick patterns; add doors and windows.
  3. Add cushions inside for a cosy story corner.
💬 Adult prompts
  • “How can we make the castle walls strong?”
  • “What does a giant’s castle need inside?”
  • “Can we work together to build the tallest tower?”
📚 EYFS links
  • Physical Development (gross motor, construction)
  • Expressive Arts and Design (creative construction)
  • PSED (collaboration, sharing ideas)
💡

Keep the giant friendly, with silly snores and smiles, not scary faces.

Golden decorative eggs for counting
Activity 3

Golden egg counting

Best for: number, 1:1 matching

What you need

  • Plastic eggs (gold or yellow)
  • Numbered nests, baskets, or egg boxes
  • Tweezers or tongs (optional)

How to set it up

  1. Label nests with numbers or dots.
  2. Children place the matching number of eggs in each nest.
  3. Compare: which nest has the most eggs?
💬 Adult prompts
  • “Can you find the egg for number 5?”
  • “How many eggs fit in the giant’s basket?”
  • “Which nest has the most eggs?”
📚 EYFS links
  • Maths (counting, number recognition, one-to-one correspondence)
  • Physical Development (fine motor with tweezers)
💡

Hide eggs around the room first for a “giant’s treasure” hunt.

Seedlings growing in pots
Activity 4

Grow a beanstalk

Best for: UTW, observation

What you need

  • Clear plastic cups or jars
  • Cotton wool or kitchen paper
  • Runner bean seeds; spray bottles

How to set it up

  1. Wet the cotton wool; place seeds at the side of the jar to see roots.
  2. Spray gently each day, and add simple growth stickers or a chart.
  3. Use story words: tall, roots, leaves, grow.
💬 Adult prompts
  • “What does the bean need to grow?”
  • “Can you draw what your beanstalk looks like today?”
  • “How tall is your beanstalk now?”
📚 EYFS links
  • Understanding the World (plant growth, life cycles)
  • Communication and Language (describing changes)
  • Maths (comparing height over time)
💡

Clear jars let children watch roots, and they love checking every morning.

Children playing outdoors
Activity 5

Giant’s footsteps

Best for: PD, listening

What you need

  • Large cardboard footprint cut-outs
  • Music and a drum or tambourine
  • Clear floor space

How to set it up

  1. When gentle music plays, children tiptoe quietly like Jack.
  2. When you tap the drum (“giant footsteps”), everyone freezes.
  3. Swap who leads the drum so everyone has a turn.
💬 Adult prompts
  • “Can you tiptoe quietly like Jack?”
  • “The giant’s waking up, freeze!”
  • “How big can you make your giant footsteps?”
📚 EYFS links
  • Physical Development (balance, coordination, spatial awareness)
  • Communication and Language (listening to instructions)
  • Expressive Arts and Design (imaginative movement)
💡

Keep the giant sleepy and silly, with safe, positive energy for EYFS.

Jack and the Beanstalk activities: frequently asked questions

What age are these Jack and the Beanstalk activities for?
They suit nursery and preschool children roughly aged 3 to 5. Adapt materials for younger children and always supervise small parts.
How do these activities link to the EYFS in England?
Ideas support Communication and Language, maths, Understanding the World, Physical Development, PSED, and Expressive Arts and Design. The story quiz builds recall and vocabulary when an adult joins in.
Do children need to know Jack and the Beanstalk before we start?
It helps but it is not essential. Read the story over the week, tell a short version, or use puppets so everyone shares the same characters.
Can we do Jack and the Beanstalk activities outdoors?
Yes. Giant footsteps, castle building, and planting beans all work well outside with usual supervision and weather checks.
What resources do we need for a Jack and the Beanstalk topic?
Most ideas use everyday items: dried beans, recycled boxes, soil and jars, and space to move. Each activity card lists what to gather before you start.
Is the story quiz suitable for children who cannot read yet?
Yes. An adult reads the questions aloud and children can point or say their answer. There are no timers and no penalty for mistakes.