Preschool Fun: A Roaring Good Time at the Zoo!

At the Zoo

Frederik Hendrik Kaemmerer

1839-1902

A few years ago, I researched and performed a number of lap sit programs for a local museum. Each week was a specific theme, and this is the one I offered on the zoo. I hope you find some use for it in your work.

As always, I would love to hear your comments at the end of the blog. 

FINGERPLAYS

One elephant went out to play, (hold up one finger)

Over the hills and far away. (wave finger like it is going over the hills)

She had such enormous fun, (on “enormous” circle arms out and around)

That she called for another elephant to come. (cup hands over mouth)

“Oh Elephant!”… (call out and then pound the floor

for the running elephant sound)

Two elephants went out to play, (use two fingers…repeat above actions)

Over the hills and far away.

They had such enormous fun,

That they called for another elephant to come.

“Oh Elephant!”…

(Repeat with as many elephants (fingers) as you want)

Found at: https://www.piercecountylibrary.org/files/library/wigglesticklesall.pdf 

FIVE LITTLE MONKEYS  

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed

One fell off and bumped his head

Momma called the doctor and the doctor said,

“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

(four, three, two, one)

No little monkeys jumping on the bed

None fell off and bumped their head

Momma called the doctor and the doctor said,

“Put those monkeys right to bed!”
(No known origin: Public  Domain)

SONG

ZOO ANIMALS (To the tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)

If you want to be a monkey, jump up high!

If you want to be a monkey, jump up high!

If you want to be a monkey,

if you want to be a monkey,

If you want to be a monkey, jump up high!

Parrot — flap your wings

Elephant — swing your trunk

Lion — roar out loud

Giraffe — stand up tall

STORY STRETCH

Animal Hokey Pokey

All the animals are ready to sing and move

And do the Hokey Pokey at the Animal Zoo
Go elephants go!
You swing your big trunk in.
You swing your big trunk out
Then you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey
Then you swing your trunk around.
And that’s what it’s all about.

Go gorillas go!
You pump one big arm in.
You pump one big arm out
Then you flex it all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey
Thump your chest all around.
And that’s what it’s all about

Go snakes go!
You rattle your tail right in.
You rattle your tail right out.
You rattle your tail right in.
Then you slither all about
And you ssss all around.
And that’s what it’s all about

Go cheetahs go!
You prowl with both paws in.
You prowl with both paws out
You prowl with both paws in.

Then you shake it all about
You do the Hokey Pokey.
And you growl all around
And that’s what it’s all about
Found at: https://www.songsforteaching.com/jackhartmann/animalhokeypokey.htm

BOOKS

25 Awesome Preschool Books About Zoos
https://homeschoolpreschool.net/preschool-books-about-the-zoo/

Zoo and Zoo Life: Kid’s Books
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/books/animals-kids/zoos-zoo-life-kids/_/N-29Z8q8Ztul

CRAFTS

I Heart Crafty Things: 50+ Zoo Animal Crafts for Kids

https://iheartcraftythings.com/50-zoo-animal-crafts-kids.html

CURRICULUM

Everything Preschool – Zoo Lesson Plan – An entire weeks' worth of fun and learning!

http://www.everythingpreschool.com/lessonplans/zoo/index.htm

Kidssoup.com – Zoo and Animals Preschool Activities and Printables – You will find several free resources here while others require a subscription.

https://www.kidssoup.com/activity/zoo-and-animals-preschool-activities-and-printables

Pre-K Pages – Zoo Activities for Preschoolers
https://www.pre-kpages.com/zoo-activities-for-preschoolers/

Please note, websites change at a rapid pace and weblinks may change or break without notice. I cannot be responsible for redirected or broken links.  At the time of this posting all links were in working order. Thank you for understanding.

Karen Chace 2018 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission, please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.

Elephants: Gentle Giants Among Us II

From The Folk-Tales of Bengal, 1911
Illustration by Warwick Goble

“Nature’s great masterpiece, an elephant; the only harmless great thing.” – John Dunne

Below are some of the fingerplays, songs and story stretchers I use during a storytelling lapsit program for toddlers. Some of these are found on the web with no attribution. Wherever I could find an author, I have noted the link and attribution. Have fun with the elephants!

FINGERPLAYS

One Little Elephant

One elephant went out to play, (hold up one finger)

Over the hills and far away. (wave finger like it is going over the hills)

She had such enormous fun, (on “enormous” circle arms out and around)

That she called for another elephant to come. (cup hands over mouth)

“Oh Elephant!”… (call out and then pound the floor for the running elephant sound)

Two elephants went out to play, (use two fingers…repeat above actions)

Over the hills and far away.

They had such enormous fun they called for another elephant to come.

“Oh Elephant!”…

(Repeat with as many elephants (fingers) as you want)

http://www.nncc.org/curriculum/fingerplay.html

Five Gray Elephants

Five gray elephants, marching through the glade,
Decide to stop and play like they are having a parade.

The first sings his trunk and announces he’ll lead;
The next waves a flag which of course they need.
The third gray elephant trumpets a song;
The fourth beats a drum as he marches along.
While the fifth makes believe he’s the whole show
And nods and smiles to the crowd as they go.
Five gray elephants, marching through the glade,
Having a lot of fun during their parade.
http://www.childfun.com/themes/animals/elephants/

SONGS AND STORY STRETCH

Elephants At Work and Play

As five little elephants marched through the grass (march fingers of right hand)
They decided to stop and have a music class,
The first blew his trumpet and announced he'd be teacher. (make a trumpet of fists and blow)
The next gave a call of the wild jungle animal (cup hands to mouth, make a low eerie sound)
The third & fourth elephants trumpeted a song, (make a trumpet and blow twice )
But the last little elephant just followed along,
Then he left the others as he didn't care to play,
And he carried tree logs the rest of the day. (link the little finger under two fingers of the left hand and carry them away)

Zoo Animals  (To the tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)

If you want to be an elephant swing your trunk

If you want to be an elephant swing your trunk

If you want to be an elephant, if you want to be an elephant

If you want to be an elephant swing your trunk

Monkey, jump up high!

Parrot — flap your wings

Elephant — swing your trunk

Lion — roar out loud
Giraffe — stand up tall

An Elephant Goes

An elephant goes like this and that, (wave arms in front like trunk)

He’s oh so big, (raise arms up)

And he’s oh so fat. (spread arms out to the sides)

He has no fingers, (wiggle fingers)

He has no toes, (shake feet)

BUT, goodness gracious, WHAT A NOSE!

The Elephants Are Here! (To the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell")

The elephants are here! (Look excited)
The elephants are here!
Look at all the elephants! (Shade eyes as if looking)
The elephants are here!

They're exercising now. (March in place, keeping feet on floor, pumping arms)
They're exercising now.
Look at all the elephants!
They're exercising now.

They're jumping up and down! They're jumping up and down!
Look at all the elephants! They're jumping up and down!

They're touching all their toes…
They're spinning 'round and 'round…
They're all exhausted now...
They're all exhausted now...
Look at all the elephants...
They're all exhausted now...
ZZZZZZZ (Lots of snoring)
http://www.childfun.com/index.php/activity-themes/animals/115-elephant-activity-theme.html?start=2 

BOOKS

Children’s Books Guide – A wonderful list of books about our excellent elephant friends.

http://childrensbooksguide.com/elephants

CRAFT

Paper Elephant Mask
http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/mplate-elephant.htm

Please note, websites change at a rapid pace and weblinks may change or break without notice. I cannot be responsible for redirected or broken links.  At the time of this posting all links were in working order. Thank you for understanding.

Karen Chace 2016 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.

Valentine's Day Fun for the Children in Your Life

Vintage Post Card for Valentine's Day

Last year I offered a lapsit program to celebrate the Valentine’s Day. Listed below are the fingerplays, songs and story stretchers I used in the program. They are found throughout the internet without attribution so they are free for you to use as well.  

I also used a flannel board with heart shapes for the counting rhymes. I hope you will find something fun to use with your little ones. 

COUNTING AND FINGERPLAYS

Five Pretty Valentines

Five pretty valentines waiting at the store.

(Insert child's name) bought one and then there were four.
Four pretty valentines shaped like a "V"
(Insert child's name) bought one and then there were three.
Three pretty valentines said "I love you"
(Insert child's name) bought one and then there were two.
Two pretty valentines, this was so much fun.
(Insert child's name) bought one and then there was one.
One pretty valentine sitting on the shelf.
I felt sorry for it, so I bought it for myself!

Making a Heart

"I part my hands together, this is how I start; (heels of hands together)

I curve my fingers right around and I can make a Heart!

Valentine Poem

Five little valentines just for you
The first one says, "My love is true."
The second one says, "You have my heart."
The third one says, "Let us never part."
The fourth one says, "Won't you please be mine?"
The fifth one says, "'Till the end of time."

My Valentine Heart

When I say I love you (Point to lips)

It comes from my heart (Hand on heart)
You hear it in your ear (Point to ear)
And it sounds very smart (Point to head)
I love it when you're proud of me (Stand very tall)
You say it all day long (Stretch arms wide)
And when I hear you say it (Point to ear)
My heart sings a merry song (Hand on heart)

SONGS

Skinnamarinky

Skinnamarinky dinky dink

Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!

I love you in the morning,
And in the afternoon
I love you in the evening,
Underneath the moon…

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!

H-E-A-R-T  (To the tune of  Bingo)

There is a shape and it means love

And heart is it's nameo.

H-E-A-R-T, H-E-A-R-T, H-E-A-R-T, (spell the word out)

And Heart is it's nameo!

Continue leaving out a letter on each repeat and use a clap in place of the missing letter.

STORY STRETCH

Tony Chestnut

Tony Chestnut knows I love you,
Tony knows, Tony knows,
Tony Chestnut
Knows I love you,
That's what Tony knows.

While singing, point to
different parts of your body, like this:

Toe knee chest nut (head)
Nose eye
Love (heart)
You (point to others)
Toe knee nose
Toe knee nose
Toe knee chest nut (head)
Nose eye
Love (heart)
You (point to others)
That's what toe knee nose.

Songs for Teaching: Another version of Tony Chestnut: http://www.songsforteaching.com/folk/tonychestnut.php

This is an adorable video of children doing  the longer version of Tony Chestnut. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyPwGZN4Kbc

Another Tony Chestnut video using a different technique.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLLMm8fbhqk

CRAFTS

30 Fun and Easy Valentine’s Day Crafts

http://www.woohome.com/diy-2/30-fun-and-easy-diy-valentines-day-crafts-kids-can-make 

Crafty Morning - Heart shaped animal masks.

http://www.craftymorning.com/valentines-day-heart-shaped-animal/

DLTK-Holidays.com - Adorable elephant valentine for animal lovers. Too cute!

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/valentines/melephant.htm

CURRICULUM

Education World – Have a Heart: Valentine’s Day Across the Curriculum. Lessons plans and activities for K-12.

http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson222.shtml

RECIPES

40+ Cutest Valentine’s Day Recipes for Kids

https://www.inthekidskitchen.com/valentines-day-treats-kids/

 

Crafty Morning – Heart shaped cinnamon rolls
https://www.craftymorning.com/heart-shaped-cinnamon-rolls/

Please note, websites change at a rapid pace and weblinks may change or break without notice. I cannot be responsible for redirected or broken links.  At the time of this posting all links were in working order. Thank you for understanding.

 

Karen Chace 2014 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.