Zoo Animals

I'm back. The cold is mostly gone and I'm ready to play. This week I'd like to focus on animals. (We will be doing Farm Animals, Polar Animals and Sea Creatures separately at some point in the future).

BOOKS:

Where do I begin? So many picture book have characters who are animals, almost anything would work here (it'd also be a great time to get in some nonfiction!). Here are some of my animal favorites:
The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by The Woods
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss
We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss
Curious George by H. A. Ray


SONGS AND FINGERPLAYS:

Move Like A... (Have pictures or words on cards of animals and have your child pick one out of the stack. They then have to show you how to move like that animal).

"Five Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree"
Five little monkeys swinging in a tree, (holding up five fingers)
Said to Mr. Crocodile, "You can't catch me!" (shaking finger)
Along comes Mr. Crocodile, quiet as can be--
(putting palms together to make crocodile's mouth)
SNAP! (clapping hands)
Now there are only four monkeys swinging in the tree. (holding up four fingers)

"Jungle Row Row Row Your Boat"
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream.
If you see a crocodile, don't forget to scream! (repeat with different animals)

"Tigers and Lions"
(sung to the tune of "London Bridge")
Lions and tigers come out to play, out to play, out to play,
Lions and tigers come out to play, Tigers and lions
Lions stand up and tigers sit down, tigers sit down, tigers sit down,
Lions stand up and tigers sit down Lions and tigers!
Tigers all walk and lions jog, Tigers all walk and lions jog
Tigers all walk and lions jog, Lions and tigers
Lions twist and tigers hop, Lions twist and tigers hop
Lions twist and tigers hop, Lions and tigers

"The Animals In the Jungle Say"
(sung to the tune of "The Wheels on the Bus")
The parrots in the jungle say squawk, squawk, squawk,
Squawk, squawk, squawk, squawk, squawk, squawk,
The parrots in the jungle say squawk, squawk, squawk, all day long
The monkeys in the jungle say ooh, ooh, ooh,
ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh,
The monkeys in the jungle say ooh, ooh, ooh, all day long.
The tigers in the jungle say grrr, grrr, grr,
grrr, grrr, grr, grrr, grrr, grr,
The tigers in the jungle say grrr, grrr, grr, all day long.
(add other animals if you want!)


ART ACTIVITIES:

Make animals out of clay

Paper bag puppets

Here is a good website for more ideas with pictures {link}.


COOKING ACTIVITY:

Monkey Bread
{source}
4 cans refrigerator biscuits (about 40)
1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
1/2 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup pecans, raisins and/or coconut, if desired
Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces. Pour sugar and cinnamon into a plastic bag and mix.
Add biscuit pieces, several at a time; shake to coat well.

Place pieces in a buttered tube or Bundt pan until all are used.

Sprinkle layers with nuts, raisins or coconut.

Bring brown sugar and butter to a boil in saucepan. Cool 10 minutes, then pour over top of biscuits.

Bake at 350°F for 40-45 minutes. Allow to cool 15 minutes before removing from pan. Turn upside down to serve.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Making Learning Fun
Miss Renee's Kindergarten Pad
Prekinders


FIELD TRIP:

It's a gorgeous week (at least here in Utah) for some time outside. So, we're heading to the zoo! Have fun this week! I know we will!