Toddler Programs Chapter
By Miranda Bauer and WyLaina Hildreth
Animal Stompin’ Jive
- Books to Share
- Nametag
- Fingerplays
- Rhymes and Poetry
- Crafts
- Games and Activities
- Bulletin Board
- Books to Display or Booktalk
- Displays
- Web Sites
- Professional Resources
Books to Share
A House Is A House for Me by Mary Ann Hoberman.
Bark, George by Jules Feiffer.
Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw.
Hilda Must Be Dancing by Karma Wilson.
Nametag
Cut out animal shapes from die cuts, or using the coloring pages on the Coloring Book Pages at http://www.coloring.ws/animals.html. Allow the children to pick an animal they like, and write the child’s name on the animal.
Fingerplays
Turtle
| There was a little turtle | (make circle with hands) |
| He lived in a box. | (make box with hands) |
| He swam in a puddle. | (wiggle hands) |
| He climbed on the rocks. | (climb fingers of one hand onto the other) |
| He snapped at a mosquito, | (clap hands) |
| He snapped at a flea. | (clap hands) |
| He snapped at a minnow, | (clap hands) |
| He snapped at me. | (point to self) |
| He caught the mosquito. | (open both palms up and snap fingers back shut) |
| He caught the flea. | (open both palms up and snap fingers back shut) |
| He caught the minnow, | (open both palms up and snap fingers back shut) |
| But he didn’t catch me. |
Rhymes and Poetry
Animals
(Suit actions to words.)
Can you hop like a rabbit?
Can you jump like a frog?
Can you walk like a duck?
Can you run like a dog?
Can you fly like a bird?
Can you swim like a fish?
And be still like a good child,
As still as this?
Crafts
Paper Bag Puppets
Materials
- Paper bags
- Washable markers
- Glue
- Animal templates from the First School web site at http://www.first-school.ws/theme/crafts/paper_bag_puppets.htm.
Directions
Before the program begins, cut out the templates available at First School at http://www.first-school.ws/theme/crafts/paper_bag_puppets.htm. Give each child a paper bag and the animal template of their choice. They can mix and match the animal heads and bodies if they like. Help them glue the pieces of the template to the paper bag. Allow them to decorate the puppet with washable markers.
Games and Activities
Can You Walk and Talk Like an Animal?
Ask the toddlers to stand up and act like animal as you call out their names, such as a lion. Then, ask the toddlers to call out animals for the group to act out.
Bulletin Board
Decorate a bulletin board with all kinds of animals. Ellison has a wide range of die cuts that would be great for this interactive bulletin board, including elephants, birds, giraffes, hippos, lions, zebras, and many other animals. Let the toddlers pick their favorite animal and decorate it using washable markers, available at Staples at http://www.staples.com/. Affix the animals to the bulletin board. The toddlers will love that they got to help decorate it!
Books to Display or Booktalk
Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? by Dr. Seuss.
Who Hops? by Katie Davis.
Naming the Cat by Laurence P. Pringle.
Barnyard Banter by Denise Fleming.
Displays
Display animal puppets and books and make an animal habitat by including trees, ponds, and other scenery. Realistic animal puppets can be found at Folkmanis Puppets at http://www.folkmanis.com/.
Web Sites
Coloring Book Pages
http://www.coloring.ws/coloring.html
Free coloring pages where you can find many different animals.
First School.com: Paper Bag Puppets
http://www.first-school.ws/theme/crafts/paper_bag_puppets.htm
This web site offers printable templates for paper bag puppet crafts.
Folkmanis
http://www.folkmanis.com/
This is a web site that sells puppets and props for storytelling.
Staples
http://www.staples.com/
This web site is an online version of the office supply store.
Professional Resources
Everything Preschool: Sea Animals
http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/seaanimals/
This web site offers games, activities, and fun things to do with sea animals.
First-School.com: Farm Animals
http://www.first-school.ws/theme/animals/farm.htm
A web site that offers coloring pages and activities for farm animals.
http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/toddler-theme.htm
This web site contains many different activities for toddlers to do.
Online Preschool / Toddler Activities and Games
http://www.fastq.com/~jbpratt/education/links/preactonline.html
This web site offers links to a variety of games for toddlers and preschools to play online.