Children begin the Animals unit by examining animals' physical features, habitats, sounds, foods, and roles in human life. Discussion, sorting, dramatic play, art, movement, letter E work, and near/far games turn these ideas into hands-on experiences.
What children learn
- Describe ways animals differ in size, shape, skin, and special body parts and explain how animals help people.
- Identify common animal habitats and relate animals' food and physical features to survival.
- Recognise that animals use different sounds to communicate and name basic animal-food groupings.
- Recognise and construct the letter E and use the positional terms near and far.
Key activities
- Play animal charades and Pictionary with animal figurines.
- Build habitat charts by sorting animal cut-outs into desert, forest, ocean, and jungle settings.
- Identify recorded animal sounds and create an animal-sound pretend play.
- Sort pictures into human and animal foods and learn about herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.
- Prepare apple cookies in a guided fireless-cooking activity.
You’ll need
Animal figurines and cut-outs, chart paper and glue, art supplies, letter E flashcards and loose parts, audio aid and animal-play props, near/far task sheets and objects, apples and cookie toppings.
Structure: 5 days; each day includes a Thought of the Day, Tuning-in Time, gross-motor development, cognition/literacy, literacy or fine-motor work, and numeracy.