Once again I’m majorly missing my old apt. Counting down the days/weeks. 3-4 more by the way, weeks.
This weeks theme according to our curriculum is Zoo. Such a great theme. So many things to do for it.
Wish I had access to my old district hard drive of saved pictures, cuz zoo was so much fun to do with the older kids in the MPR (multi purpose room) but I would have part city dress up items( things I will get just didn’t have the time before tomorrow) had the older kids put on a safari cruise for the younger kids. with the older ones dress them selves up as animals and we created cages and habitats and the kids game in on grounds to see our zoo. It was so much fun.
Shout out to my 4th-5th graders from Brisas at the time, I miss you guys.
Anyways, you don’t even have to go big. Just put out their favorite animals, as I did, and put them in tubs, buckets, shelves and make it into a exhibit.
Later this week after talking about exhibits and it based on their homes, the kids might decorate their cages a little more , during art, to make it more fun.
With the theme of zoo my favorite new thing that I found out, and I didn’t learn it from the program I am using, is that for social studies you can use zoo maps as a lesson. Go figure. Maps is a 1st-3rd grade thing but starting them out small on zoo maps, especially their zoo ( the Phoenix Zoo we love you) they know it well, so they should understand it better once they look at it.
Things I wish I had: there is a science base lesson to this theme of either doing habitats, or the feeling of the animals outside makeup. (skin, scales,fur,etc) Now one of the printable’s is of that, but it’s better to have something to feel.
Truth be sold I could search the entire hour for things like it, but almost 80% of my stuff is still in bags or boxes, and I don’t feel like diving into them. But if you have these items you can use them to help the kids senses.
1. Lion, Tiger, Jaguar : if you have a cat at home. If you have a fur coat. Something close to a hair fur.
2. Hippos, elephants: if you have any purses that have a leather like quality to them, that’s close to their skin.
3. Birds: this one I do have but they are art feathers. But you can go out for a walk ( if it isn’t too hot) go find feathers around your neighborhood.
4. Sharks , sting rays: now I know they are ocean animals, but they are at our zoo so it’s okay. If you have sand paper, that’s what their skin feels one way, and rubber, if you have any kind of rubber substance , that’s the other way. Head to tail pet that’s rubber feel (smooth) you go tail to head it’s like sand paper and can cut your hand.
The list goes on and on.
Now if you don’t have any stuffed animals, it doesn’t hurt to buy a few. Personally, build a bear had great options, and great sales sometimes. But they have a whole zoo section on their website. And no I am not just saying this cuz I used to work for them. I will always love build a bear.
Just go to build a bear.com and search zoo.
This is one I wish I had. Cuz I love seeing them.
Anyways, I’m excited to start tomorrow. I get to add an extra very special little person to my homeschool program.
Wish me luck.
The TAWL Mom 