Recommended Age: 2 and ½ years and onwards
Level of Parent Involvement: Medium, the adult facilitates this exercise for the first time then the child may work independently with the basket
Prerequisites
- The child must have some knowledge of different animals and the way which they move
(If you feel your child needs more experience before doing this activity spend some time looking at pictures of different animals and talking about and mimicking how they move)
Materials
- A basket
- Slips of paper with animal names (if your child can read) or pictures
Preparation
- Print off or draw different animals (around 8-12) on small pieces of paper
- Laminate if possible to extend the duration of the cards for further work
- Place the cards in the basket
Steps
- Invite the child letting them know that you are going to play a game
- Before inviting the child decide whether to work indoors or outdoors and prepare accordingly
- Indicate to the child where you will be playing the game (ideally where there is space for movement)
- Show the child the basket
- Invite to the child to take each card out and name the animal, giving assistance if required
- Place the cards in the basket
- Let the child know that you will be choosing a card from the basket and then moving like that animal
- Show the child the route you will be using, for example down the hallway and back
- You have a turn modelling to the child what to do for example, you take out a card with a frog picture on it, show the child how to jump like a frog
- Invite the child to have a turn
- Either keep taking turns with the child or leave the child to work independently
Variations
- The child chooses a card without showing you and you have to guess what animal they are and vice versa
For older children:
- Have bowls or baskets for the five classes of vertebrates (mammal, reptile, bird, amphibian, fish). Once the animal name has been guessed, the child should place the animal in the correct class. The child can come up with one more animal that belongs to that class
