Objective

The objective of this lesson is for the student to engage in physical activity while learning about animals.

Materials and Prep

• Open space for movement
• Animal pictures or stuffed animals (optional)

Activities

• Animal Movements: Have the student mimic various animal movements such as crawling like a bear, hopping like a bunny, or slithering like a snake. Encourage them to use their imagination and make the movements as accurate as possible.

• Animal Sound Freeze: Play some animal sounds or imitate them yourself. When the student hears a sound, they should freeze in the position of the animal making that sound. This activity helps develop listening skills and body control.

• Animal Obstacle Course: Set up an obstacle course using pillows, cushions, or other household items. Assign different animal movements to each obstacle. For example, they can jump over a pillow like a kangaroo or crawl under a table like a lion. Time the student and challenge them to complete the course as quickly as possible.

• Animal Charades: Write down the names of different animals on small pieces of paper and put them in a hat or bowl. The student will pick a paper and act out the animal without making any sounds. The other person (parent or sibling) will try to guess the animal. Switch roles and have the student guess while the parent or sibling acts.

Talking Points

• "Animals move in many different ways, just like we do. Can you think of any animals that move differently from us?"

• "When we crawl like a bear, we use our arms and legs to move forward. Can you show me how a bear crawls?"

• "What sound does a lion make? Can you roar like a lion?"

• "Why is it important to listen carefully during the Animal Sound Freeze game? How does it help us improve our body control?"

• "Can you name an animal that jumps high? How about an animal that can swim really well?"

• "What do you think would be the most challenging part of the animal obstacle course? How can we overcome that challenge?"

• "Why is it fun to play animal charades? How does it help us learn about different animals?"