Jungle Safari Adventure: A Fun & Easy Lesson Plan for Toddlers & Preschoolers

Go on a jungle safari at home! This complete lesson plan for toddlers and preschoolers is packed with fun, hands-on activities like a DIY lion craft, a jungle sensory bin, and animal games to develop fine and gross motor skills.

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My First Jungle Safari Adventure

Materials Needed

  • For Binoculars: 2 toilet paper tubes, tape or glue, string/yarn, crayons or stickers.
  • For Sensory Jungle: A large bin or box, uncooked rice/pasta/beans (as a base), plastic jungle animals (monkeys, lions, elephants, etc.), green construction paper or felt cut into leaf shapes, small twigs or blocks.
  • For Lion Craft: A paper plate, yellow/orange/brown construction paper, child-safe glue or a glue stick, a black marker.
  • For Snack Time: Animal crackers, banana slices ("monkey food"), or a simple trail mix.
  • For Story Time: A jungle-themed picture book (e.g., "Good Night, Gorilla" by Peggy Rathmann or "Giraffes Can't Dance" by Giles Andreae).
  • Optional: A speaker for jungle sounds or music.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:

  • Identify at least two jungle animals by name or sound (e.g., point to the lion and roar).
  • Engage in sensory play by exploring different textures in the "jungle bin."
  • Practice fine motor skills by tearing paper and gluing it onto a paper plate.
  • Practice gross motor skills by stomping, jumping, and moving like a jungle animal.

Lesson Activities

Part 1: Safari Prep - Making Our Binoculars (5-10 minutes)

Goal: Spark curiosity and create a prop for imaginative play.

  1. Introduce the Adventure: "Today, we are going on a special jungle safari! To see all the amazing animals, we need special safari binoculars."
  2. Create: Present the two toilet paper tubes. Help your child tape or glue them together side-by-side.
  3. Decorate: Let your child decorate their binoculars with crayons or stickers. This is about the process, not a perfect result.
  4. Finish: Attach a piece of yarn or string to the sides so they can wear the binoculars around their neck.

Part 2: The Jungle March - Warm-up (5 minutes)

Goal: Engage in gross motor movement and learn animal sounds.

  1. Start the Music: Play some upbeat jungle-themed music or just use your voices.
  2. Move Like Animals: Call out different jungle animals and move like them together.
    • "Let's stomp like an elephant!" (Heavy stomps)
    • "Let's swing our arms like a monkey!" (Swing arms, make "ooh-ooh-ahh-ahh" sounds)
    • "Let's stretch our necks like a giraffe!" (Reach up high)
    • "Let's sneak quietly like a tiger!" (Crawl on hands and knees)

Part 3: Jungle Exploration - Sensory Play (10-15 minutes)

Goal: Encourage sensory exploration and imaginative play.

  1. Reveal the Jungle Bin: Present the sensory bin. "Look! We found the jungle! Let's use our binoculars to see what's inside."
  2. Guided Discovery: Encourage your child to dig their hands in. Talk about how the rice/beans feel.
  3. Find the Animals: Hide the plastic animals slightly under the base material. Say things like, "I spy something with a long trunk! It's an elephant!" Let your child pull the animals out.
  4. Free Play: Allow for unstructured playtime. Let them scoop, pour, and make the animals "walk" through the leaves and twigs. Narrate what they are doing to build vocabulary ("The tiger is hiding behind the green leaf!").

Part 4: Animal Discovery - Torn Paper Lion Craft (10 minutes)

Goal: Develop fine motor skills through a creative, process-art activity.

  1. Introduce the Craft: "One of the animals we found was a lion! Roar! Let's make our own brave lion."
  2. Tear the Paper: Give your child strips of yellow, orange, and brown construction paper. Show them how to tear the paper into small pieces. This is excellent for building hand strength. Don't worry about the shape or size.
  3. Create the Mane: Draw a simple circle on the paper plate for a face guide. Help your child apply glue around the edge of the plate. Let them stick the torn paper pieces all around the circle to create the lion's mane.
  4. Finish the Face: Use a marker to draw two eyes, a nose, and a mouth inside the circle. Praise their wonderful creation!

Part 5: Safari Snack & Rest Stop (5-10 minutes)

Goal: Connect the theme to a daily routine and reinforce vocabulary.

  1. Set the Scene: "All this exploring has made us hungry! Let's have a safari snack."
  2. Serve the Snack: Offer the animal crackers or banana slices. As they eat, you can ask, "Can you find the monkey cracker?" or "Bananas are a monkey's favorite food!"

Part 6: Jungle Quiet Time - Story (5 minutes)

Goal: A calm-down activity to conclude the lesson and encourage a love of reading.

  1. Settle Down: Find a comfy spot to sit together.
  2. Read the Story: Read a jungle-themed picture book. Use different voices for the animals and point to the pictures as you read. Let your child point to the animals they recognize from your safari.
  3. Wrap-up: "What a fun safari! We saw elephants, monkeys, and even made a lion. You were a great explorer today!"

Assessment & Observation (Informal)

During the lesson, observe and gently note:

  • Did the child show interest in the sensory bin? Which textures did they seem to enjoy?
  • Could the child mimic any of the animal sounds or movements?
  • Did the child attempt to tear or glue the paper during the craft activity?
  • Did the child point to or name any animals in the bin or the book?

Differentiation and Tips

  • For Younger Toddlers (closer to 24 months): Focus more on the sensory and gross motor parts. You can pre-tear the paper for the craft and just let them focus on gluing. Use larger, chunkier animal toys that are easy to grasp.
  • For Older Toddlers (closer to 36 months): Encourage more language. Ask "What sound does the lion make?" or "Can you find me the yellow animal?" They can also try drawing the lion's face themselves or adding more detail to their binoculars.
  • Safety Note: Always supervise closely during sensory play, especially if using small items like beans or rice, to ensure nothing goes in the mouth.
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