Materials:
- Pictures or toy figures of various animals (e.g., bird, squirrel, rabbit, duck, cat, dog)
- Pictures or safe samples of different animal foods (e.g., birdseed, nuts, carrots/lettuce, bread crumbs, pretend pet food)
- Small bowls or containers
- Optional: Playdough or craft supplies to make pretend food
- Optional: A safe outdoor space for observation
Lesson Activities:
Introduction (5 mins)
Hello! Today we're going to learn about something very important and fun: what animals like to eat! Just like you need yummy food to grow big and strong, animals need food too. Do you have a favorite animal? What do you think it eats for snack time?
Activity 1: Animal Food Match-Up (10 mins)
Look at all these animal pictures/toys! We have a bird, a squirrel, a rabbit, and maybe even a pet cat or dog. Now look at these different foods. We have seeds, nuts, crunchy carrots, and some pet food. Let's be detectives! Can you help me match the right food to the right animal?
- Bird: What do birds like to peck at? (Guide towards seeds) Yes, birds love seeds! Let's put the seeds next to the bird.
- Squirrel: What do squirrels bury and nibble on? (Guide towards nuts) That's right, squirrels go nutty for nuts!
- Rabbit: What crunchy vegetables do rabbits munch? (Guide towards carrots/lettuce) Rabbits love carrots and lettuce!
- Duck: What might ducks eat near a pond? (Guide towards bread crumbs - note: explain this is okay sometimes in small bits, but birdseed or peas are healthier if feeding ducks).
- Cat/Dog: What do our pets at home eat? (Guide towards pretend pet food) They eat special food made just for them!
See? Every animal has its favorite and special food that helps it stay healthy!
Activity 2: Feeding Time Fun (10 mins)
Let's pretend to feed our animal friends! You can use these bowls. Put the right food (or pretend food we make with playdough!) in the bowl for each animal. Can you give the squirrel his nuts? Can you give the bird her seeds? Great job! Taking care of animals means making sure they get the right food.
Activity 3: Outdoor Lookout (Optional - 10 mins)
If we can go outside, let's quietly look for real animals. Do you see any birds? What are they doing? Maybe they are looking for worms or seeds! Do you see a squirrel? Maybe it's searching for nuts it hid earlier! Remember, it's best to watch wild animals from a distance and not feed them our human snacks, as it might make them sick. We can help birds by putting up a special bird feeder with birdseed!
Wrap-up (5 mins)
Wow, we learned so much about what animals eat today! Can you tell me one thing a bird eats? (Seeds) What about a rabbit? (Carrots/Lettuce) It's important to remember that different animals need different foods to be healthy and happy, just like we do! Let's always be kind to animals and respect their needs.