Crikey! Fun Crocodile Lesson Plan for Kids: Letter C & Writing

Engage young learners with this Steve Irwin-inspired crocodile adventure! This fun lesson plan teaches descriptive words (big, green, bumpy), introduces the letter 'C', and includes drawing and tracing/writing practice. Perfect for preschool/kindergarten.

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Crikey! It's a Crocodile Adventure: Writing with Steve Irwin!

Materials: Pictures/videos of crocodiles (and Steve Irwin), chart paper/whiteboard, markers/crayons, plain paper, pencils, letter 'C' card, optional crocodile toy.

Lesson Procedure:

1. Introduction: Crikey! What's That? (5 minutes)

  • Start with excitement! "Crikey! Do you know who used to say that? Steve Irwin! He loved animals, especially amazing reptiles like... CROCODILES!"
  • Show pictures or short, safe video clips of crocodiles. If available, show Steve Irwin talking enthusiastically (but safely) about them.
  • Ask: "What do you know about crocodiles? What do they look like?" Use a crocodile toy if you have one.

2. Crocodile Talk: Descriptive Words (10 minutes)

  • Look closely at the crocodile pictures/videos again.
  • Ask guiding questions: "Are crocodiles big or small? What color are they usually? What does their skin look like? Do they have a long tail or a short tail? Are their teeth sharp or dull?"
  • As the student answers, write simple descriptive words on the chart paper: BIG, GREEN, BUMPY, LONG, SHARP. Sound out the words as you write them.
  • Point to the words and have the student repeat them. "Let's describe our crocodile: It's BIG! It's GREEN! It's BUMPY! It has a LONG tail and SHARP teeth!"

3. 'C' is for Crocodile! (10 minutes)

  • "What sound does C-C-Crocodile start with? Cccc! That's the letter C!" Show the letter 'C' flashcard.
  • Practice making the 'C' sound together.
  • On the chart paper or whiteboard, demonstrate how to write a big 'C' and a little 'c'.
  • Give the student paper and a pencil/crayon. Guide them to trace the letter 'C' (you can write it lightly first) or try writing it on their own. Practice a few times. "Great job making the 'C' for Crocodile!"

4. Creative Croc Writing & Drawing (10-15 minutes)

  • Give the student a fresh sheet of paper and crayons/pencil.
  • "Now it's your turn to be an explorer like Steve Irwin! Can you draw your very own crocodile? Make it big and green!"
  • As they draw, encourage them to add details discussed (bumpy skin, long tail, teeth).
  • Once the drawing is done, help them label it. They can:
  • a) Write the letter 'C' near the crocodile.
  • b) Trace the word 'CROC' (write it lightly for them).
  • c) Try writing 'C' or 'CROC' independently if they are ready.
  • Praise their effort enthusiastically: "Crikey! Look at that amazing crocodile drawing and writing!"

5. Conclusion: Crocodile Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

  • Review the descriptive words learned: big, green, bumpy, long, sharp.
  • Point to the letter 'C' again. "What letter did we learn today? 'C'! For...? Crocodile!"
  • Have the student proudly show off their crocodile drawing and writing.
  • End with enthusiasm: "You were a fantastic crocodile explorer today, just like Steve Irwin! Great work with your words and writing!"

Differentiation:

  • Support: Focus only on recognizing 'C' and tracing. Use hand-over-hand guidance for drawing/writing. Accept pointing to features instead of verbal descriptions.
  • Challenge: Introduce more descriptive words (scaly, teeth, snout). Encourage writing the full word 'Crocodile' or a simple sentence like "Croc is big."