This theme explores animals of all kinds.  If it has fur, legs, teeth, a nose, a tail, or just lives on earth (and isn’t human) we’ll try to cover it here.

Related themes:

Pets                         Zoo

Theme Resources

Teaching Kids About Animals

The following subjects from our teacher’s encyclopedia will give you some fun and educational talking points and additional lessons to do with your kids:

Preparing for this theme:

  • Collect as many plastic animal figurines as you can gather.
  • Ask for donations of old National Geographic’s or other magazines that feature animal pictures.
  • Try to find an animal encyclopedia or other books on animals to stock your library area throughout this theme.

 

Field trips & special activities

  • Take a field trip to the zoo
  • Visit a local animal shelter or Dumb Friends League

 

Show & share

  • Talk about your favorite animal

 

Theme-related books:

  • Is Your Mama A Llama?

 

Animal concepts to discuss:

  • Hibernation
  • Herbivores & carnivores
  • Animal babies

 

Theme words
Use the following as spelling or vocabulary words throughout this theme:

  • Animal
  • Canines: Two front teeth that are longer (and often pointier) than the others
  • Carnivore: An animal that eats meat
  • Claw
  • Fur
  • Habitat: The environment in which an animal lives
  • Herbivore: An animal that eats plants
  • Hoof
  • Mane
  • Omnivore: An animal that eats both meat and plants
  • Reserve: A spot of land set aside for animals to live without human interference.
  • Tail

 

  Silly Kid Jokes

  • A man looses his dog, so he puts an ad in the paper, and the ad says: “Here, boy.”  – Comedian Spike Milligan.