When Little Explorers Meet Animals

18 hours ago

6 min read

Large Group – Animals, Weather, and Our Daily Routine

We began our large group time the way we love best: with warm hellos and our cheerful Good Morning song. Then we checked our attendance together, looking at our friends’ pictures to see who had come to school and who we were missing that day. Our children loved spotting their classmates’ smiling faces, and this little ritual helped everyone feel like part of one caring group.

Next, we talked about the day of the week and peeked outside to check the weather. Something was different today: the sky was full of clouds! Our children gathered at the window to look up at the sky, and we talked together about what cloudy weather looks like and how it is different from a bright, sunny day. Some of our little ones proudly pointed outside and said, “Cloudy!” We also wondered together about how the sky changes when the clouds cover the sun.

As we continued our animal adventure, we opened a book about farm animals. We looked at the pictures together and named each animal we found. We chatted about familiar friends like cows, chickens, sheep, and pigs, and our children happily shared everything they already knew about them.

To make our discussion even more fun, we explored the sounds these animals make. We asked, “What sound does a cow make?”, “Can you make a chicken sound?” and “How does a sheep sound?” Soon the room was filled with moos, clucks, and baas! Our children loved imitating the sounds and guessing which animal we were thinking of, and they proudly named each animal as we showed them more pictures.

Small Group

Literacy – What Is Inside?

For literacy, we turned learning into a playful surprise! We wrapped different toy animals in paper to create a guessing and discovery game. Our children took turns choosing a wrapped animal, and before they peeked inside, we asked, “What do you think is inside?” and “Which animal do you think you will find?” Their eyes sparkled with curiosity as they thought, made guesses, and used their words to share their ideas.

One by one, each child carefully unwrapped the paper to reveal a hidden animal friend. We encouraged them to look closely, name the animal, and tell us what they knew about it, asking, “What animal did you get?”, “What sound does it make?”, “Does it have four legs?” and “Where does it live?” Some children called out the names right away, while others took their time studying the animal’s features before answering, and every answer was celebrated. Together we made the animal sounds, pretended to move like the animals, and repeated their names with big smiles.

Throughout the activity, we introduced and repeated new animal names and sounds to help our children grow their vocabulary. They loved the excitement of discovering what was hiding under the paper and cheering as their friends named each animal. This joyful game supported their vocabulary, speaking and listening skills, observation, and confidence in sharing their ideas. It also gave them gentle practice in taking turns and waiting patiently for their moment to discover.

Music – Exploring Our Favourite Songs and Instruments

Our music session was full of joy and sound! We began by asking our children about their favourite songs and invited them to share the tunes they love to sing. We listened to their choices and sang some familiar songs together, with plenty of happy voices joining in. Then we brought out a collection of musical instruments and let our children explore. They shook, tapped, and played with delight, listening closely to all the different sounds they could make. Some children tried to follow the rhythm, while others proudly created beats of their own. Through this cheerful experience, our children explored sound, expressed their musical interests, and developed their listening and coordination skills.

Science – Our Animal-Washing Station

For science, we set up a special animal-washing station where our children could discover how to clean and care for animals. We gathered a variety of toy animals and covered some of them in dirt so they looked as if they had been having a muddy adventure outside! We also set out containers of water, soap, small brushes, sponges, and towels. Before we started, we gathered together to look at the animals and asked, “What animals do you see?”, “Do you think these animals are clean or dirty?” and “What can we use to wash them?” Our children looked closely, shared their ideas, and thought carefully about what their animal friends needed to get clean.

One by one, our children chose an animal to care for and got busy exploring the materials. They dipped the animals into the water, added soap, and gently scrubbed away the dirt with brushes and sponges. Some lovingly rubbed the animals clean with their hands, while others enjoyed brushing their legs, backs, and faces. They also experimented with pouring water over the animals and watched with wonder as the dirt slowly disappeared. We encouraged them to notice what was happening by asking, “What happens when you put the animal in the water?”, “Can you see the dirt coming off?” and “What should we do next to make it clean?”

This hands-on activity gave our children the chance to explore through their senses, make observations, ask questions, and discover what happens when water, soap, and brushes work together. They practised their fine motor skills by holding brushes, squeezing sponges, pouring water, and scrubbing. Best of all, they showed such kindness and care as they shared materials, waited for their turns, and chatted with their friends, and every animal went home sparkling clean!

Special Work Time

Art – Animal Footprint Stamping

In art, our children followed in the footsteps of animals, quite literally! We prepared animal-feet stamps, paint, and paper so they could create their very own footprint pictures. We introduced the materials and talked about how different animals have different feet and leave different footprints. Our children chose their favourite colours, dipped the stamps into the paint, and pressed them onto the paper. Their faces lit up each time they lifted a stamp to reveal the marks and patterns underneath. Some children stamped again and again, making trails of footprints side by side, while others experimented with new colours and turned their prints in different directions. We encouraged them to notice the shapes and sizes of the footprints, asking, “Which animal made this footprint?” and “Can you make another one?” Through this creative experience, our children explored colour, pattern, and texture while building their creativity, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills, and they made some truly beautiful artwork along the way.

Library – Story Time Together

Our library session was a calm and cosy time to enjoy stories together. We invited our children to find a comfortable spot and settle in for reading. We introduced the books and encouraged them to look at the covers, explore the pictures, and share what they noticed. As we read, we used playful voices and expressions to bring the stories to life, and our children were captivated. We paused on different pages to talk about the pictures, find familiar objects and characters, and ask simple questions such as, “What can you see in this picture?”, “What do you think will happen next?” and “Who is in the story?”

It was wonderful to see how much our children enjoyed the stories. They looked carefully at the pictures, listened to every word, pointed to things they recognized, and shared their own ideas. Some children named the characters and objects they knew, while others connected the stories to things they had seen or done in their own lives. Every child joined in their own special way, and we gave them all the time they needed to share their thoughts and simply enjoy the magic of reading together. What a wonderful week of exploring, discovering, and learning with our little explorers!