A Complete Preschool Lesson Plan - Jungle Theme

Hop on the Safari Bus. We are going on a Jungle Tour in the Preschool Classroom. It's going to be so much fun for the children, and I guarantee you are going to enjoy yourself.

Here are some ideas on how to get your jungle theme lesson plan started and some ideas to keep it going for as long as your preschoolers are interested in the activity.

Here's how to introduce the theme:

A Complete Preschool Lesson Plan - Jungle Theme

Day 1. Ask the children if they know what the word 'jungle' means. Explain what a jungle is for those who may not know, and have a picture of a jungle so they can associate your description with the picture.

Day 2. Have books* in the library on jungles and animals that live in the jungle. They can be a mix of cartoon type kids books and real-to-life kids books. (Your local library should be able to help you out with finding books.)

Day 3. Find pictures* of jungle animals from magazines, books, the internet, calendars, or anywhere you can find them, laminate them, and post them on the walls around the classroom.

Day 4. Place jungle themed toys on the toy shelf and place a few jungle themed puzzles in the puzzle area

Day 5. Find a CD with jungle themed music and play that throughout playtime after you talk about the jungle.

*If any pictures or books you have, show any sort of tribal people, you could make tribal masks for a creative art activity and the children can wear them in the dramatic play centre.

You can also place some paper towel tubes, pipe cleaners, markers, googly eyes, etc., on the art shelf and see which animals they create.

Here are some examples of animals you can introduce through books and pictures:
Panthers
Snakes
Bears
Monkeys
Zebras
Giraffes
Elephants
Cheetahs
Alligators
Rhinoceros
Birds
Hippopotamus

Feel free to have an open discussion with the children. Talk about the colors of the animals, their teeth, their eyes, which animal does each child like best, etc.

If you want, you can also touch on what the animals eat but make sure you keep it simple. The children at this stage in life don't need to start learning about the words carnivores, herbivores, etc. Just keep things simple like saying, a panther eats meat, a monkey eats fruit, a giraffe eats leave from tall trees, etc.

The children will probably want to know where the animals homes are in the jungle. This information should be easy to find through the books and pictures you have. If not, the library will have books on the individual animals you are talking about which will give you the information you need.

Here are some examples to get you started:

The animals will find homes within their habitat (the jungle) which they make into a home for them and their animal families.

Animals homes in the jungle could be a nest, a den, a burrow, under a rock, in a hollow tree trunk, up high in trees, etc.

You can then talk about which animal might live in a tree, which one would live under a rock, etc.

To incorporate this theme into the different programming areas of the classroom, some examples could be:

Creating a jungle themed dramatic play center:

Make a jungle jeep, safari jeep or car out of a box or, place 4 chairs together with a stand up steering wheel in front of one chair.

Get some safari looking hats.

Children's binoculars.

Pretend cameras.

Post jungle animal pictures on the wall and watch your preschool children go wild over this theme. :)

Here is a sandy sensory idea:

Place some sand in the sensory bin.

Find some small rubber or plastic sand animals* you would find in the jungle. (Snakes, beetles, insects, etc.)

Place these items in the sensory bin and your done.

*I have had great success finding almost everything I need at dollar stores. Search them out, I am sure you will find what you are looking for.

Just be as creative as you can with this theme. The possibilities are endless if you put your mind to it. When you are listening to the jungle music you can incorporate creative movement into this. Ask the children to pick an animal they would like to pretend to be and move to the music like that animal. There is no right or wrong movement, the children will have so much fun.

You could also move this theme into outdoor gross motor play. You could bring some of the dramatic play items outside like the hats, binoculars, cameras etc. Place some stuffed toys here and there around the play yard (make sure they get washed when you bring them in for the day) and go on an outdoor safari hunt.

The children can ride their bikes and go on their own tour, they can go on a "lion/bear hunt," you can run from animals 'scare' you, you can tip toe and walk around animals that are 'sleeping'.

Remember to use your imagination and expand on what the children are doing and saying.

Have a wonderful Jungle Themed Lesson and go wild with adventure.

A Complete Preschool Lesson Plan - Jungle Theme
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My name is Marisa and I am a Registered Early Childhood Educator. I have been actively practicing in the field for over 10 years and am one of the operators of the free resource website for teachers, parent's and caregivers: http://www.preschoollearningonline.com

Be sure to click the above link and visit my web site if you are looking to get more free Early Childhood Educational resources such as games, art activities, science activities, song ideas, circle time ideas, sensory ideas, snack ideas, programming ideas, printables, and so much more.

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Cognitive Development - Preschool Play

Preschool is the best place to prepare children for the formal learning in a school. It focuses on teaching new skills and promoting development is all arenas with a great degree of fun without creating any pressure on the child. The children who are ready to go to preschool are at the stage of developing their thinking skills and preschool play provides the environment for that cognitive development.

At this stage, children learn language, its usage, its association and develop their memory, thought processes, awareness and knowledge bank. With right playing activities, cognitive development can be promoted immensely and children can develop strong problem solving skills that are foundation for a happy and successful life. Here are some activities of preschool play that promote cognitive development:

Role play

Role playing or pretend play allows children to use their imagination to build up new stories and ideas. They develop images in their mind and try to understand how a particular character will behave. This further gives them an understanding of the roles of things and human beings in different walks of life like doctor, chef, and firefighter. You can aid the process by pretend play toys like play food, scaled down versions of kitchens, houses, factories and doll houses, playhouses.

Puzzles

Preschoolers grasp concepts very fast so using puzzles involving numbers, alphabets, shapes, colors, sizes intrigue them way beyond you can imagine. Blocks, shape sorters, jigsaw puzzles also make them think beyond their usual mental boundaries and they try different things by applying their thought processes. These activities encourage the development of problem solving capabilities.

Rhymes and finger plays

Music stimulates the senses in very effective way. Listening to nursery rhymes and educational songs involving counting and word formation makes a deep impression on their memory and encourages them to learn in a fun way. Finger plays with puppets and finger toys tickle their creative abilities and inspire them to try something new without any fear.

Memory development

Teachers in preschools play a major role in memory development by re-introducing children to activities and tools or toys that were done or used, say a week ago. It compels them to think in terms of distance and the mere activity of trying to recall works very well. Concrete experiences help children in remembering things of past so make sure to indulge in distancing questions and old toys.

Playful learning encourages children to rely on their instincts and to satisfy their natural curiosity. They develop cognitive skills along with physical and emotional development. Preschool play builds a strong foundation for future life by nurturing children's imagination, creativity, thinking and problem solving skills. So whenever you plan to choose a preschool for your child, do examine the emphasis they pay on cognitive development while having fun.

Cognitive Development - Preschool Play

Cognitive Development - Preschool Play
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Here is a related article on Kid's Toys That Last.

Troy James Macraft is the chief editor of Great Kid Gifts.

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Preschool Art Easel Interest - Learning Center Ideas

The Art Easel does not just have to be for paint! Although paint is the primary medium used at an easel, let's get creative and find ways to attract the children who don't typically use art materials very often!

Of course, it is an easel where most times painting as a form of art is offered. However, it can be much, much more! You do not ONLY need to have paint and brushes at your easel, although that is the most popular item in my classroom (and most other preschool classrooms!).

Early Childhood Education

The most common items used in this area are paint, large or small paint brushes and paint cups.
Placement of your easel should be near other active interest centers. This center typically will have two to four children using it at one time (if yours is two-sided) and they do love to talk and ask questions about each others creations!

Preschool Art Easel Interest - Learning Center Ideas

Keep in mind that paint gets EVERYWHERE! On the walls, on the floor and on the children! It is therefore best to not have this center in the flow of main traffic in your classroom so that the children walking by do not slip. If possible, place the easel on a floored area, not carpet. If this is not possible, place a large mat or tablecloth underneath it. In addition, hang a shower curtain or plastic tablecloth to the wall behind it...just in case!;)

What do children learn when using the Art Easel?

Activities in this area help children develop in many of the same areas they would at your Art Center or table such as:

Become more creative while using the materials.

Understand their knowledge about how to use the various materials and tools that you provide.

Build self confidence as they put their own ideas into action and make decisions as they use the materials.

Develop small motor control and coordination.

Learn about color, size and math as they experiment with color mixing, patterns and counting depending on the materials available.

How should the teacher prepare this as an Interest Learning Center?

As with any activity that encourages creativity, there is a no preparation needed other than planning and setting out the materials. Simply plan the items you want at the easel, place them in the easel trays and let the children explore!

The most important thing you, as a teacher, can do here is to encourage their thinking skills and social skills by asking "I wonder" type open ended questions:

"That is a beautiful shade of blue! How did you make that?" "I see a pattern with the shapes you are gluing on! Triangle, circle, triangle, circle, triangle. I wonder what would come next in that pattern?"

Plan It!

Be sure that part of your classroom curriculum planning includes deciding on activities for your Art Easel. There are many concepts and objectives that can be met in this area!

Preschool Art Easel Interest - Learning Center Ideas

For a list of traditional AND non-traditional items and activities for an Art Easel in preschool, visit the Art Easel Interest Learning Center Page at http://www.preschool-plan-it.com/art-easel.html

Cheryl Hatch has been working with preschool children and their families since 1995. She has over 15 years experience teaching and directing in preschool programs. She is the owner of http://www.preschool-plan-it.com

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