Animal Adventures (3-4 years with accompanying adult)
A is for Armadillo
10:00- 10:10Group Exploration – playdough (or puzzles, books, doodle bugs, stamps…)
10:10- 10:20A is for…
- Show ASL “A” and “armadillo”
- Show animals that start with letter A (put on felt board?)
AlligatorAardvarkAxolotlAardwolfArmadillo
AnacondaAnteaterAlpacaAgouti
Aye –ayeAlbatrossAntAntelope (Addax)
Game
• print cardstock cards, one side with an “A” animal and the other side with a shape. Make 6 different animal/shape combinations. Each family receives a set.
• The adults hide the cards around the room, like against the wall or on a chair, while the kids stay on the carpet and act out “A” animals with the instructor.
• Once cards are hidden, let the kids find and collect the 6 different cards.
• Back on the carpet, go over the cards, such as “what animal is on the back of the triangle?” Or, with shapes faced up, in the style of Memory, “find me the axolotl!”
• Other preschool concepts for the back of cards – colors, sizes, numbers, etc.
10:20-10:25 Specific Animal Facts – Armadillo(each fact has a corresponding photo)
• armadillos have super tough skin with bony plates underneath to keep them safe
• armadillos have hair on their bellies, and some have tiny hairs on their backs, too
• there are 21 different kinds of armadillo. only one kind, the three-banded armadillo, can roll all the way into a ball. all other armadillos run away, dig and hide, or swim away to safety
• armadillos have tiny eyes and can’t see well. but they can hear well, and smell even better
• armadillos have long claws used for digging
• armadillos dig burrows to sleep in
• armadillos eat mostly bugs and worms, but some also eggs, fruit, and roots. they find their food by sniffing it out, digging it out, and licking it up with their tongue
• 9-banded armadillos can swim, either by gulping up air and floating on top or walking along the bottom of the river while holding their breath
10:25-10:40 Craft
• cut paper towel tube in half lengthwise
• color tube (carapace) and body
• cut 9 slits widthwise to make 9 banded carapace
• glue carapace to body
• use tape to bend body into barrel shape
10:40-10:50 Pretend Play
• hide bugs in gossamer
• armadillos dig for food and to sleep
10:50-11:05 Snack & Story –Armadillo at Riverside Roadby Laura Gates Galvin
11:05-11:15 Animal Visitor –armadillo!
11:15-11:30 Zoo Walk – let other armadillo run around in free enclosure in ARC
Animal Adventures Presents
A is for… Armadillo!
The armadillo is hungry! Put a circle around each piece of food. What does the armadillo eat? How many food items are there?
Armadillo Facts
• armadillos have super tough skin with bony plates underneath to keep them safe
• armadillos have hair on their bellies, and some have tiny hairs on their backs, too
• there are 21 different kinds of armadillo. only one kind, the three-banded armadillo, can roll all the way into a ball. all other armadillos run away, dig and hide, or swim away to safety
• armadillos have tiny eyes and can’t see well. but they can hear well, and smell even better
• armadillos have long claws used for digging
• armadillos dig burrows to sleep in
• armadillos eat mostly bugs and worms, but some also eggs, fruit, and roots. they find their food by sniffing it out, digging it out, and licking it up with their tongue
• 9-banded armadillos can swim, either by gulping up air and floating on top or walking along the bottom of the river while holding their breath