Stormey Wright

READ 366

Literacy Prop Box

Objectives:
The student will
o develop oral language skills through reading, discussions, and singing
o improve written language skills through writing stories
o establish print awareness through read-alouds, labels, and pictures
o develop phonological awareness through rhyming songs and readings
o acquire new vocabulary by learning words that relate to the zoo through
play, reading, and activities
o apply comprehension of subject by contributing in discussions, answering
open-ended questions, and participating in activities
Vocabulary:
Zookeeper
Habitat
Cage
Tame
Watch
Feed
Mammal
Reptile
Behavior
Cage
Amphibian
Fur
Scales
Zookeeper Box Materials/Props:
Stuffed animals
Map of zoo
Labeled containers with pretend animal food
Water bottle
Bowls for food and water
Zookeeper uniform: khaki button-up shirt, khaki shorts, boots, hat
Net
Plastic shovel or scoop
Pictures of different animals and their habitats

Plastic bananas
Fake peanuts

Open-ended Questions:
What are some of the jobs of a zookeeper?
What types of animals live on the land? What types of animals live in the water?
Do any animals live on land and water?
What do you think the animals do when everyone leaves?
What kind of habitat does a monkey live in?
Songs:
Zoo Keeper Song (Tune of: Down by the Station)
Down at the zoo, early in the morning, you can see the animals standing in a row.
You can see me feeding one and then the other. I am the zoo keeper, Watch me go!
Down at the zoo, early in the morning, you can see the animals standing in a row.
You can see me cleaning one and then the other. I am the zoo keeper, Watch me
go!
o From http://www.childfun.com/index.php/alphabet/172-the-letter-zactivity-theme.html#sthash.fPB9q6f2.dpbs

We Are Going to the Zoo (Tune of: London Bridge)

We are going to zoo,To the zoo, to the zoo. We are going to the zoo,Won't you
join us too?
We'll see lions, tigers too,Tigers too, tigers too.We'll see lions, tigers too,All at the
zoo.
We will find some chimpanzees,Chimpanzees, chimpanzees.we will find some
chimpanzees,Swinging from the trees.
We will look for kangaroos,Kangaroos, kangaroos.We will look for kangaroos,
Hopping at the zoo.
o From http://www.preschooleducation.com/szoo.shtml

Take Me Out to the Zoo (Tune of: Take Me Out to the Ballgame)
Take me out for some good fun,
Take me out to the zoo.
Let me visit the tall giraffe,
I want to hear the hyenas laugh.

Now I love to visit the zoo,

I could stay there all day,
And watch birds, seals, rhinos, and hippos
As they play.
o From http://www.preschooleducation.com/szoo.shtml

Im a Little Monkey (Tune of: Im a Little Teapot)

I'm a little monkey in the tree
Swinging by my tail so merrily
I can leap and fly from tree to tree.
I have lots of fun you see.
I'm a little monkey, watch me play
Munching on bananas every day
Lots of monkey friends to play with me.
We have fun up the tree.
o From http://www.preschooleducation.com/szoo.shtml

I Know a Giraffe (Tune of: On Top of Old Smokey)

I know a giraffe.
With a neck that's real high
She stretches and stretchestill it reaches the sky
She lives on the plains
With the elephants too
You might also see her when you go to the zoo
o From http://www.preschooleducation.com/szoo.shtml

The Zoo (Tune of: Skip to my Lou)

Come along children, we're going to the zoo,
Come along children, we're going to the zoo,
Come along children, we're going to the zoo,
Going to the zoo today.
See the animals living in the zoo,
See the animals living in the zoo,
See the animals living in the zoo,
Living in the zoo today.
I see a monkey sitting in a tree,
I see a monkey sitting in a tree,
I see a monkey sitting in a tree

I see a monkey and it sees me.

I see an elephant, big and gray,
I see an elephant, big and gray,
I see an elephant, big and gray.
Big gray elephant is eating hay.
I see a lion in a cage,
I see a lion in a cage,
I see a lion in a cage.
I see a lion that roars with rage.
I see a camel with a great big hump,
I see a camel with a great big hump,
I see a camel with a great big hump.
When he walks he goes "bump, bump."
I see a zebra, black and white,
I see a zebra, black and white,
I see a zebra, black and white.
Seeing the zebra is a sight.
I see a giraffe, big and tall,
I see a giraffe, big and tall,
I see a giraffe, big and tall.
He's not hard to see at all.
We saw the animals living in the zoo,
We saw the animals living in the zoo,
We saw the animals living in the zoo.
Living in the zoo today.
o From http://www.preschooleducation.com/szoo.shtml
Finger-plays:
The Elephant (Tune of: The Mulberry Bush)
The elephant goes like this and that, this and that, this and that.
(Walk heavily and stomp feet loudly)
The elephant goes like this and that, cause he's so big and fat!
(Puff up cheeks and stretch out arms)
He has no fingers and has no toes, He has no fingers and has no toes.
(Wiggle fingers; wiggle toes)
He has no fingers and has no toes, But goodness, gracious, what a nose!
(Stick arms out like a long trunk.)

o From http://www.songsforteaching.com/fingerplays/elephant.htm
Elephant Action Play
"Who is the animal baggy and gray,
(Circle both arms.)
That walks in the forest with a sway?
(Sway both arms.)
Who runs around on big, big toes,
(Point to toes.)
And feeds himself with his nose?
(Point to nose.)
The elephant!"
(Clap hands 1 time.)
o From http://www.alphabet-soup.net/dir7/zoosong.html

Extension Activities:
The students could draw or paint their favorite animal and its appropriate habitat.
The students could write a story about if they were a zookeeper for the day. They
could discuss their favorite animal and how they would take care of it. Students
should use new vocabulary words.
The students could take a field trip to the zoo and experience first-hand what they
learned! They could meet a real zookeeper.
Students could participate in a Guess the Animal game. One student would pick
a toy animal out of a bag and act out the animal by making noises or movements.
The student could also describe the habitat in which that animal lives. The goal
for the other students is to guess what animal it is.
Books:
Benjamin, C. (1995). I am a zookeeper. Hauppauge, NY: Barons Educational
Series.
Campbell, R. (2007). Dear zoo: A lift-the-flap book. (Anniversary ed.). Simon &
Schuster Merchandise.
LeBoutillier, N. (2000). A day in the life of a zookeeper. Capstone Press.
Rey, H. A. (2012). Curious George goes to the zoo. HMH Books for Young
Readers.
Sierra, J., & Brown, M. (2004). Wild about books. Knopf Books for Young
Readers.
Smith, R., & Smith, M. (2007). Z is for Zookeeper. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear
Press.
Tieck, S. (2011). Zookeepers. Minneapolis, MN: ABDO Publishing Company.
(non-fiction)