Squirrel Preschool Theme for an Early Childhood Setting

Squirrels are tree animals that fall effectively into an autumn season curriculum, along with other preschool lesson plans. Including a theme day all around squirrels is fun and educational. Following are some facts and ideas for setting up a squirrel theme day for any early childhood environment.

Squirrel Theme at Group Circle

Begin, by asking children at group circle what they know about squirrels. Allow the young children in a preschool or daycare setting to be their own educators. Add more information to the group's collection of knowledge. Facts to teach children about squirrels are:

•there are over 200 species of squirrels

•squirrels can be found all around the world

•squirrels are mammals with bushy tails, sharp teeth, and flexible paws

•they are fast tree climbers

•squirrels are mostly vegetarian, eating nuts and seeds

•they hide nuts for later use, and find warm homes to burrow in during winter

•squirrels communicate with chirps

Some questions to expand on are:

•"How do squirrels open the nuts?"

•"Where do you think they store the nuts?"

•" Why do they store the nuts? "

Song and Poem for a Squirrel Theme

A fun action poem for the children to participate in begins with giving each child a nut. Collect a hazelnut, chestnut or even a store bought shelled peanut to give to each child at group circle. Start by acting like a squirrel and dig a hole in the "ground" to place the nut. Pretend to cover it up with dirt. Have the children act alongside your actions, then pop up and say:

I'm a busy little squirrel, searching all around

Searching for a nut that simply can't be found

Is it behind me? Is it in my backpack?

Is it in my pocket? Is it in the ground?

I'm a busy little squirrel, looking all around

Digging, digging, digging. Look what I found! (show the nut)

Another great song to sing is:

Grey Squirrel Grey Squirrel

Shake your bushy tail

Grey Squirrel Grey Squirrel

Shake your bushy tail

Wrinkle up your little nose

Put it down between your toes

Grey Squirrel Grey Squirrel

Shake your bushy tail

(each time gets faster and faster!)

Squirrel Arts and Crafts

Cut out a squirrel shape for each child. Older children could draw their own squirrel or cut out the image to practise fine motor skill development. Choose from the following list of material for children to glue onto the squirrel's big bushy tail and/or body:

•brown wool

•construction paper (have children tear into pieces)

•tissue paper

•shredded wheat (allow children to shred themselves)

•coffee grinds

•dryer lint

Online Early Childhood Workshops 

Reptile Preschool Theme

 

A preschool lesson plan on reptiles is a fun theme that has lots of choices for program planning. It can be incorporated into a pet theme, or be extended with a dinosaur theme.

Fun Facts about Reptiles

Introduce the reptile theme at circle time. Collect some pictures of reptiles to show the children as well as providing these facts:

• reptiles are cold blooded
• they have scales
• they are among the longest living species on this planet
• they lay eggs
• reptiles come in all sizes and are found around the world
• types of reptiles are: alligators, crocodiles, lizards, snakes, turtles

Crafts for a Reptile Preschool Lesson Plan

A snake craft: this craft has two steps if paint is being used. The following material is required:

• paper plate
• brown paint, or brown felts
• scissors
• hole puncher
• string
• googly eyes
• black felt pen

Each child will paint or color his paper plate brown. If the paint is being used, then the plate has to dry before the next steps occur. If needed, the teacher can draw a spiral figure onto the plate for a visual cue. The plate will be cut in a spiral figure from outer to the middle, leaving a space for the head. The children can finish off their snake mobile with eyes and a smile and then string will be attached to the top.

Preschool Crafts for Kids

Lizard Craft: Cut out a lizard shape from thick white or light brown paper, and provide children with brown and green tissue squares to clue onto the lizard to create the scales. This craft can also occur with the children tearing brown and green construction paper which is good for fine motor skill development.

 

 

The Mixed Up Chameleon: Story for Reptile Theme and Many Activities to Extend...

 

Preschool Reptile Song

The following song can be sung to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Reptiles they have many scales

Some reptiles have long long tails.

They lay eggs and like the sun.

Some have legs, and some have none.

Reptiles they have many scales

Some reptiles have long, long tails.

Another well known song that could be included into a reptile preschool lesson plan is

 "Five Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree" 

Preschool Activities for a Reptile Theme

The following list suggests that other activities that can be included into a reptile preschool lesson plan:


Try playing the game, Duck, Duck, Goose but change the words to Snake, Snake, Lizard.

Fill the sensory table with sand, wood and plastic snakes, lizards and turtles.

Visit a pet store or invite any families that have reptiles as pets into the classroom for a visit.

Go for a Reptile Hunt...hide plastic lizards and snakes in the outdoor playground.

Online Workshops in Early Childhood Education