Small(Large)-Group Time Planning Form Put Us in A Zoo Originating Idea Two boys at my center were in the house area

playing dress-up. One of the boys pretended to be a dragon. Materials Book: Put Me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire Animal mask or costumes Area in room with plenty of space to move Curriculum Content The arts- Dramatic Art: imitating actions and sounds The arts- Dramatic Art: pretending and role playing

Beginning Read the book Put Me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire Say to the children today we are going to have our own zoo and you are going to be the animals in our zoo. Middle Observe which animals the children choose and listen to what they are saying about said chosen animal. Observe whether or not children to dress-up in costumes or masks. Make comments on how children are moving or sounding as their selected animal; like Your lion roar is so scary. Or Davis your elephant is taking very heavy steps. I will move among the children and pretend as I am the zookeeper or patron of the zoo, pretend to be the animals that the children are.

End

Tell children that they have five minutes before our zoo closes. Have the children go to the small group table moving as a group of zoo animals on parade.

Follow-up Ideas Have the children put on their own circus, pretending to be the many different acts, performers, and patrons.