Activity Idea: Animal Moves

Preschool Quicksource® reminds us of the importance of physical movement in developing healthy minds and bodies - healthy minds and bodies are moving minds and bodies!

Here's an activity that will get the children moving called Animal Moves . On a nice summer day, it can be taken outside. The goal of this activity is to "introduce or enhance balance and control during locomotor movements."

Children have fun while learning about animals and exercise their motor skills.To make the most of this activity, you will need several animal language cards or pictures of animals. If you are inside, be sure that you are in a space with plenty of room for movement.

Let's Get Started!

1. Show the children one of the animal cards.

2. Discuss the movements of that animal.

3. Have the children move around the space pretending to be that animal.

4. Repeat the activity with a different animal.

If using POCET™, this activity correlates to Developmental Guideline: PH3: Demonstrates Balance and Control During Locomotor Movement.

Expand this activity's imaginative fun by adding more dramatic play elements. For example, you can use costumes, or have some children pretend to be animals at the zoo and have others figure out which animals are being portrayed.

For more developmentally-appropriate activities, visit Teacher QuickSsource® and browse through all age areas, including Preschool, Kindergarten, Infant, Toddler, and Head Start. Don't forget to explore activities promoting environmental awareness at Environmental QuickSource®, too!