Integrate a wild or jungle theme to the curriculum. Give students a list of age- and level-appropriate literature suggestions to read during the unit. Invite a therapy dog and its trainer to the classroom that specializes in R.E.A.D. This program attempts to improve literacy in schools across the country by allowing children to read to therapy dogs. Perform reader's theater presentations centered on the word "wild" such as "Jack and the Wild Beanstalk" or "Wild Woodland Adventure" by Barrie Teague Alguire.
When proposing a month-long reading contest, create and send home a "Go Wild with Reading" calendar that suggests daily activities to be done at home. Parents must sign the calendar and it is returned at the end of the contest. Those students who complete the entire calendar and all the activities receive prizes such as lion-shaped note pads, jungle-themed T-shirts with the reading theme screen-printed on them, bookmarks or free homework passes that say "You don't monkey around with reading." Examples of possible suggestions are jungle animal finger plays and reading animal riddles and jokes.
Create a palm tree in your classroom reading area using an industrial cardboard tube with drawn lines on it to appear as the palm tree trunk and adhere thick construction paper leaves to the top. Mix one cup of water with one cup of flour and dip torn newspaper strips in the mixture. Layer the wet strips over a circular balloon, allow to dry and paint it as a coconut to be glued to the tree. Sit a stuffed monkey in the tree and include jungle animal-print pillows for comfortable seating around the base of the tree that will allow students to sit and enjoy a wild-themed book. Ensure that each bulletin board is decorated in accordance with the wild theme.
Integrate craft projects that coincide with the literature and the thematic unit such as creating wild animal finger or sock puppets with felt pieces and old socks. Use these craft projects as story readers or in a puppet theater. Use empty toilet paper tubes and construction paper to create jungle animals such as zebras, lions and elephants. Make a wild snack with your students by transforming a hard-boiled egg into a lion and a piece of salami into a hippopotamus with a recipe from Diego at Nick Jr.