Using dark gray construction paper, cut out heart shapes for the children to use as the sheep's head. Don't use black because colors won't show up on it. The children can glue on cotton balls for the wool and draw on the eyes, nose and mouth. Or have the children make a handprint either by tracing their hands or dipping their hands in black paint. Turn them upside down so the fingers are the legs and the thumb sticks out toward the head. The students then can finish the craft as above, using cotton balls for the wool and drawing the head and face.
Teach the children about sheep, detailing where they live, what they eat and how to take care of them. Tell them the names of the male, female and baby sheep -- ram, ewe and lamb -- which can lead to a more detailed discussion about lambs and can introduce the song "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Talk about how sheep are raised on farms and ask the children what other animals are raised on farms. Have them draw a picture of a farm with as many farm animals as they can name. End the activity by singing the song "Old MacDonald Had a Farm."
Teach the children how the wool from the sheep is turned into yarn, which we then use for blankets and clothing. Bring in samples of real wool, such as a sweater or mittens, for the students to touch. Talk about how the sweater is created by knitting and ask if they know anyone who can or is learning how to knit.
Show the children the words sheep, yarn, wool and lamb. Ask them to point out the letters they recognize. Instruct them to trace the words, then write them out themselves. Have the children write a number on paper cutouts of sheep, then put them in order. They can practice counting to 10, then 20. Or group cutouts that aren't numbered and ask the children to count them, take a couple away and have them recount. Add a few more and repeat. This will introduce basic addition and subtraction. You also can create a few white sheep cutouts and create basic patterns with the white and black sheep. Ask the children to place the next sheep into the pattern. Recognizing patterns is an early math skill.