During story time, the teacher can integrate the lesson of parent animals and their offspring into stories like “The Ugly Duckling.” Afterward, students may play a matching game with flash cards of animals. Another classic story is that of Eric Carlyle's board book "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." This book has many colorful illustrations that the teacher can show the pupils. Through this story, preschoolers will begin learning about the life cycle of butterflies as well as the importance of good nutrition and a varied diet.
Animals fascinate preschoolers. The teacher can allow a cage, aquarium or terrarium in the classroom. The whole class takes responsibility for the animals and learns about their habits and habitats. Hamsters, gerbils, rabbits and white mice do not shirk from human touch, and settle well in display cages filled with pellets and rice husks. A small collection of fish can address questions about breathing and sleeping underwater. An ant farm and other insect colonies can teach the kids about insects' life cycles and special body parts. Frogs, turtles and harmless garter snakes can also serve as the launching pad for science lessons. For example, mimicking how a frog jumps or how a snake crawls or smells with its tongue may turn into holistic game that practices observation and gross motor skills.
Dr. Gwen Dewar, a biological anthropologist, suggests tracking as an exciting activity that will engage the children's senses and reasoning skills. First, the children need to grasp the idea that everything can leave tracks. Preparatory activities include making hand prints and footprints with paint, identifying animals and their unique characteristics on flash cards, and playing with plastic figures of animals. When the children are ready, the teacher can take them to the garden where she has previously set animal tracks. She then teaches them about footprints, droppings and animal movements that leave marks on the ground and in the bushes. The tracking activity can turn into a kind of treasure hunt, with the pupils racing to identify and then find the animal that made the tracks.
Taking preschoolers to a petting zoo, pet store or dog groomer acquaints them with a more diverse group of animals. The kids can learn to identify whether the animal is a mammal, bird, amphibian or reptile. The pupils will find lessons from this experience hard to forget, because it allows them to have direct contact with the different animals. Having animal care experts answer pupils' questions about pet care will also instill more concern and interest in young children.