Children can truly thrive when given opportunities to not only explore the natural world around them, but connect with animals. As children have experiences with animals, whether directly through pets in the home, or observation in the natural world, these interactions and experiences can promote kindness and respect toward all living creatures.
Building upon a child’s natural curiosity for the animal world, they will increase awareness that animals also have needs for warmth, food, and to be cared for. This understanding can easily pave the pathway to caring for others, leading children to deeper feelings of empathy, more positive classroom relationships, and social-emotional development.
For this week, children will learn about all kinds of animals, both wild and domesticated, and even have the opportunity to explore their own fascinating favorites!
Review the following viewing list and subsequent activity list. Choose 2 or more videos/movies to view and 2 or more activities to perform with your children.
Use the #GJCSummerCamp tag to participate with the summer camp community and also to see what other parents and teachers are sharing! Parents and teachers can post videos or shorts of children working through activities, photos of their completed projects or art, or even share thoughts through articles and posts of children’s experiences as they work through the different activities each week.
An inspiring true story that chronicles the life of a loggerhead turtle that was rescued and then rehabilitated before making its long journey home. Children will witness the power of small acts of kindness and the fascinating nature of even an animal’s unyielding wish to return home.
Learn all about bird behavior in this engaging explanation of how and why woodpeckers peck, how pelicans fly without flapping their wings, why birds sing, and more.
Everyone’s favorite couch potato pets, Bella the cat, Bagel the pooch, and Alvin the mouthy parrot, break down the top 10 pets, sharing fascinating and educational facts about these domesticated animals. Children learn about dogs, cats, birds, guinea pigs, and other animals found in the home!
Swim into fish school for a brand new learning adventure with Fifi, Lily and all the little fish of the reef! Professor Shark teaches students about all the amazing creatures under the ocean in this educational and fun movie.
Swim with Milo and Bella to Shark School where children will learn all about the wonderful world of whales!
Activity List
1. See the World as a Bird Would Have children observe the birds outside. How many different types of birds can they spot? Can they name any? Have children observe closely a bird’s flying patterns and where it lands inside a tree. Can they spot the bird’s nest? Ask your children, what would it be like to see the world from a bird’s view way up high? Have them visualize and imagine what the world would look like as a bird. This invitation to imagine what it would be like to be a bird (or another animal) helps children develop the habit of perspective-taking, which is a great way to cultivate habits of empathy for the experience of others.
Kick off by listening to Music Travel Kids fun and educational song about birds. Children will get to learn about all kinds of birds, like bluebirds, parrots, penguins and many more! This song is sure to inspire children to go outside and do some exciting bird watching.
2. Yoshi’s Big Swim Activity After watching Yoshi’s Big Swim with your children, ask your children to reflect on the story of the turtle by asking the following questions:
What do you think may have happened if the scientists released Yoshi into the ocean without first helping her prepare?
Why do you think it was important for the scientists to allow the turtle to go back home?
Remind children that Yoshi faced a dangerous journey back home where she would have to avoid plastic, propellers, and predators. Ask children: Why do you think Yoshi wanted to go through a difficult and dangerous journey back home, instead of finding a comfortable and safe place to rest in the sea?
Remind children that after traveling thousands of miles, Yoshi ultimately found her true home where years prior she had hatched and first dashed out to sea. Ask children: What risks were there in Yoshi’s journey back home and what were the rewards?
Do you think Yoshi knew she would eventually reach home? Do you think she was afraid?
3. My Favorite Animal Have children draw their favorite animal, along with a description of why they like that type of animal best and which characteristics of the animal are most fascinating to them.
4. The Smartest Animal in the World Explore with children what they think the smartest animal in the world is and what characteristics and traits make them think so.
5. Sharing Your Pet or Spotted Wildlife Have children create a video or take a picture of their pet and share their favorite part of their pet’s personality or quality. They can also share an activity with their pet, whether it is feeding their pet, cleaning up after it, or even playing with it. If they do not have a pet, they can talk about a friends or relative’s pet, or even record an animal outside, like a squirrel or bird in its natural habitat.
6. How Many Stuffed Animals Do You Have? Do your children love stuffed animals? Ask them to gather all of their stuffed animals around them and take a photo or video. They can even choose to just present their favorite stuffed animal and tell viewers about its name and why they like it the best.
7. Explore the Animal Kingdom From the smallest insects to the largest mammals, discover with children fascinating creatures and fun facts about the animal kingdom. Supervise your children as they explore the 1 Minute Animals GJW channel. Children will have a chance to learn about many different animals in short, digestible, chunks that are easy to consume so they can learn about a wide array of animals in a short time, and pursue what interests them most!
8. Activity Sheets Here are this week's fun activity sheets!
When you are ready, head on over to the next exciting week!
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