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Giraffe Legs

Lesson Plan:

​Activity:

Giraffe Legs

Lesson plan developed by Ms. Erika Geelhoed, BA Ed

Age Group:

School-Age

* Lesson plan objective and assessment can be adapted to use this activity with preschoolers.

Objectives:  

Children will:

• practice the gross motor skill of balance.
• express themselves through painting.

Washington Common Core Standard

EALR 1

Washington State K-12 Health and Fitness Standard: EALR 1: The student acquires the knowledge and skills necessary to maintain an active life: Movement, physical fitness, and nutrition.

• Component 1.1: Develops motor skills and movement concepts as developmentally appropriate.
  
• 1.1.1 Demonstrates mature form in locomotor skills that contribute to movement proficiency

Materials: 

• empty cans
• string
• paint
• screw driver

Procedure: 

• Prepare for the activity by creating the “legs” that the children will balance on.
  
• Use the screwdriver to make two holes on opposite sides of the cans (make sure they are on the bottom of the cans). 
  
• Invite the children to decorate their cans.
  
• This would be a great time to have an informal class discussion about giraffes.
  
• You can promote conversation by asking questions like:
  
  • What does a giraffe looks like?
    
  • How do they eat their food?
    
  • Describe where giraffes live.
• When the cans are dry, turn the can upside down and thread the string through both holes.
  
• Loop the string over the top of the can and thread it back through the holes again.
  
• Tie the ends together.
  
• Show the children how to use the “strap” that you have created using the string to help hold their foot in place as they walk.

Assessment: 

• During the activity, assess the children's gross motor balancing skills. Did they struggle staying on top of the cans? How far were they able to walk without falling? Allow children many opportunities to practice.

Online Early Childhood Education

Click on the course icon for enrollment information.

• Cooking with Kids

Tasty Tortillas  

• flour tortillas 
  
• cooked ground beef 
  
• cheese 
  
• refried beans and other vegetables for tortilla filling 
  

Give a tortilla to each child. Fill with cooked ground beef, cheese, and/or vegetables. 

Fireworks Fizzler 

Give each child a plastic cup and a spoon. Now place a scoop of rainbow sherbert ice cream. Poor some cream soda over the ice cream. Now sprinkle with sprinkles over the top of it all.  

Shake a Pudding 

• instant pudding mix  
  
• low-fat milk 
  
• plastic bowl with tightly 
  
• fitting lid 
  

Pour the amount of milk called for on the pudding package into a plastic bowl. Add contents of the pudding mix. Place lid on bowl. Let the children take turns shaking the bowl of pudding mix. Spoon into bowls and eat!

Funny, Fruity, Pizzas  

• low-fat mozzarella cheese slices (1 slice per child) 
  
• English muffins, sliced in half (1 half per child) 
  
• fruit (an apple, banana, orange, or seedless grapes) 
  

Have the children wash the fruit. Children can peel bananas and oranges or pluck grapes from their stems. An adult should cut the fruit into small pieces.  Split the English muffins. Give each child one half. Have the children place a slice of cheese on each muffin. Toast the English muffins until the cheese melts. Have each child top his or her muffin with fruit. 

Fruit Kabobs   

You'll need Favorite fruits and rounded tooth picks. Wash your hands. Have the children help you clean the fruit and then cut what they safely can. Put several pieces of fruit on each toothpick. Set all the kabobs on a plate.  

Pink Sweetheart Pop Treats   

Mix together 2 cups of plain yogurt, one can (12 ounces) cranberry apple juice concentrate and two teaspoons of vanilla. Pour mixture into small paper cups and insert plastic spoons for handles. Chill in freezer until set. Makes 8 servings.