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Infant Animal Petting

 Ezra Jack Keats  Books Lesson Plans

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Lesson plan developed by Aurora Tollestrup, BS Ed. 

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Activity:  

Infant Animal Petting

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Age Group:

Young infant, mobile infant

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

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Objectives:  

Children will:

• experience new textures.

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CDA Competency Standard:   

II.4.3a

• Activities and materials encourage children to develop their senses.
  

a. Sight, sound, smell, taste and touch experiences are encouraged through a variety of developmentally appropriate materials and activities

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Materials: 

• stuffed animals with differing textures
• Pet Show by Ezra Jack Keats

Online Courses

Ezra’s Neighborhood: An Ezra Jack Keats Course
(1 hour)
$9.50

Teaching Preschool Math Using Manipulatives  
(3 hours / .3 CEU) 
Tuition: $31.50

Use of Puppetry and Plays 
(3 hours / .3 CEU) 
Tuition: $31.50

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Procedure: 

• Read The Pet Show by Ezra Jack Keats, showing pictures of the different pets to the children as you read.
• When mentioning the different pets, assist the infant in petting the stuffed animals, exploring the different textures of their fur and skin.

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Assessment: 

• Assess children upon the practice of their small motor skills and development of these skills.
  

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Sensory Fun

Literature Lesson Plans

 Fine Motor Skills

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Supporting Self-Expression

Self-expression may come in the form of art, music, writing, or actions. Early childhood classrooms are the perfect space to support a child’s blossoming self by allowing them a safe and structured place to express themselves in any way they wish. Exploring their own self-expression may look like child’s play because it is! Children learn through play and learn through exploring and this is where they discover the most about themselves.

Snowy Day Sensory Bin

Some suggestions for supporting a child’s self-expression in the early childhood classroom:

• Offer open-ended supplies and make them readily available
  
• Don’t direct, but instead guide by asking questions that may unlock new discoveries
  
• Let children take risks within safe boundaries
• Give children space to explore, both physically and psychologically
• Listen to what the children have to say. Self-expression is also vital to a child’s emotions
• Get to know the children in your care and understand what they value as well as what they need

Having access to open-ended materials and play items allows children of all ages to express themselves. Whether this includes art materials, blocks, play dough, or other items will depend upon what your students need and enjoy. These items should be changed based upon the development and interest levels of your students. Also, many adaptations can be made to existing materials in order for them to remain up to date and current.  

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Keats's Neighborhood: An Ezra Jack Keats Treasury

John Henry: An American Legend

A Letter to Amy

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Source & References

• Ezra’s Life from The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/ezras-life/
  
• Encouraging Self-Expression Through Art by Grace Hwang Lynch http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/music-arts/encouraging-self-expression-through-art/