What is an Aardephant Elevark?

Activity Overview

Storytelling with young children promotes brain development and imagination, develops language and emotions, and strengthens relationships. This fun activity grants an opportunity for young students to take their pre-existing knowledge of animals and infuse this understanding with humor and imagination in order to practice inventive storytelling. Our title was inspired by two Avenues Online cohorts this year - the Elephants and Aardvarks. In order to promote more social interaction, the cohorts combined together to become the Aardephant Elevarks!

What You Need

• Animal Puzzle Pieces from the Animal Puzzles activity

• My Animal Story sheet

• Markers, colored pencils, or crayons

Steps`

1. Invite your student to use the Animal Puzzle Pieces from the Animal Puzzles activity to create a fantasy creature. Have your student mix and match body parts until they are satisfied with their creature.

2. Use the My Animal Story sheet to create a biography for the animal. Think about the animal’s name, home, diet, movements, and sounds.

3. Guide your student to use the information to tell a story about their animal. Ideas for the storyline could include how the animal finds its food, the animal’s bedtime routine, or who the animal spends its time with. While the student tells their story, record their narration by taking a video or writing down what they say.

4. Retell the story or rewatch the video, and elaborate on the scenario. Add more details or another event to the plot.

5. Repeat Step 4 until your student is satisfied with their story.

Guiding Questions

• What type of animal did you use for the head? Body? Legs? Tail?

• What is your animal’s name?

• What does your animal eat?

• Where does your animal live?

• How does your animal move from place to place?

• What sounds does your animal make?

• Who does your animal spend their time with? Do they have any family members? Friends?