Animal Sort

We started the week off by sorting animal pictures into two categories - Farm and Ocean Animals. As we identified the appropriate category we described the animal and shared what we knew about it. This reinforced the animals we saw at the farm and those that we have read about that live on a farm.

After our sort was completed we reviewed each animal and then mixed up the cards. The children completed the sort a few more times and shared what they knew about each farm animal, which then led to our next experience...

Farm Animal Riddles

We extended our animal sort to include animal riddles! Each child was given a card with an animal picture. As the riddles were read they had to identify their animal when the riddle matched. It was a fun game that required the children to listen to characteristics and descriptions carefully. Many of the animals have similar characteristics so it wasn't easy! This was another experience that the children repeated more than once by trading cards and listening for their new animal. 

Farm Animal Math Games and Puzzles

Our next experiences used our farm animals and their environments to count and sort. The children began by matching a barn with a number on it to a card with that amount of animals on it. The children naturally put the cards in sequential order (1-10), which further displayed their number recognition and counting abilities. We then moved to number puzzles, which asked the children to not only practice their math skills, but also directionality and visual-spatial awareness. Their ability to arrange materials in the appropriate way and/or in the appropriate placed allows them complete the math tasks successfully. The puzzle pieces practiced the skills of number recognition and counting in different ways as the puzzle was slowly put together. 

Farm Animal Names

Our last farm experience of the week evolved from the children's interests and exploration, which made it even more meaningful. During our Morning Meeting we handed out letters to the children to explore. Typically in these situations the children look for the letters in their name and attempt to spell their names. As they started to do this a few children looked up at the board of animals and their names and wanted to spell those names as well. So in true project-based learning fashion, we said let's do it! We combined the spelling with the riddle game since that was also a favorite, and together we spelled all of the three-letter animal names as we heard their clues. We emphasized the sound of each letter in each word to give clues for the spelling and identified each letter together. Each group of 4 children had 2 of each letter, so they had to work together to spell each word. This teamwork format allowed each child to participate in whatever way they could and both groups spelled each word.