Giraffes

AREA SETUP

(Open thematic poster-Giraffes) Print, laminate, and display all kinds of posters.

Educa-theme-Giraffes

(Open educa-theme-Giraffes) Print and laminate the items that represent the theme. Use them to present your theme to your group (and parents) while decorating a corner of your daycare.

Garland-Giraffes

(Open models-Giraffes) Print and let children decorate the garland. Cut it out and hang it within your daycare or near your daycare entrance.

Educa-decorate-Giraffes

(Open educa-decorate-Giraffes) Print, cut out, and laminate. Use the illustrations to decorate your walls and set the mood for the theme.

Stickers for rewards

(Open stickers-Giraffes) Print on adhesive paper and use the illsutrations to create original stickers.

SPECIAL TOOL

The following tool was created in response to special requests received. (Open group identification-Giraffes) Print and laminate the different items and use them to identify children’s spots and belongings throughout your daycare and in your cloakroom.

Animated discussion-Giraffes

(Open picture game-Giraffes) Print and laminate the pictures in the format you prefer. Use them to spark a conversation with your group. Ask children questions about the theme.

Poni discovers and presents-Giraffes

(Open Poni discovers and presents-Giraffes) Print the cards. Laminate and cut them out. Use your Poni puppet (or another puppet children are familiar with) to present them to your group.

Invite each child to bring a book, a stuffed animal, a movie, a figurine, or any other toy related to the theme to daycare. Set all the items in the centre of your circle time area. Pick one item at a time and encourage children to talk about it to see what they know about giraffes.

Suggested circle time questions:

• Do you know any stories about giraffes?
• Do giraffes have feathers or fur?
• Where do giraffes live?
• How many legs to giraffes have?
• Have you ever seen a giraffe (for example at the zoo)?
• Can you name a giraffe’s body parts?

PICTURE GAME

The pictures may be used as a memory game or to spark a conversation with the group.  Use them to decorate the daycare or a specific thematic corner. (Open picture game-Giraffes) Print, laminate, and store in a “Ziploc” bag or in your thematic bins.

Memory game

(Open picture game-Giraffes) Print the pictures twice and use them for a memory game.

ACTIVITY SHEETS

(Open activity sheets-Giraffes) Print and follow instructions.

Writing activities

(Open writing activities-G like giraffe) Print for each child or laminate for use with a dry-erase marker.

Educa-spots-Giraffes

(Open educa-spots-Giraffes) Print for each child. Use bingo markers to add a touch of color inside each circle. If you don’t have bingo markers, simply ask children to set Cheerios or press a sticker inside each circle.

Educa-nuudles-Giraffes

(Open educa-nuudles-Giraffes) Print for each child. Have children color the sheet and use Magic Nuudles to give it a three-dimensional look. Variation: You don’t have Magic Nuudles? Have children fill the spaces designed for Magic Nuudles with bingo markers or stickers. To order Magic Nuudles.

LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

The flashcards may be used during circle time to spark a conversation with the group or in your reading and writing area. They may also be used to identify your thematic bins. (Open word flashcards-Giraffes) (Open giant word flashcards-Giraffes) giraffe, savanna, calf, neck, hooves, Africa, zoo, herbivore, tongue, spots, horns, ears.

Let’s chat

(Open word flashcards-Giraffes) (Open giant word flashcards-Giraffes) Print and laminate the word flashcards. Have each child pick a word and present it to the group (ex. savanna). Ask them questions to see what they know about the theme.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOTOR SKILLS

Baby giraffe hunt

(Open miniature giraffes) Print and laminate. Hide the giraffes throughout your daycare. Invite children to search for them. The child who finds the most baby giraffes can hide them for the next round.

Magnetic giraffe family

(Open models-Giraffes) Print, color, and laminate the models. Glue them on magnetic paper. Set the giraffes on a table along with a metal cookie sheet. Children will have fun playing with them and creating a multitude of scenes and stories.

String activities-Giraffes

(Open string activities-Giraffes) Print for each child. Children trace the lines with waxed string pieces (Wikki Stix). Variation: Trace the lines with glue and press string on the glue-covered lines.

Follow the giraffe

Children hold hands. They must follow the rhythm and reproduce the actions of the first giraffe (child) in line.  For example, they must walk slowly or quickly, heavily or lightly, pretend to stomp around in the mud, etc.

Illustrated giraffes

Collect several pictures and illustrations involving giraffes. Stick them on furniture items and walls throughout your daycare. You may even use adhesive tape to stick some on the floor. Children will have fun discovering the giraffes as they move around and play.

I am a giraffe

Set a blue blanket on the floor in the centre of your daycare to represent a river. Ask children to move around on the blanket, pretending they are giraffes.

Tall as… big as…

Divide your group into two teams. Have the teams sit facing each other. Invite children from one team to name tall animals. Children from the other team shall name big animals.

Watch out for the giraffe

Select a child who will pretend to be a giraffe. The giraffe chases the other children until he touches one. The child who is touched by the giraffe becomes the giraffe for the next round. Variation: You may also have the child who is touched by the giraffe stop in his tracks and stand with his arms stretched out. He can be saved by his friends if they are able to run under his arms. Be sure to change giraffes often.

Giraffe…where are you?

Children walk around the daycare chanting, “Giraffe, where are you? Giraffe, what are you up to?” The child you have chosen to be the giraffe must call out, “I am putting my socks (or any other clothing item) on.” The game continues until the giraffe says, “I am coming to catch you!” The giraffe then runs after the other children. The first child the giraffe catches becomes the giraffe for the following round.

The giant giraffe

Provide several brown and yellow blocks. With the children in your group, stack the blocks to represent a giraffe’s long neck. Keep adding blocks until your giraffe’s neck falls to the ground.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Pick a child who will play the role of the giraffe. The giraffe tries to capture the other children. When the giraffe catches a child, he can tickle him. The tickled child becomes the giraffe for the next round.

COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES

Color by number-Giraffes

(Open color by number-Giraffes) Print for each child. Children must color the picture according to the color code.

Educ-big and small-Giraffes

(Open educ-big and small-Giraffes) Print and laminate. Children must arrange the illustrations from smallest to biggest.

Educ-pairs-Giraffes

(Open educ-pairs-Giraffes) Print. Children must draw a line between identical illustrations or color them using the same color. For durable, eco-friendly use, laminate and use with a dry-erase marker.

Educ-trace-Giraffes

(Open educ-trace-Giraffes) Print for each child. Children must trace the lines using the correct color before coloring the items using the corresponding colors.

Assemble the giraffes

(Open assemble the giraffes) Print and laminate the pictures. Cut each one into three parts (head, body, legs) and mix them. Invite children to assemble the giraffes.

MUSICAL AND RHYTHMIC ACTIVITIES

Musical giraffes

(Open transition games-Giraffes) Print, laminate, and secure the giraffes on the floor within your daycare. To the sound of music, children move around the daycare. When the music stops, they must quickly find a giraffe to stand on.

ARTS & CRAFTS

Mandalas-Giraffes

(Open mandalas-Giraffes) Print for each child. Have children color the mandalas to provide them with a calm moment during the day.

Models-Giraffes

(Open models-Giraffes) Print the various models and use them for your crafts and activities throughout the theme.

My giraffe trainer hat

(Open educa-decorate-Giraffes) Print and cut out. Have children glue the items around a construction paper headband.

Finger puppets-Giraffes

(Open finger puppets-Giraffes) Print the puppet models on heavy paper. Have children cut them out. Show them how they can insert their fingers through the holes to move the puppets.

Masks-Giraffes

(Open masks-Giraffes) Print for each child. Set crayons, glue, and glitter on a table. Let children decorate their mask as they wish.

My giraffe book

Cut pictures of giraffes out of books, magazines, etc. Glue them on 10 cm x 13 cm pieces of paper and insert them in Ziploc bags. You can place two pictures back to back in each bag. Staple the bags together at the closed end so you can remove the pictures if you wish.

COLORING PAGES

(Open coloring pages theme-Giraffes) Print for each child.

SONGS & RHYMES

(Open songs & rhymes-Giraffes)

Giraffe

Sung to: How much is that doggie in the window

By: Patricia Morrison

How long is the neck of that giraffe?

The one with the pretty brown spots

How long is the neck of that giraffe

I’ve never seen anything so tall

Have fun!

The educatall team