The Elephant

Grade Level:  This lesson is for toddlers through 3rd Grade.

Anticipated Length of Lesson: 25 - 30 minutes

Lesson Sequence

1. Anticipatory Setting

How many of you have ever seen an elephant. Where did you see it? What color are elephants? How do elephants move? Do they move slow or fast? We are going to read a book about an elephant and an ant and other animals who do not what to help the ant.

2. Read the book The Ant and the Elephant.

Talk about the book. For example, "We need to help others when they need us. We should be thankful for those people who help us." There is a review of this book at Elephanteria Library - The Ant and the Elephant.

3. Play Track 5 "Elephant" or in french "L'Elephant from "Carnival of the Animals / Carnival Des Animaux by Camille Saint-Saens. Have the children walk around the classroom or at home pretending to be elephants. Have them put one arm in front of them as if it were an elephant trunk.

4. Now we are going to listen to some music called "The Baby Elephant Walk". Go to my lesson The Baby Elephant Walk. Use the sources found on the top of that page and follow the lesson sequence starting from step 2.

5. Conclusion

What did we talk about today? (Elephants). What did we learn about them? (Let the children respond.) Elephants are big animals. We need to appreciate elephants and be nice to all animals.

Resources:

The Ant and the Elephant. Peet, Bill. USA, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1972.

There are more things found at Elephant Appreciation Home Page. There are a puzzle, poem, dances, quizzes, activities (books, etc.), and recipes.