Amazing Animals Part 3

Today we’ll finish off Amazing Animals week with some animal-themed Mother’s Day activities. Enjoy a read-aloud of Are You My Mother?, an animal mom matching game, Mother’s Day plans on Dinosaur Train, and a movement game that lets you take a walk on the wild side!

Cuddle Up and Read

Invite your child to choose a favorite book about animals, moms, or anything else they might like to read. Or, watch this read-aloud of the classic Are You My Mother? By P.D. Eastman.

Read along to the story here.

Matching Mothers Game

Can you help the baby animals find their mothers? Click below to download the printable Matching Mothers game. Invite your child to cut out the animal pictures and then match the babies to their mothers. Or, for older children, use the pieces to play Animal Memory!

Download the activity sheet here.

Watch Together

In this clip from Dinosaur Train, Tiny, Shiny, and Buddy plan a special Mother’s Day celebration for Mrs. Pteranodon! After watching, ask your child:

• What did Tiny, Shiny, and Buddy plan for the Mother’s Day celebration?

• Would your mom like the same gifts as Mrs. Pteranodon? What other things might she like?

• What kinds of gifts do you think a real dinosaur mom would enjoy?

Watch the clip here.

Let’s Play: Move Like an Animal

Amazing animals (and their moms) move around in all sorts of amazing ways. They slither, hop, crawl, swim, and more! Help your child expand her vocabulary and get her body moving with this game.

1. Invite your child to draw a picture of a variety of animals, each on a separate slip of paper. Alternatively, you could simply write the names of 7-10 animals on each slip.

2. Put the pieces of paper in a bag or other container. Draw one out and either read it aloud or hold it up for your child to see. Your child can act out the movements that animal makes. Ex: Slither like a snake, hop like a bunny, etc.

3. Continue until all the animals have been drawn.

4. Bonus: Repeat the activity, allowing your child to draw the animals from the bag as you act out each animal movement.

5. Extension: For more language practice, encourage your child to name the movement he is making, or simply narrate it as he moves. Ex: You’re slithering like a snake!

Coming Up Next…

Making Music!