By Jessica Myer

Eye masks on a popsicle stick Decorating materials Animal prints Jar Keys Pencil Paper Creativity Read aloud book of choice Animal pictures around the room

When listening to text, student demonstrates comprehension strategies such as predicting, making connections, constructing images & using prior knowledge. Student asks questions to clarify understanding during read- alouds. Students understand and demonstrate understanding of content appropriate vocabulary and animal names. Student identifies characters in a story. Student responds to simple questions about a book.

Zoo Keeper Hippopotamus Tiger Zebra Elephant Giraffe Penguin Ostrich Lion Monkey Panda There are many words that can be addressed. These are just a few. Any words that are asked about by students can also be addressed! Students centered learning is best!

What would a day as a zoo keeper looking like? What would you feed this animal? (Fill in an animal) How many times a day do that animals get fed? Can you act like a (fill in an animal)? What sight words did you see in the books we read? What are four animals you might see at the zoo? friends/quiz-zoos friends/quiz-zoos Students can use this game to answer questions

Jar decorated with animal printed paper. Fill the jar with keys that have a piece of paper attached to them and have each student pick a key from the jar. Each will have a sentence on it about the zoo. The student will have to complete the sentence and write one more sentence that fits the first. Students can bring in their favorite zoo stuffed animal to put in our classroom zoo during the read aloud time. Students will make a mask of their favorite zoo animal and one student will be chosen to be the zoo keeper of the other students to play Simon says. The students will take turns being the zoo keeper.

Songs Z is for Zoo (to the tune of: I’m a Little Teapot) I’m a little letter; My name is Z. You can draw me, One, two, three! You are sure to find me At the zoo. Zoo begins with Z And that is true! Finger play Animal Moves I hear some animals (cup hand behind ear). What could they be? (shrug shoulders) I’m looking and looking, (hold hand above eyebrows) It’s (lions) I see! *substitute with other animals

Finger play Monkey See, Monkey Do! Teacher picks a child to make some sort of movement with his/her body. The other children then copy that child’s moves. Monkey see, monkey do. I can (body movement). How about you?

Songs Little monkeys jumping on the bed Sally the camel Finger Plays ELEPHANT ACTION PLAY "Who is the animal baggy and gray, (Circle both arms.) That walks in the forest with a sway? (Sway both arms.) Who runs around on big, big toes, (Point to toes.) And feeds himself with his nose? (Point to nose.) The elephant!" (Clap hands 1 time.)

If I Were Lost If I were lost inside a zoo I think that this is what I'd do, I'd say "Giraffe, please look around, your head so high above the ground. Will you point out to me the place where you can see my father's face." ~Louis E. Simpson~

Dear Zoo Campbell, R. (2007). Dear zoo: A lift-the-flap book (Little Simon anniversary ed.). New York: Little Simon. 1,2,3 to the zoo Carle, E. (1996). 1, 2, 3 to the zoo: A counting book. New York: Philomel Books. 100 animals to spot at the zoo Clarke, P. (2008). 100 animals to spot at the zoo. London: Usborne ;. Welcome to the Zoo Jay, A. (2008). Welcome to the zoo. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

Put me in the zoo Lopshire, R. (1960). Put me in the zoo. New York: Beginner Books; distributed by Random House. Going to the zoo Paxton, T., & Schmidt, K. (1996). Going to the zoo. New York: Morrow Junior Books. Who lives here? Terry, M., & London, E. (2012). Who lives here? London: Bloomsbury. Never, ever shout in a zoo Wilson, K., & Cushman, D. (2005). Never, ever shout in a zoo. New York: Scholastic.