The Cowboy Roundup Toddler/Preschoolers By: Angela Peik

Rationale Young children love to learn about and to pretend to be cowboys or cowgirls. With the activities that can be done with them during this unit, the children have the opportunity to learn and explore so many new things.

How Materials Will Be Introduced I would introduce all of the materials first by reading the book, “Cowboys and Cowgirls: Yippee Yay!” By Gail Gibbins. This book talks all about Cowboys and Cowgirls, what they wear and what they do on a day to day basis.

KWL K W L They wear hats and boots Where they live They usually live on a farm They ride horses What’s their job They can work at a rodeo or on their ranch They’re at the Rodeo How do they live They round up their animals at night, feed and watch over them during the day, sometimes have to camp out in the fields

Big Ideas Learning the names of all the things the Cowboys/girls wear How they round up their animals How they camp in the fields

Materials Needed Cowboy/girl hat Horse on stick Cowboy/girl boots Stuffed horses and cows

Materials Needed (cont.) Cardboard Box (Barn) Building Blocks (Fence) or even lincoln logs 2 or more Paper Towel Rolls Red and Orange Tissue paper

Materials Needed (cont.) Sticks and Rocks Pretend food (Hot dogs, hamburgers) Cardboard cut out as Graham Crackers Brown construction paper or felt Cotton Balls