Unusual pets

Age: 2 years old

Class Size: 15 children

Classes: 4 classes in the whole course

Class Duration: 1 hour

Preparation:

1. Prepare the story "A Pet Like No Other" with illustrations (featuring a turtle, parrot, and lizard).

2. Create flashcards with unusual pet vocabulary and their distinct features (shell, wing, scales).

Part 1: Story Introduction and Vocabulary Activity

"A Pet Like No Other" Story Introduction

Target Vocabulary:

• turquoise

• lizard

• shell

• spider

• tail 

Target Instructions:

• "[Animal] has [feature]." (e.g., lizards have tail.)

• "They are [animal]."

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Identify key uncommon pet vocabulary (turtle, parrot, lizard).

2. Use the phrase "[Animal] has [feature]." to identify body parts like shells or wings.

3. Engage with the story of "A Pet Like No Other" through listening and mimicry.

Materials List:

• "A Pet Like No Other" storybook or illustrated printouts

• Unusual pet vocabulary flashcards

Class Details:

1. Warm-Up (5 mins): Sing a "Move Like an Animal" song. Ask the children to hide like a turtle, flap like a bird, and wiggle like a lizard to introduce the theme through physical movement.

2. Story Introduction (5 mins): Show the cover of "A Pet Like No Other." Use simple questions to spark curiosity, like "Is this a puppy? No! It’s a turtle!"

3. Memory Switch Game (10 mins): Lay out cards featuring the animals and their features (e.g., a turtle card and a shell card). Children find matches and say, "It’s a shell!" when they flip the correct feature.

4. Interactive Reading (15 mins): Read "A Pet Like No Other," pausing at each animal. Ask, "What feature does the turtle have?" Encourage children to point to the shell in the book and repeat the word.

Assessment:

• Observe if children can point to the correct "feature" (wing, shell, scales) when prompted during the story.

• Listen for the use of the target sentence structure "It’s a [animal]."

• Gauge enthusiasm during the physical movement portion of the story.

Remarks & Reminders for Teachers:

• Use descriptive gestures (e.g., making a "hard" knocking motion for the shell) to help toddlers understand the vocabulary.

• Offer positive reinforcement when children attempt to name the uncommon animals.

Part 2: Art and Craft Activity

Making a "Hard Shell Turtle"

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this activity, students should be able to:

1. Follow simple instructions to create a turtle using a paper plate.

2. Develop fine motor skills by coloring and painting the "shell" patterns.

3. Use the target vocabulary "shell" while describing their artwork.

Materials List:

• Paper plates (one per child, pre-cut: one half for the body, one circle for the head, two fins)

• Green crayons

• Googly eyes

• Black markers

• Glue sticks

Class Details:

1. Introduction (5 mins): Show the completed Paper Plate Turtle. Tap the plate and ask, "What feature does the turtle have?" Lead the children to say, "Hard shell!"

2. Creating the Shell (10 mins): Hand out the half-plates. Guide children to color the "shell" using green crayon. Encourage them to say, "Let’s color the shell" as they fill in the pattern. Shred and stick green tissue paper on top to make unique shell patterns.

3. Decorating (10 mins): Help children stick the googly eyes onto the head circle. Assist them in using glue sticks to attach the head and the two fins to the back of the shell. Draw the mouth using black markers.

4. Story Integration (5 mins): Have the children make their turtles "crawl" slowly across the table. Use the sentence: "It’s a turtle. It has a hard shell!"

5. Clean-Up (5 mins): Assist children in putting the lids back on markers and collecting any paper scraps.

Assessment:

• Observe if children can identify and point to the "shell" on their finished craft.

• Assess the fine motor control used during coloring within the lines and using the glue sticks.

Notes for Teachers:

• Pre-cutting is key: For 2-year-olds, the teacher should pre-cut the paper plate into the four pieces shown in the image (half-shell, head, and two fins) before class starts.

• Keep instructions rhythmic and simple: "Color the shell. Stick the head. Pat, pat, pat."

• Use the markers to pre-draw the "scale" patterns on the shell so the toddlers can focus on filling them with color.

Follow-Up:

• Create a "Turtle Pond" area on a blue rug where the children can place their turtles.

• Encourage parents to ask: "Is the turtle's shell hard or soft?" when the child shows them the craft.

Image reference for art and craft: