Zoo Storytime Lesson Plan
Zoo Storytime Plan
Books
Zoo-looking by Mem Fox
The Underpants Zoo by Brian Sendelbach
Two at the zoo by Danna Smith
Put me in the zoo by Robert Lopshire
Animal strike at the zoo, it's true! by Karma Wilson
Our class took a trip to the zoo by Shirley Neitzel
A moose that says moooooooooo by Jennifer Hamburg
A day with Daddy by Louise Gikow
Panda-monium at Peek Zoo by Kevin Waldron
Zoo by Anthony Browne
A night at the zoo by Kathy Caple
Curious George visits the zoo by Margret Rey
Who's in my family? : all about our families by Robie H. Harris
Zoo ah-choooo by Peter Mandel
Do kangaroos wear seat belts? by Jane Kurtz
Stop snoring, Bernard! by Zachariah O'Hora
A mom for Umande by Maria Fasal Faulconer
Good night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
Lyle, Lyle, crocodile by Bernard Waber
Songs
Going to the Zoo by Raffi
At the Zoo by The Big Giants
Wimoweh by Laurie Berkner
Fingerplays/Action Rhymes
LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS
Lions and tigers and bears, Oh My!
Lions and tigers and bears, Oh My!
Repeat, increasing speed each time
I CAME TO THE ZOO
Raise and lower hands every other animal
I came to the zoo to see lions,
Elephants, tigers, and bears.
I came to the zoo to see zebras.
I love all the animals there!
Lions, tigers,
Elephants, zebras, and bears,
And bears!
Lions, tigers,
Elephants, zebras, and bears!
I LIVE IN THE ZOO
I am a small penguin
I live in the zoo
This is what I do (put arms at sides and waddle)
I am a little monkey
I live in the zoo
This is what I do (make swinging motions)
I am a long crocodile
I live in the zoo
This is what I do (snap hands together for jaws)
I am a huge elephant
I live in the zoo
This is what I do (clasp hands together as a trunk)
What animal did i meet?
I went to visit the zoo one day\
I met an animal along the way!
What animal did I meet?
Listen to the animal sounds…
(elephant, chimpanzee, wolf, lion)
Art Project
Every Child Ready to Read Skills/Practices
Sing— Children sing along with songs during storytime.
Talk— Ask the children about animals they've seen at the zoo and what sounds do they make.
Read— Ask the children to read sight words on pages and describe what is happening at the zoo.
Write— Children write names on their nametags.
Play— Children play along to action rhymes.
Possible Asides to Parents & Caregivers
Reading books with novel words and learning to describe things in different ways helps build vocabulary.
Pointing out letters or words on a page, and asking children to say words with you, helps them understand that printed words and letters correspond to what they hear.
Singing familiar songs helps children build awareness of the sounds that make up larger words.
Minnesota Early Childhood Indicators of Progress
Domain: Language, Literacy and Communications:
Language comprehension
Artistic expression and interpretation
Vocabulary and syntax
Shape and picture recognition and interpretation
Motivation, engagement
Letter recognition
Concepts of print
Comprehension of narrative text
Further Resources
Minnesota Early Childhood Indicators of Progress