Today’s Activity

Since you will be working on putting together a visual schedule for your child, it would be great to incorporate a songs today about daily routines! Make sure to explain that school is at home now and encourage them to move, jump, dance, clap, and sing along.

Good Night, Gorilla

If you’ve got the book at home, go grab it. If you don’t that’s okay. We’ve got you covered. Watch the video below for some wonderful interactive reading.

So many questions to think about!

What is the gorilla going to do with the keys?
Does the zookeeper know that the gorilla got out of the cage?
What is the zookeeper holding?
What do think the elephant was eating?
How is a tiny mouse carrying a banana?
Where are the animals going?
Who is in the bed?
Where is the mouse sleeping?
Is someone awake?
Who takes the animals back to the zoo?
Shhh…. can you be very quiet?

Download these activities from spelloutloud.com for Good Night, Gorilla. See if your child can put the gorillas in order from smallest to biggest. The coloring page is perfect for everyone—whether your child will just scribble and rip, color, or trace the letter G. There is something for everyone.

Download these activities from kidsactivitiesblog.com. See if yourc hild can match up the keys and the locks by color!

Download these free resources from Teachers Pay Teachers. Use the picture cards to retell the story or make into finger or Popsicle stick puppets , and use the letter cards to go on a letter hunt! Of course you should gather any stuffed animals or animal figurines that you have for imaginative play. Don’t forget the keys, the flashlight, and the cage (maybe just a laundry basket turned upside down). In case you’ve forgotten how to play pretend (adults forget sometimes), use the play script to give yourself some lines.

Download an alphabet maze for the letter G from http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/AlphabetMazes.html:

If you’ve got bananas (Gorillas love bananas, right?), this is a fun snack activity http://www.hamstertours.com/snacks.html. Or if you’ve got animal crackers, try counting and sorting them. And then eat them, of course!

Don’t forget to sing a zoo song and learn about gorillas in the wild:

Try your hand at on online Gorilla jigsaw puzzle: http://www.first-school.ws/puzzlesonline/alphabet/g_gorilla.htm

If you want an entire packet of learning material to download all at once—for free-go to http://livingworldsapart.blogspot.com/2013/04/zoo-night-tot-pack.html for a 53 page pack of activities (wow!).

Pick and choose what activities work for you and have fun!