Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze!" Story Time
What you need:
Book: "Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze!"
10 ft rope
Large Group
Show children the cover of the book. Ask children, “What do you think the story is about?“ Read the title and ask, "What do you know about elephants?” Elephants are the largest land animals on Earth, but they can walk very fast and are very strong. Talk about the characteristics of elephants: big floppy ears, large heavy body, a trunk that can act like fingers and pick up things, tusks, thick skin and wide, thick legs. Ask: "Do you know that elephants can't jump?" Explain that the trunk of an elephant is part nose and part upper lip. An elephant breathes through its trunk. They also smell and pick up things with their trunk. Elephants use their trunk to put food and water into their mouth and even spray water with it. An elephant trunk can grow up to 10 feet long.
Show children the length of the rope. Ask children, "How many children do you think can fit on it?" Place the rope in front of you.
Before reading the story, show children the front of the book and let them predict what will happen in the story. Then, read the book: "Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze!" Check to see if any of their predictions came true.
After reading the story, talk about what happens when we sneeze or cough. Discuss why it is important that we cover our sneezes and coughs so we don't spread the germs to our friends. Demonstrate to children how to cover their sneezes and coughs with their elbows.
Teach children the following rhyme:
Don't sneeze on your friends.
Don't spread your germs in the air.
Just cover your elbow and
sneeze in there.
Elephant Science
Movement
Recite the following rhyme and make the movements together.
Elephants
Adapted by Jolanda Garcia, KidsSoup
Elephants walk like this and that (Stomp like an elephant)
They're terribly big and really quite fat, (Stretch arms wide)
They have trunk fingers, (Open and close thumb and index finger)
They walk on the tips of their toes (Walk on tippy toes)
And thank goodness, gracious
They have a long NOSE!
Elephants Music and Movement:
Music: Saint Saens: Carnival of the Animals L’Elephant
Play the music and have children pretend to be elephants and go through an elephant’s day. Have children grab their nose with one hand and push the other arm through the arm to make the elephant’s trunk. Start with a simple elephant walk. Then have children stretch and pick leaves from high up in the trees or from grass down low on the ground. Have the elephants hold trunks, walk in a line, or try an elephant hug.
One Elephant Went Out to Play Felt Story
Small Group
Literacy:
Review the letter E. Trace letter the letter E and learn how to spell elephant.
E for Elephant Writing Practice
Math:
Elephants Sequencing
Arts and Crafts:
