Today the children are going to have fun with the dolphin, practice letter D and other
activities!
Preparation:
Display dolphin printable
materials. Review and print all other materials needed to conduct the activities
in the materials column.
Activity 1: Learning about Dolphins
Share some of these basic facts about dolphins and use the D is for
Dolphin poster for display purposes and visit the online resource
below:
1. Dolphins are small-toothed whales.
2. They have about 100 teeth, all the same size and
shape.
3. Dolphins look like fish and live where fish live, but they
are not fish. They are mammals. Mammals feed their young
milk, are warm blooded like humans What other animals feed
their young milk? What other ocean animals are mammals?
4. Even though they live in the water, they need to come to the
surface where they breath air from a tiny hole on top of their head
called a blowhole. The dolphin can hold it's breath for 6-7
minutes.
5. Most dolphins are about 6 feet long. Demonstrate the
length by walking six feet from a wall.
6. Dolphins can be found all over the world.
7. One of their favorite foods are sardines.
8. Their body is sleek and smooth. Dolphins can actually
get sunburned just like us.
9. Dolphins are friendly and intelligent.
10. The Chinese and Indus
River dolphins are endangered species.
Online resource:
National Geographic Kids Creature Feature > Bottlenose
Dolphin
Tell the children they are now going to do some fun activities related
to dolphins!
Activity 2: Letter D is for Dolphin
Printable Activities (visit the link and prepare ahead of
time for the presentation)
Activity 3: Stand-up Dolphin Easy Craft Activity (reinforce
Letter D practice)
Distribute the dolphin template (this is the one under the wheel
image in Activity Page Jumping Dolphin 2). Invite the children
to color the image and fill the letter Dd. Show them how to
trace both letter (upper and lower case). When they are done
coloring, cut out image and glue or tape against a toilet paper tube (cut in
half to share the tube between two children) or to a craft stick
(Popsicle stick). If using the toilet paper tube the dolphin
can stand-up, used as a puppet or displayed.
Activity 4: Jumping Dolphins Activity (Ages 3.5 or older)
Warning: This activity requires one paper fastener, which may be
dangerous for young children, especially under 3 years
old.
Tell the children they are going to make a picture of a jumping
dolphin!
* Print and distribute the Jumping Dolphin Activity Page 1 (image with
ocean, dolphins), and the remaining image in Jumping Dolphin
Activity Page 2- (the dolphin wheel).
Note: You may want to do this step before distributing or while
the children cut around the wheel: cut through the waves
from point A and B as indicated in the template- this will the opening
to insert the dolphin wheel.
Demonstrate and help the children insert the wheel in the
opening. Line up the dots of the wheel and image, and insert a
paper fastener. Make sure to bend the pointy ends of the
fasteners inward to avoid cuts.
Show the children how to turn the dolphin wheel and see how the
dolphin "jumps" out of the water.
Warning: Fasteners can be dangerous for children under three,
since they may put them in their mouths, make sure to be in attendance
at all times, while they use the activity.
Children can now also color the page. For older children you may
want to give specific instructions to practice colors - line up the
following crayon colors in front of the children.
a. ocean water - greenish or blue
b. dolphins gray
c. sun - yellow
d. sky - light blue
Activity 5: Online Jigsaw Puzzle - Dolphin
Objective: Problem solving skills.
Have fun with an online puzzle of a dolphin that can be
adapted to a different number of pieces. The whole family can have a
try. |
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