Hattie and the Fox 12-24 Play is the most powerful way toddlers learn. Every time you play, sing or read to toddlers they are learning about language. By sharing this book and play activities with them they will have the opportunity to: Use books as a starting point for language experiences Learn about farm animals through stories and rhymes Become aware of parts of their body We hope these activities will provide you with a starting point for fun play with babies. Engaging with Language and Literacy Turn the book corner into a Book Barn! Provide a variety of fiction and non-fiction books about farm animals for the children to look at. Toddlers love simple board books that they can read themselves. Display children s artwork, pictures and posters of farm animals. Add some soft cushions and cuddly farm animal toys to make an inviting area that the children will want to read in. Farm Animal Lift the Flap Let the toddlers help you make a farm animal lift the flap book for them to enjoy. Collect pictures of farm animals from calendars, books, cards or computer clipart. Stick one animal on each page. Cut a piece of coloured card large enough to cover the animal. Use sticky tape and stick down one side of the card to make a flap. Hattie and the Fox Page 1 of 5
Hattie and the Fox Page 2 of 5 Make up your own words to go with the book, eg, Who is hiding? It s cow! Who is hiding? It s sheep! Using simple words and repetitive phrases will give the children confidence to join in reading with you. Enjoying Imaginative Play Farm Animal Play There are many ways you can incorporate farm animals into your play. Play dough cutters Puzzles Lotto and memory games Puppets Toy farm animals in the sand tray or block corner Sing songs about farms, eg, Baa, Baa, Black Sheep and Old MacDonald Had A Farm Providing children with these experiences will give them the opportunity to retell the story in their own way and practice new ideas and new vocabulary in a nonthreatening situation. Discovering Sensory Play Tissue Paper Collage Draw an outline of each of the animals that are in the book. Provide the toddlers with tissue paper and give them the opportunity to tear, scrunch and cut it. Refer to the illustrations in the book and talk to the children about what colour each animal should be. Working in small groups, let the children use their tissue paper to cover the animal. When the collages are finished display them in the room with speech bubbles and the words that the animals said in the story. Spend time with the children reading their artwork.
Exploring Our World Farm Animal Hide and Seek This game works best with a small group of children so that everyone has the opportunity to find an animal. Hide some farm animals in an area of the outside environment. Take a small group of children out to find them. Help develop their vocabulary by giving directional clues, eg, Look in the sandpit behind the yellow bucket. Having Fun With Music and Movement Finger plays and action rhymes: Encourage verbal participation Develop listening skills Teach concepts such as numbers, sequence and rhyme Develop fine motor control Broaden vocabulary Increase attention span Are lots of fun to share with toddlers! You might like to try some of the following: Giddy Up This Little Piggy The Dingle Dangle Scarecrow Play Animal Peek-A-Boo Sing the song Peek-A-Boo while hiding a toy farm animal under a small cloth. At the end of the song, lift the cloth and surprise the toddler with the animal. Encourage the children to lift up the cloth themselves. Talk about the animals name and make the animal sound. Let the toddler hold the toy while you hide the next animal. Page 3 of 5
Hattie and the Fox Other books to try: Oh Dear by Rod Campbell Farm Babies by Rod Campbell Farm 1 2 3 by Rod Campbell Head To Toes : My First Body Book by Zita Newcome Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes! And Other Action Rhymes by Zita Newcome Baby Touch Playbook by Fiona Land Songs & Rhymes: Baa Baa Black Sheep Baa baa black sheep Have you any wool Yes sir yes sir Three bags full One for the master One for the dame And one for the little boy Who lives down the lane Old MacDonald Had A Farm Old MacDonald had a farm And on that farm he had a cow With a moo moo here And a moo moo there Here a moo There a moo Everywhere a moo moo Old MacDonald had a farm Eyes, Nose, Fingers, Toes by Judy Hindley Barnyard Dance! by Sandra Boynton Let s Go Walking by Julie Vivas Farm by Mary Novick Does A Cow Say Boo? by Judy Hindley Animal Hide-and-Seek by Jenny Taylor Farm Animals by Nicola Tuxworth Peek A Boo Hide a farm animal. Peek a boo, Peek a boo Who is hiding there? Peek a boo, Peek a boo It s (rooster etc) hiding there. Show the animal as you sing the last line. Heads Shoulders Knees and Toes Eyes and ears and mouth and nose Page 4 of 5
Giddy Up Giddy up horsey Go go go Giddy up horsey Whoa This Little Piggy Gently wiggle the baby s toes while singing This little piggy went to market (big toe) This little piggy stayed home (second toe) This little piggy had roast beef (third toe) This little piggy had none (fourth toe) And this little piggy cried wee, wee, wee all the way home (little toe) As you sing wee, wee, wee, tickle the baby up their legs and tummy to their chin. Hokey Pokey You put your right hand in You put your right hand out You put your right hand in And you shake it all about You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around That s what it s all about. left hand right foot left foot head whole self Open, Shut Them Give a little clap Lay them in your lap Creep them, creep them Creep them, creep them Right up to your chin Open wide your little mouth But do not let them in Shake them, shake them Shake them, shake them Shake them just like this Roll them, roll them Roll them, roll them Blow a little kiss Dingle Dangle Scarecrow When all the cows were sleeping And the sun had gone to bed And this is what he said I m a dingle, dangle scarecrow With a flippy floppy hat I can shake my hands like this And shake my feet like that When all the hens were roosting And the moon behind the cloud And shouted very loud Chorus When the dogs were in the kennels And the doves were in the loft And whispered very soft Chorus Page 5 of 5