Want to get your preschooler moving and creating in a fun manner? Animal Movement Game Preschool Lesson Plan is an excellent option to help little ones get some exercise while learning to move like different animals. Hop like bunnies, crawl like bears, and waddle like penguins and see the kids enhance their coordination, balance, and social skills while having a blast!
In this lesson plan, we will find exciting activities encouraging movement, teamwork, and creative play. Get ready to bring a wild twist to your preschool class with these interactive and fun animal-themed games.
Lesson Title: Animal Movement Games
Age Group: 3-5 years
Duration: 30-40 minutes
Theme: Movement and Coordination
Objective
At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
- Mimic animals’ movements to achieve gross motor skills.
- Enhance body coordination and balance through interactive play.
- Identify various animals based on their movements.
- Function in groups and engage in teamwork and social skills.
Materials Needed
- Animal picture flashcards
- Music player with animal sound effects
- Soft mats (for safety)
- Open play area
- Cones or markers for movement boundaries
Lesson Procedure
1. Introduction (5-10 minutes)
- Gather children in a circle and show animal flashcards.
- Ask students to say the name of each animal and describe how it moves (e.g., “How does a frog move?”).
- Play short videos of animal sounds and ask children to guess the animal.
- Inform them that they will be playing games by moving like different animals.
2. Warm-up Activity (5 minutes)
- Lead a simple stretching exercise by mimicking the actions of animals:
- Cat Stretch: Get onto hands and knees and arch like a stretching cat.
- Bird Flap: Stretch out your arms and flap like a bird.
- Snake Slither: Lie on the floor and slither like a snake.
3. Main Activity: Animal Movement Games (15-20 minutes)
- Animal Freeze Dance:
- Put on music and call out an animal (for example, “Hop like a bunny!”).
- Children move as directed until the music stops, freezing in place.
- Animal Relay Race:
- Divide the class into small groups.
- Set up a brief relay course and assign each team a movement (such as bear crawl, frog jump, or penguin waddle).
- Alternating, each child moves like his or her assigned animal to the
- Follow the Animal Leader:
- A student is the “animal leader” and chooses an animal movement.
- Other students follow, changing leaders every few rounds.
4. Cool-down and Reflection (5 minutes)
- Sit children in a circle and discuss:
- “What animal was your favourite to imitate?”
- “Which movement was easiest? hardest?”
- Do a calming breathing exercise, pretending to be a sleeping lion.
- Praise children for their cooperation and effort.
Assessment & Observations:
- Observe whether children can imitate the animal movements correctly.
- Note their participation and interest in activities.
- Assess their ability to follow movement instructions.
Extensions & Variations:
- Introduce new animals each week.
- Read a short story about an animal before the activity.
- Let children create their animal movements.
