Preschool Animals

Animal Tracking

Get your preschool class outdoors in the winter by going animal tracking. Wild animals are around even though you may not see them. Many wild animals come out when there is no one around. Although you may never see these animals, you can tell where they have been by what they leave behind.

Animal tracks (footprints), tree scarring, and scat (animal droppings) are signs that wild animals have been around. Take your preschool class on an adventure to search for the wild animals that might live near your school.

Step One

First, you must have an idea what you are looking for. If you are unfamiliar with wild animal tracks or what wild animals might be in your area, check out eNature.com and insert your zip code in their Local Nature Zip Guide. This guide will give you lists of mammals that are native to your area. The guide provides pictures of tracks to look for. Print pictures of a few of the tracks on your eNature.com list.

Step Two

Second, dress the children for the weather and get an early start. Walk around your school looking on muddy, sandy, or snowy areas where tracks will be easier to see. Also look for scat. Even if you can’t identify the scat, it is a clue that you might find tracks nearby.

Step Three

Finally, take pictures of the tracks you see so that you can keep a record of what you saw and identify the tracks at home. Keep a record of any tracks you see so that next time you go for a tracking walk with your class you can review what you have seen before.
Also it is a good idea to talk about why we don't find certain animal tracks, because they are not from this habitat, or they hibernate, etc.

Animals 2

Habitat: A home for everyone

You can do this as an interactive bulletin board, or a game, or a circle time lesson.

Talk about habitats. What the habitat is and where each animal lives and why. On a board you can have pictures of different habitats (jungles, forests, oceans, lakes, prairies, swamps, deserts, etc) and then have pictures of animals. The children can place the animals on the board in the habitat they belong. Then talk about each animal a little and why that is the best place for them to live. Then children will learn about the different animals and places around the world that are the best homes for them.