In this occasion, I would like to share my worksheet about getting to know animals through a short story, which are accompanied by puzzle games to make it easier for students in remembering the vocabulary of the animals.
Read the following story to the class:
Look, little child, as the night is unfurled,
Animals going to bed round the world.
Close to her mother, safe by her side,
Sweet little fawn is so sleepy-eyed.
Nestled in grass, as the soft breezes blow,
Bathed by the warmth of the sun’s evening glow.
Lion cubs romp as the sun slips away.
In the soft golden light, there’s still time to play.
Soon they’ll be yawning, there tired sleepyheads,
Watched by their mother all night in their beds.
Wadding to mummy, the tired ducklings quack,
Sleepy from swimming, they’re glad to be back.
Safely they’re tucked in their nest for the night,
Feathery bundles, huddled uptight.
Daylight is fading fast, softly dusk falls,
“Bedtime now,” mother fox calls.
“Mum, we’re not sleepy!” the small foxes cry,
As low in the pale sky, the sun says goodbye.
Wrapped up in love, little bear feels so snug,
Cuddled goodnight in a big mummy-hug.
Drifting to sleep he sinks into her fur,
Warm in the soft snow, snuggled with her.
High up, the trees catch the last rays of sun,
As three tired monkeys climb up to their mum.
The sounds of the jungle, the rustling leaves,
Lull them to sleep in the cool evening breeze.
Snug with their mummy, the rabbits are all.
Tumbled together in one furry ball.
Cosy and warm, they will sleep safe and sound,
Curled in their bed on the soft mossy ground.
Rocked by the waves beneath velvet blue skies,
Wrapped in her mummy’s arms, small otter lies.
Under the stars in the dappled moonlight,
“one kiss,” smiles Mummy,
“and then it’s sleep-tight.”
As mother owl hoots her sweet, low lullaby,
Her baby owls blink at the star-studded sky.
Through the dark treetops, her echoing call,
Sings to the world, “A good night to you all!”
Baby whale drifts to the deep ocean’s song,
Close to his mother, all the night long.
Down through the water, the soft moonlight streams,
As little whale floats in a sea of sweet dreams.
Small panda sleeps as the stars peek-a-boo,
Held by his mother, all the night through.
Cuddled up close, she gives him a kiss.
Tucked up together, they’re perfect like this.
Story source : I Love You, Sleepyhead by Claire Freedman and Simon Mendez
After finished reading the story, ask the students to reread and give them 20 minutes to answer the questions below:
- How many animals there are in the story above?
- Mention 10 other animals that are not in the story!
After they have finished answering the questions above, give them 30 minutes to answer the puzzle assignment below:
Across:
- A young deer.
- A young bear.
- A young lion.
- A large bearlike mammal with characteristic black and white markings.
- A young duck.
Down:
- A carnivorous mammal of the dog family with a pointed muzzle and bushy tail.
- A very large marine mammal with a hole on top of the head for breathing.
- A fish-eating mammal of the weasel family, with an elongated body, dense fur, and webbed feet.
- A small to medium-sized primate that has a long tail and lives in trees.
- A bird of prey with large forward-facing eyes.
- A plant-eating mammal with two long ears, long hind legs, and a short tail.
Enjoy the lesson!