What happens when Imogene wakes up one morning with antlers on her head?  This funny story will have children thinking of all the things they could do if they suddenly developed an animal body part.

Materials

• Several different sized popsicle sticks or twigs
• Head shape
• Bag of birdseed
• Pipe cleaners
• Several hats and ribbon or crepe paper

Vocabulary

• Milliner (someone who makes hats)

Before Reading the Story

            Ask the children if they ever thought what it would be like if they could be an animal.  What animal would they like to be and why?  Show the children the cover of the book and introduce.  Ask them if they can think of any problems that Imogene might have with her antlers.  What could you do if you had antlers?

Approaches to Learning/Reasoning & Problem Solving; develops increasing ability to find more than one solution to a question, task, or problem.

Reading the Story

            As you read the story, stop on the page where Imogene’s mother faints. Ask the children why they think Imogene’s mother faints (She can not believe her daughter has antlers)! What do you think is going to happen? What would you do if you woke up and had antlers on your head?

Approaches to Learning/Reasoning & problem Solving; develops increasing abilities to classify, compare, and contrast objects, events, and experiences. AND Literacy & Book Knowledge; demonstrates progress in abilities to retell and dictate stories from books and experiences; to act out stories in dramatic play; and to predict what will happen next in a story.

After Reading the Story

            Show the children several peephole pictures of animals to see if they can guess what each animal is. (Make a peep hole by cutting a one-inch circle in a manilla file. Put a picture behind it and move it around. Can the children guess what the picture is by just looking through the small hole)?

Approaches to Learning/Reasoning & Problem Solving; grows in recognizing and solving problems through active exploration, including trial and error; and interactions and discussions with peers and adults.

Discovery

            Bring in pictures of animals with antlers and horns.  If you are lucky perhaps you know someone who will let you borrow some antlers, horns, skulls for the children to explore.

Science/Scientific Skills & Methods; develops increased ability to observe and discuss common properties, differences, and comparisons among objects and materials.

Music and Movement

            Sadly I know no songs that would go along with this book , so make it children’s choice day!

Social & Emotional Development/Self-Concept; begins to develop and express awareness of self in terms of specific abilities, characteristics,and preferences. AND Approaches to Learning/Initiative & Curiosity; develops increased ability to make independent choices.

Sing, If You’re Happy and You Know It but doing actions.

If you’re happy and you know it jump up and down

If you’re happy and you know it jump up and down.

If you’re happy and you know,

Your body will show it.

If you’re happy and you know it jump up and down.

(turn around, touch your toes, take a big leap, squat down low, etc.).

Physical Health & Development/Gross Motor Skills; shows increasing levels of proficiency, control, and balance walking, slimbing, running, jumping, hopping, skipping, marching, and galloping.

Blocks

            Add animals to the blocks.  As the children play, encourage them to talk about the different animal attributes.

Science/Scientific Skills & Methods; develops increased ability to observe and discuss common properties, differences, and comparisons among objects and materials.

Art

            Give the children a head page and Popsicle sticks.  They can draw the face and put popsicle stick/twig antlers on top using glue.

Creative Arts/Art; gains ability in using different art media and materials in a variety of ways for creative expression and representation.

Sand and Water

            Fill the table with birdseed (very soothing sound and can be used later to fill a bird feeder by your science window).  Give the children things for scooping and pouring. Ask the children if they can remember what Imogene fed the birds? Remind the children to keep the seed in the table as birdseed on the floor can be slippery.

Social & Emotional Development/Self-Control; demonstrates increasing capacity to follow rules and routines and use materials purposely, safely, and respectfully.

Library and Writing

            Ask the children to illustrate the following.  If I had _____I could_____!  (If I had wings I could fly, If I had a tail I could wag it hello).

Approaches to Learning/Reasoning & Problem Solving; develops increasing ability to find more than one solution to a question, task, or problem.

Dramatic Play

            Bring hats and ribbon into the center and be milliners.

Literacy/Book Knowledge & Appreciation; demonstrates progress in abilities to retell stories from books and experiences; to act out stories in dramatic play; and to predict what will happen next in a story.

Math and Manipulatives

            Give the children 2 pipe cleaners to practice twisting together, like a candy cane.  The teacher can then help twist several together to make antlers. These can be attached to a sentence strip for wearing.

Physical Health & Development/Fine Motor Skills; develops growing strength, dexterity, and control needed to use tools such as scissors, paper punch, stapler, and hammer.

Outdoor Play

Play a ring toss game by having children try to toss hula hoops over a box or street cone. (Remember in the story how Imogene had donuts on her antlers? Let’s pretend that the hula hoop is a giant donut and see if we can get it to land on the cone/antler).

Physical Health & Development/Gross Motor Skills; demonstrates increasing abilities to coordinate movements in throwing, catching, kicking, bouncing balls, and in using the swing and slide.

Transitions

            Do animal riddles with the children. I’m thinking of an animal that has… (spots all over its body and a very long neck and legs.  It eats leaves from the tops of the trees)

Approaches to Learning/Reasoning & problem Solving; develops increasing abilities to classify, compare, and contrast objects, events, and experiences

Resources