© 2003 Merry L. Morris

When Your your child is Ready ...
Trips to the zoo can help your child learn to read, spell, and write the word "lion"

  1. Objectives:
    • your child will know the meaning of the word "lion".
    • your child will learn to read the word "lion".
    • your child will learn to recognize individual letters in the word "lion"
    • your child will learn to write "lion"
  2. Activities which will lead to the desired outcome
    • Activities before the trip to the zoo
      • Help your child find the word "lion" in books.
      • Write "lion" on some 3 x 5 cards and other simple words like "cat" on others. Ask your child to find cards with "lion" written on them.
    • Activities during the trip to the zoo
      • Have your child look for signs with the word "lion" on them.
      • Ask your child to say the letters in the word "lion"
      • Ask your child to point to the individual letters in the word "lion" on the signs
      • Ask your child to point to the lions in the zoo.
      • Ask your child to tell you what a lion is (a big cat, a wild animal, etc.)
      • Ask your child to describe a lion.
    • Activities after the trip to the zoo
      • Have your child draw a picture of a lion and label the picture.
      • Have your child read the word "lion" in books.
      • On an 8 x 10 sheet of paper, write all the letters found in the word "lion" plus some other letters. Have your child point to (or circle with a crayon) letters in the word "lion". Click here for an online version.
      • Have your child attempt to write the word "lion"
      • Ask your child to say "yes" if a lion has characteristics like the following, or "no" if a lion does not have the characteristics:
        • fur
        • scales
        • four legs
  3. Supplies for activities.
    • picture books about lions or showing pictures of lions
    • unlined paper
    • lined paper
    • 3 x 5 cards
    • marker or pen
    • pencil
  4. Measure the outcome of the lesson.
    • Can your child identify photos of lions?
    • Can your child identify a lion at the zoo?
    • Can your child identify the printed word "lion" in a book?
    • Can your child identify the written word "lion" on 3 x 5 cards?
    • Can your child draw a lion and describe a few identifying features in his drawing?
    • Can your child write the word "lion"?


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