Animal Moves
Animal Moves
Today we meet a rabbit, turtle, and bird, then connect them with hop, crawl, and fly through gentle movement on a safe, dry floor.
Today's Approach
Amara is about 2 years and 4 months old. Keep each guided activity to 3–8 minutes. Looking, pointing, copying part of a movement, making a sound, or saying one word all count as meaningful responses. Animals move in many ways; the poster offers three examples rather than fixed rules. Do not test reading or expect Amara to crawl or hop exactly like an animal.
A4 Teaching Picture
Open the original image to download or print
How to use it
Use only this A4 picture, printed or displayed full-screen. Find the rabbit, turtle, and bird along the top. Point to the hopping rabbit, crawling turtle, and flying bird in the middle. Finish by counting one rabbit, two turtles, and three birds along the bottom. Reading and retelling are not required.
Goals
- Chinese: understand 兔子, 乌龟, 小鸟 and 跳一跳, 爬一爬, 飞一飞.
- English: meet
rabbit,turtle,bird,hop,crawl, andfly. - Nature: notice different animal bodies and movements while understanding that each pairing is only one example.
- Early math: count the one rabbit, two turtles, and three birds pictured at the bottom.
- Movement and life skills: try a low hop, slow movement, and gentle arm flight, then stop on a cue.
Materials
- Only the A4 teaching picture above, printed or displayed full-screen.
- A dry, clear, non-slip movement space.
No animal toy, raised surface, obstacle, or other teaching object is needed.
1. Chinese Picture Talk
Time: 5–8 minutes.
Begin with the top row:
- “这是一只兔子，耳朵长长的。”
- “这是一只乌龟，背上有壳。”
- “这是一只小鸟，有翅膀。”
Then notice the middle:
- “兔子从平地轻轻跳一跳。”
- “乌龟贴近地面慢慢爬。”
- “小鸟张开翅膀飞。”
Choose only one or two prompts:
- “谁有长耳朵？”
- “谁背着壳？”
- “谁在飞？”
- “你想做跳、爬，还是飞的动作？”
If Amara only waves her arms, expand it: “你在像小鸟一样飞一飞。”
Today's Original Mini Story
A rabbit makes one gentle hop from flat ground.
A turtle crawls forwards slowly, without hurrying.
A bird opens its wings and flies through the air.
The three animals move in different ways.
Amara stays on safe ground and chooses one movement to try.
She does not need to copy every animal.
2. English Time
Time: 3–5 minutes.
| English | Meaning | Picture or movement response |
|---|---|---|
rabbit | 兔子 | Point to the rabbit at the top |
turtle | 乌龟 | Point to the turtle at the top |
bird | 小鸟 | Point to the bird at the top |
hop | 跳一跳 | Point to the low-hopping rabbit |
crawl | 爬一爬 | Point to the slowly moving turtle |
fly | 飞一飞 | Point to the bird with open wings |
Model:
Show me the rabbit.Show me the turtle.Show me the bird.The rabbit hops.The turtle crawls.The bird flies.
Say one line at a time. A point, movement, or partial word is enough; a full sentence is not required.
3. Early Math: One Rabbit, Two Turtles, Three Birds
Time: 3–5 minutes.
Use only the bottom row:
- Touch the one rabbit under 1 once:
one rabbit. - Touch the two turtles under 2 one at a time:
one, two. - Touch the three birds under 3 one at a time:
one, two, three.
Use one number word for one complete animal. Do not count ears, feet, or wings, and do not test numeral recognition.
4. Movement: Hop, Crawl, Fly
Time: 3–5 minutes.
Move away from the screen and choose only one or two actions:
Hop: stand steadily, bend the knees, lift the heels, or make one very low hop.Crawl: while standing or sitting, move both hands forwards slowly. Use hands and knees briefly only if Amara chooses and the floor is suitable.Fly: keep both feet steady and slowly open and close the arms.- Become still together on
Stop.
Movement Safety
The floor must be dry, non-slip, and clear. Use only low movements from flat ground; never jump from a bed, sofa, step, or other raised place. Crawling is not a performance standard and can be skipped completely. Leave space between moving arms, furniture, screens, and other people.
5. Everyday Observation
During normal outdoor time, observe one animal from a distance:
- Is it hopping, crawling, walking, or flying?
- Model first: “小鸟飞走了。”
- If no animal appears, return to the poster rather than searching.
Do not chase, catch, touch, or feed an unfamiliar animal.
6. Life Skill: Stop After Moving
Time: 3–5 minutes.
After movement, complete one step:
- Stop and look towards the adult after hearing
Stop. - If hands or knees touched the floor, wash hands with adult help.
- Return the A4 teaching picture to its usual place.
Completing one of these is enough.
Bedtime Recall
- “今天最喜欢哪个动物？”
- “谁在爬？谁在飞？”
Rabbit, turtle, or bird?Hop, crawl, or fly?