Gator Gait

Materials

Cardboard egg cartons (one carton will supply three children)Oaktag Scissors

Green paint Green paper

Wiggle eyes Glue

Chart paper with "Gator Gait" (next page) written on it

Instructions

1. Cut the cardboard egg cartons, with top still attached, into three equal sections. Give each child one section. This is the alligator's mouth.

2. On the oaktag trace one oval for each child. This will be the alligator's head. The size of the oval should be 6" x 3 1/2 " (16.

5 cm x 9 cm) with an indention in the top of the oval, forming the bulging alligator eyes. The children can cut out the mouths.

3. Have the children paint both the mouth and head green (paint on the side of the oval that now bulges upward).

4. While the alligators are drying, the children make headbands using the green paper. Show them how to fold the paper in half lengthwise, then in half twice more, and cut on the creased lines. Pair off children to help each other measure their heads for headbands using the green strips they just cut out. They glue the strips together to form their headbands.

5. Once the alligators are dry, the children will glue the mouth onto the center of the head, then glue two plastic eyes in the center of the bulges at the top of the head, and then glue their headband to the back of the head.

6. While the glue is drying read "Gator Gait" to the children. Go through the motions while reading together with the class. Now sing "Gator Gait" and do the actions. Ask children to tell you what they learned about the alligator from the song. For example, they should be able to tell you where it lives, how it moves, etc.

7. After the alligator discussion, the children put on their gator headbands. Now sing and act out "Gator Gait" once more together.