Story Time: Elephantastic Elephants!

by | Mar 2, 2021 | Blog, Kid's Corner, Story Time | 0 comments

“E” is for elephant! Elephants are one of the most amazing creatures in the animal kingdom. They are so strong enough to lift 700 pounds, yet they are so gentle they can pick up a tiny leaf without crumpling it. Children love elephants. They are big and have large floppy ears. Try taking this opportunity to learn more about these gentle giants with your child with some of the activities and books below.

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Ages 2-5

Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play

Tip

Having children act out stories introduces them to the theater arts. Because dramatic play incorporates a variety of senses, it allows children to experience a story in an immediate way and helps them internalize the story.

- Lambert

Activity

Read “Can Somebody Please Scratch My Back?” by Jory John or another book that will be easy to act out. Then have your child portray the elephant while you portray all the others animals and retell the story. Then try switching roles and see the laughter!

- Adapted from Lambert

Books Presented

Elephants by Kate Riggs

A basic exploration of the appearance, behavior, and habitat of elephants, Earth’s biggest land animals. Also included is a story from folklore explaining why elephants’ trunks are so long.

Can Somebody Please Scratch My Back? by Jory John

Elephant has a massive itch that no one can scratch, so Elephant is forced to help himself–or so he thinks.

I Broke My Trunk! by Mo Willems

Gerald the elephant tells his best friend Piggie a long, crazy story about how he broke his trunk.

Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays

Elephant Walk

Right foot, left foot, see me go (step with one foot, then other, sway side to side)

I am gray and big and slow (hold hands out to side on the word “big”)

Right foot, left foot, see me go (step with one foot, then other, sway side to side)

I come walking down the street (keep feet stomping)

With my trunk and four big feet. (Make arm look like a trunk from nose).

 

Adapted from Jeninthelibrary.com

Flannel Board: Five Elephants in the Bathtub

1 elephant in the bathtub
going for a swim.
Knock, knock (clap hands for each knock)
Splash, splash (pat lap for each splash)
Come on in! (Wave hand invitingly)

2 elephants in the bathtub
going for a swim.
Knock, knock (clap hands for each knock)
Splash, splash (pat lap for each splash)
Come on in! (Wave hand invitingly)

3 elephants in the bathtub
going for a swim.
Knock, knock (clap hands for each knock)
Splash, splash (pat lap for each splash)
Come on in! (Wave hand invitingly)

4 elephants in the bathtub
going for a swim.
Knock, knock (clap hands for each knock)
Splash, splash (pat lap for each splash)
Come on in! (Wave hand invitingly)

5 elephants in the bathtub
going for a swim.
Knock, knock (clap hands for each knock)
Splash, splash (pat lap for each splash)
And they all fell in! (Knock all the elephants and tub off the flannelboard!)

– Jeninthelibrary.com

Two Elephants

Two little elephants, standing in a row.
Two little trunks, waving hello.
“Oh,” said an elephant.
“It’s time to go.”
One little elephant, standing in a row.
One little trunk, waving hello.
“Hey,” said the elephant.
“Where did he go?”

-Barbertonlibrary.org
 

Crafts and Activities

Coloring Page

Print out this coloring page!

Try this craft from Heidi Songs - or pick up our ready-made kit today.

Additional Books

I Dream of an Elephant by Ami Rubinger

Elephants of many colorful shades are described in couplets that invite the reader to complete the rhyme using color-themed clues.

Near or Far: Where's Eddie? by Daniel Nunn

Books in the Hide and Seek series provide an entertaining introduction to some of the words that tell us where things are. This book looks at “Near” and “Far”, and features an animal character called Eddie the Elephant who is playing hide-and-seek. 

Elephant's Story by Tracey Campbell Pearson

Elephant finds a book and then sneezes, mixing up all the letters.

The Elephant Who Cried Mouse! by Jade Maitre

Ronald the Elephant loves to frighten his family by calling “MOUSE!”. But what happens when they stop believing him?

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