About animals learning story example

Animal themes spark vocabulary, classification, and empathy. Keep the observation tight and connect to literacy and inquiry.

About animals learning story example

Children explored an animal picture book. Max pointed to a lion and roared; Lucy traced a butterfly with her finger. The group labelled animals, copied movements, and asked questions: “Why does the lion have a mane?” They sorted animals by “land/sea/air” using picture cards and matched baby–adult pairs (calf/cow, caterpillar/butterfly).

Learning analysis (EYLF v2.0 / Te Whāriki)

• EYLF Outcome 5: expanding vocabulary and category knowledge (habitat, body parts).
• EYLF Outcome 2: caring for living things; perspective‑taking through role play.
• EYLF Outcome 4: questioning, classifying, and connecting images to facts.
• Te Whāriki – Communication (Mana Reo) and Exploration (Mana Aotūroa): language for describing features and inquiry through sorting.

Next steps and extensions

• Add non‑fiction animal cards with facts to compare with the picture book.
• Create a simple chart: animal, where it lives, what it eats.
• Plan a “guess the animal” game using clues (habitat, diet, movement).

Quick summary and tips

• Capture labels, gestures, and questions; avoid long scene‑setting.
• Link sorting and naming directly to literacy/science outcomes.