Domain:
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Competency:
Analyze information, patterns, and causes
🎂
2-3 year olds
⏰
20 to 25 minutes min
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Learning Objective
Toddlers will explore objects with their senses to discover simple features, encouraging curiosity and questioning.
Learning Resource Synopsis
In 'Cowy Cow' by Chris Raschka, young readers meet a delightful cow who is filled with ideas. Cowy Cow proposes that green is the best color and that chewed grass tastes like a cookie, despite never having tried a cookie herself. Through her imaginative and amusing ideas, Cowy Cow attempts to make sense of the world around her. This story encourages children to think creatively and question their own perceptions, all while enjoying the playful and expressive illustrations by the author.
Extended Learning Resources
| Resource & Author | Publication Info | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The Very Hungry Caterpillar | HarperCollins, written by Eric Carle | This classic picture book invites children to explore the senses as they follow the caterpillar's journey, encouraging curiosity and discovery. |
| Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? | Henry Holt and Co., written by Bill Martin Jr. And illustrated by Eric Carle | This rhythmic and repetitive story helps children explore colors and animals, fostering imagination and sensory engagement. |
| Press Here | Chronicle Books, written by Hervé Tullet | An interactive book that encourages children to press, shake, and tilt the book to see how their actions create changes, sparking curiosity and imaginative play. |
Vocabulary List
| Word | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Cow | A big, gentle animal. It goes 'moo'. | Look, a cow. Moo, moo. |
| Grass | Green stuff on the ground. Soft to touch. | See the grass? Touch the grass with your toes. |
| Cookie | A sweet, round treat. Yum, yum. | Do you want a cookie? Mmm, tasty. |
Prompt
Essential Question: "What do you like to touch?"
Today, we're going to explore things with our hands and feel different textures. Let's discover how touching different things can be fun and exciting.
Anticipatory Set
- Start by holding a soft, fluffy object in your hand. Let the children see and touch it too.
- Gently rub the fluffy object on your cheek and say, 'So soft.' Encourage the children to do the same.
- Ask the children to find something else in the room that feels different from the fluffy object. Touch and explore together.
Teacher Tips
- Encourage each child to share what they feel in their own way, whether it's a smile or a word.
- Be patient and give each child enough time to touch and explore the object at their own pace.
- Use calm, soothing tones to create a relaxed and inclusive environment.
Learn
Let's meet a cow with big ideas in 'Cowy Cow' by Chris Raschka. We'll see how Cowy Cow uses her imagination to explore the world.
Interactive Engagement
- Can you moo like a cow?
- Point to something green.
- Chew like you're eating grass.
- Touch your nose like Cowy Cow.
- Show me your cookie face.
Teacher Tips
- Use big gestures to show chewing and mooing.
- Point to green items on the page.
- Repeat 'moo' and 'chew' to engage.
- Pause for children to imitate Cowy Cow's actions.
Ask
Let's think about Cowy Cow's ideas and how they make us feel.
Discussion Questions
- What makes you feel happy like Cowy Cow?
- Can you think of a funny idea like Cowy Cow?
- What do you like to touch that's soft?
Teacher Tips
- Encourage pointing to objects or making faces to show feelings.
- Use simple gestures or sounds to help children express their thoughts.
- Be patient and give each child time to share in their own way.
Navigate
Sensory Adventure: Discovering Textures and Sounds
Inspired by Cowy Cow's imaginative exploration of the world, this activity invites toddlers to Begin a sensory adventure. By exploring various textures and sounds, children will channel their curiosity and imagination, much like Cowy Cow, as they discover new features and question their perceptions of the world.
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Teacher Tips
- Observe the children's interactions and offer support by modeling descriptive language.
- Encourage peer interaction by having children describe objects to each other.
- Be open to unexpected observations and questions from toddlers, as these moments can lead to deeper exploration and understanding.
Share
As we say goodbye to Cowy Cow, let's think about all the fun things we discovered with our senses and how much we enjoyed exploring like Cowy Cow.
Reflection Questions
- Can you point to something in the room that's your favorite color?
- Show me how happy you feel when you think of tasting something yummy.
- Can you pretend to be curious like Cowy Cow, looking all around?
Teacher Tips
- Encourage toddlers to use their whole body to express their ideas, whether it's pointing, clapping, or making faces.
- Model the actions or expressions first and celebrate any response the children make, showing excitement for their participation.
- Use a gentle, inviting tone to guide toddlers as they explore their feelings and ideas, ensuring they feel comfortable and proud of their expression.
UDL Strategies
Representation
- Include objects with a variety of textures such as smooth, bumpy, soft, and rough, as well as a range of sound-making objects like bells, shakers, and crinkly papers to cater to different sensory experiences.
- Use simple picture cards showing the objects in use and their corresponding textures or sounds. These visuals can help toddlers make connections between the objects and their sensory attributes.
- Narrate the exploration process with clear, simple language, such as 'This is soft like a teddy bear' or 'Listen to the crinkle sound,' to help toddlers associate words with sensory experiences.
- Offer sensory bags with tactile cues (like different fabrics) and auditory instructions using a gentle, calming voice to help children focus on each object and its properties.
Action & Expression
- Create a 'texture and sound book' where toddlers can place textured stickers or draw what they felt and heard, allowing them to document their experiences creatively.
- Encourage toddlers to express their discoveries through movement, such as dancing to the rhythm of a shaker or mimicking the motion of rubbing a fabric.
- Facilitate a group sharing session where each child can point to or hold up their favorite object while describing what they liked about it, supported by gestures and guided prompts for those who need it.
- Provide props like puppets or soft toys for toddlers to 'tell' or 'show' their experiences to, which can help those who are more comfortable expressing themselves through play.
Engagement
- Start with a short, engaging story about Cowy Cow going on a sensory adventure to set the scene and spark interest.
- Introduce a 'mystery bag' activity where children can guess the object inside by feeling, which adds an element of surprise and intrigue.
- Rotate the objects frequently and introduce new items to prevent boredom and maintain interest. Encourage children to share what they find with peers to foster social engagement.
- Include interactive songs or rhymes about textures and sounds to keep the atmosphere lively and encourage participation.
Assessment Criteria
Formative Assessment
- As toddlers explore the sensory table, educators should observe and note each child's level of engagement with different textures and sounds. Look for indicators such as repeated exploration of an object, expressions of surprise or excitement, or focused attention on certain items, which suggest curiosity and sensory discovery.
- Use open-ended questions to prompt toddlers' thinking and verbalization of their sensory experiences. Questions like 'What do you feel when you touch this?' or 'What sound does this make?' can help assess their ability to articulate observations and demonstrate curiosity. Consider their ability to differentiate textures and sounds in their responses.
- Observe peer interactions at the sensory table, noting any shared exploration or discussion about the objects. Look for moments where children exchange observations or imitate each other's actions, as these indicate social learning and engagement with the sensory features.
Summative Assessment
- Create a sensory exploration chart where each child can place pictures or stickers representing their favorite textures and sounds from the activity. Look for their ability to identify and visually represent at least one texture and one sound, and encourage them to explain their choices to assess understanding.
- Conduct a sharing circle where each child selects an object and describes their sensory experience with it. Evaluate their ability to communicate at least one feature of the object related to texture or sound, providing prompts or visual aids to support children who need assistance in expressing their discoveries.
- Organize an interactive sensory board featuring the explored objects and recorded toddler observations. Guide children to match their past observations with the correct objects, assessing their recall and understanding of the sensory features. Offer visual cues and verbal prompts to support those needing additional help.
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