Report

Saif in the zoo

- Nada Arif
- ECE 3203
- Antoinette Wiseman
For second assessment for our “learning through literature” course, I wrote a story which is about

zoo animals and some information about each animal. I create a boy character “Saif” to attract

the student’s attention and let them focus more with the story. The target age for this story is

from 3 to 5 years, which is for KG1 or KG2 students. The story supports the culture of the UAE

because I create “Saif” character his name is using in our culture and he is wearing UAE cloths,

also in the page of the monkey the illustrator draws a palm for the banana and in the UAE we

also have a palms so children can make a link between the story and their culture. Moreover, I

designed three activities that support my story which they are “Math, science, and literacy”. I

tried to make a simple story but at the same time help the students to recognize new concepts.

My story name is “Saif in the zoo”, I wrote the story while I let my cousin “Huda” to help me

with the drawing the story and the characters because she is very smart in the drawing and she is

graphic designer also. The story published in 2nd of April 2018, it was on Monday. My story is

fantasy and informational, fantasy because the animals talk to the boy when he is in the zoo and

informational because I put some information in each page for each animal. Saif in the zoo story

is about a little Emirati boy his name is Saif, he went to the zoo and saw some animals. He will

show us the animals that he saw it yesterday in the zoo and telling us some information about

them, such as; lion, giraffe, elephant, frog, and monkey. In Saif in the zoo story there are six

characters which they are; Saif, the lion, the giraffe, the elephant, the frog, and the monkey. I

decided to use the puppets while reading the story for the children because it will attract their

attention and they will be excited to try it with me, I create activity for the circle time after

reading the story which is letting a group of the students create a story with using their

imagination and use the puppets with showing us.

After that, and after I read the story I will let them start with the STEAM activities that related to

my story and to let understand the story more. “STEAM is an educational approach to learning

that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as access points for

guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking.” (WHAT IS STEAM?, n.d.) . I explain

the activities for the students and give them the instructions after I finish the puppet activity in

the circle area, they were four activities. For the math activity each child will have a paper that

contain some animals and they should count them then stick the correct number next to it. While

for the science activity they will going to have a paper include a tree without leaves and they will

have pictures of the leaves, they will be going to make their own tree for the zoo. For the art

activity they will have paper that include the picture of one of the animals they will join the dot

then they will color it as they like to be creative. The last activity for the literacy, they will have

pictures of each animal and the names of them, they will be going to stick the name next to each

picture so they will know new concepts.

While they doing the activities I ask them some questions that related to the story like; what is

the name of this animal? What we call this number? , I observe them and try to help them.

“Vygotsky believed that when a student is in the ZPD for a particular task, providing the

appropriate assistance will give the student enough of a "boost" to achieve the task.” (Vygotsky,

2012) so it’s good to use the ZPD which is the teacher helping the students or let them work in a

group or with friend, because it will increase their understanding and let them finish the activity

fast.
Photos of the activities:

Literacy activity Math activity

Science activity
References

Vygotsky, L. (2012). Zone of Proximal Development. Retrieved from simplypsychology:

https://www.simplypsychology.org/Zone-of-Proximal-Development.html

WHAT IS STEAM? (n.d.). Retrieved from educationcloset: https://educationcloset.com/steam/what-is-

steam/
 . Lesson Plan Template

Name: Nada Arif

Professional Development Plan
(What do YOU need to work on to grow professionally?)
1. Choose and describe an aspect from a teaching competency that you need to work on (Goal)
For this lesson I am going to choose a goal which is; let the students recognize new concepts and know what
the animals they can see in the zoo.

2. Describe what you will do to help achieve your goal (Strategies Used)
To achieve my goal, I am going to engage the students in the circle time, and do something that attract their
attention.

3. Describe how you can tell if you’re achieving your goal (Evidence)
I will know that I achieve my goal by giving assessment for the students at the end of the lesson and ask them
some questions related to the story.

Grade Level: Subject: Learning Outcome (MOE code and words):

Kindergarten 2 Literacy- story “Saif in the K2.4.2.1.2: Create an illustration of something they
zoo” have learned or experienced.
Resources (what materials/equipment will you and Preparation (what do you need to make or check before
the students use? Be specific) class?)

Introduction: Big screen – computer – puppets – the Materials and activities are ready
story
Book is ready
Activity: papers – small numbers – names of the
animals – leaves – glue – pencils Check if the technology works.

Assessment: checklist - flashcards Key vocabulary

lion, giraffe, elephant, frog, monkey, yesterday,

animals, zoo, loud, voice, tall, long, nose, eat, banana,
big, eyes, green.
Introduction (warmer activity + teacher active engagement)

- Start the lesson with making warmer activity with a song on the big screen.
- Start introducing the book and asking them what they can see in the cover page.
Time: 15 min

- Then, tell the students the story with using the puppets.
Whole

- When we will finish from reading the story, let group of the students make a story by using
their imagination and the puppets and show us in the circle time.
 Independent Experience (small group activity 1) math activity

- Teacher will give the instruction for the - Students will write their name on the paper, then
students and observe them while they do the they will count the animals in the paper and stick
activity. the correct number next to it with the glue.

- Help the students if they need.

Independent Experience (small group activity 2) science activity

- Teacher will give the instruction for the
students and observe them while they do the
activity.
- Help the students if they need.
- Students will write their name on the paper, then
they will stick the leaves on the tree that they have
on the paper and they will going to make their own
tree for the zoo.

Independent Experience (small group activity 3) literacy activity

- Teacher will give the instruction for the - Students will write their name on the paper, then
students and observe them while they do the they will stick the write name next to each animal
activity. to learn new concepts.

Independent Experience (small group activity 4) Art activity

- Teacher will give the instruction for the - Students

Students will
willwrite
havetheir nameofonthe
pictures theanimals
paper, then
and - Stude
students and observe them while they do the they
the will be going to join the dots and color it as they wi
will stick the write name next to each animal.
activity. they like and be creative.

- Which animal you like in the story?

- Who can tell me, where the frog lives?
15 min

- What the monkey like to eat?

- Is the lion had loud voice?
Closing

Time:

- Who is bigger? The elephant or the giraffe?

Assessment

- Students will have cards that include the name of each animal and the animal’s pictures, they should match the cards
together and show the teacher.

- While the teacher will do the checklist while she observe them.