RIC-20935 Early years Fairytales - Billy goats

Three billy goats Gruff
• On a plain black background and using simple colourful
shapes, have the children assist in creating a scene from
the story. Make the following components only: three white
goats, a bridge, a troll and two different kinds of grass:
one short and dull, and the other long and lush green. If
desired, the bridge and grass can be fixed features and
the goats and troll stick puppets (or backed with adhesive
material) to enable the children to retell the story by moving
the characters.
Display ideas
Goat paddock
• Make a goat paddock by using green crepe paper. Goat
shapes can be assembled and placed in the paddock.
Bridges designed by one of the children can be chosen and
placed in the goat paddock and left there for a given time.
Change the bridge regularly so that all children have an
opportunity to place their bridge creation in the display.
Animal families
• Prepare a wall chart divided into three sections headed:
‘Mother’, ‘father’ and ‘babies’. Discuss goats and write the
appropriate names for each at the top of each column.
Discuss other farm animals and add these names to the
chart. Children can find pictures in magazines to add to it.
Find the best goat
• The children find and cut out pictures of goats from
magazines. These are glued onto a large sheet of paper
with the heading ‘Find the best goat’. The children take
turns to identify the goat they like best; it may not be one
they found themselves. They then explain to the class why
they like this particular goat the most. Create a simple
pictograph about the results to display next to the goat
mural.
Bridges
• After children have constructed bridges using a variety of
different materials, they can be displayed so others can
discuss their features, and strengths and weaknesses. Each
should be clearly labelled with the designer’s name.
Goat food
• Label a shoebox: ‘Goat food’. After talking with the children
about looking after goats and what they eat, encourage them
to bring a small amount of food to school that is suitable
for a goat. Place a plastic model or toy of a goat (or three
goats) next to the shoebox so that the children can ‘feed’ the
goat. Ensure the children wash their hands before and after
use. Dispose of the food after a few days.
Same and different
• Display simple diagrams of a cow and a goat and
encourage children to compare the two animals and to talk
about any similarities and differences. Their ideas can be
written on a graphic organiser under the headings ‘Same’
and ‘Different’ and placed near the diagrams.
Which one?
• Prepare a wall strip with 10 goats all looking in the same
direction and with different colourings and markings. Write
the ordinal number on each and use this chart to practise
ordinal numbers; for example: ‘What colour is the third
goat?’ ‘Which goat is this one?’
Match the words
• Display a large picture of a goat with labels naming parts
such the head, ears, nose and legs. Make a set of cards
with double-sided tape on the back and the same words on
the front. Individual children match the names and attach
the cards to the chart.
head
eyes
horns
neck
back tail
nose
mouth ears
beard
legs
feet
18 Early years themes—Fairytales—The three billy goats Gruff www.ricpublications.com.au – R.I.C. Publications ®