Exploring shapes with young children can be such fun when you involve a few animals friends from The Gruffalo. Using playful shapes let’s explore the characters in the book created by Julia Donaldson to create Shape Animals.
The Gruffalo is a playful story based on an old Chinese folktale of a fox and a tiger. Julia creates an imaginative mouse who walks through the woods making encounters with a few animals that would rather have him for lunch. As he protects himself from the various predators including a fox, owl, snake create shares that he is meeting the Gruffalo. A special Gruffalo that likes owl ice cream, roasted fox, scrabble snake… you get the picture they each run away in fear. All the while the mouse joking believe that there’s no such thing as a Gruffalo, little did he know when the final character he encounters in the Gruffalo himself. You’ll have to read the story to see what happens next!
We’ve shared quite a few fun ideas to go with The Gruffalo on The Educators’ Spin On It. Mouse Headband, Gruffalo Apron, Gruffalo Themed Finger Puppets and 20+ Gruffalo Themed Activities I wanted to add one more fun way to incorporate Math fun and learning for our preschoolers too. So easy and fun to make. Here’s how to do it.
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Gruffalo Themed Shape Animals
Once you finish reading the story with your child it’s time for a Animal Themed Project. We focused on learning shapes so we thought it would be a lot of fun to create the animals out of shapes. When we’re all done we can retell the story and the mouse’s journey through the forest.
Supplies Needed
- Construction Paper (Orange, Yellow, Black, White, Green, Brown, Pink)
- Scissors
- Glue
- Googly Eyes
- Black Crayon or Marker
Directions
Using scissors prepare the shapes for your younger child, older kids can prepare themselves.
Circle Mouse
- One large circle for head
- Two medium circles for ears
- Two small circles for inner ears
- one small circle for nose
- 6 whiskers
Triangle Fox
- Cut one large triangle for head
- Two medium size triangles for ears
- Four small white triangles for eyes and inner ears
- One small black nose
- Four black whiskers
Square Snake
- Seven Green Squares
- One Large Green Square
- Nine Small Yellow Squares
- Orange piece for tongue
Oval Owls
- One large oval for body
- One medium oval for body
- Two small ovals for wings
- Two ovals for eyes
- One triangle for beak
Rectangle Gruffalo
The story itself tells you all the pieces for the Gruffalo from the story… a bet you’ll hear your child retelling the story as they build their own Gruffalo
Gruffalo Shape Animals
Taking a fun book and incorporating a concept to learn about can be so much fun for you and your child. Giving purpose to knowing the names circle, triangle, square, rectangle, oval can be a confidence boaster for you child. You’re find your child retelling the story again and again with their new characters. Now go check out the other ideas that the Virtual Book Club for Kids Bloggers are sharing below.
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September Featured Author: Julia Donaldson
This month’s Virtual Book Club for Kids is featuring the author Julia Donaldson. Here are the three books we’re focusing on. We’d love for you to join us with your child or class.
The GruffaloRoom on the BroomStick Man
How to Join the Virtual Book Club for Kids
We’d love to see the Julia Donaldson inspired activities that you do with your child or class! Come share your activity Idea and photos on our VBC Facebook Page or in the Comment Section below.
Julia Donaldson Inspired Activities from the Virtual Book Club for Kids Bloggers
Room on the Broom Activities
Room on the Broom Activities by Inspiration Laboratories
Room on the Broom for a Rhyme by Ready Set Read
Room on a Broom Ordinal Numbers by Rainy Day Mum
Room on the Broom Sensory Bin by Still Playing School
Witch Hat Cupcakes for Kids by Coffee Cups and Crayons
Witches Hat Halloween Treat by The Pleasantist Things
Witch Shape Craft by Toddler Approved
Room on the Broom Coloring Pages by Crystal and Co
Stick Man Activities
Books for Kids: Stick Man by Growing Book by Book
Counting Ingredients into the Caldron by 3 Dinosaurs
Fancy Stick Crown by Mama Miss
Going on a Stick Hunt by Playing with Words 365
Recyled Stick Man Craft by LalyMom
The Gruffalo Activities
DIY Gruffalo Inspired Mouse Costume by The Educators’ Spin On It
Gruffalo Rhyming Tic Tac Toe Game by Royal Baloo
Gruffalo Themed Shape Animals by The Educators’ Spin On It
Roll a Gruffalo Game by Playdough to Playto
Julia Donaldson Virtual Book Club by Virtual Book Club for Kids
Printable Book List for upcoming Authors and Books for #vbcforkids
Check out Last month’s author Mo Willems
You’ll find even more ideas shared for Books and Activities by following along!
Leave a comment below for us if you’re joining the Virtual Book Club for Kids!
Very cute and creative. I especially like the owl!
This is a wonderful resource! Thank you. I can't wait to make some animals and read some books with my daughter!
AMAZING!!!!
Love, love this idea, we’ll be making our own little booklet of it. Wonderful resource. Thank you much….!!!