I LOVE pointing out farm animals as we drive by: Ohh, cows! Hey, do you see the sheep? Those goats are so cute! I just can’t resist. And my youngest daughter gets so thrilled to see them every. single. time. This free Printable Farm Animal Hide and Seek Game for Preschool is a great way for kids to learn farm animal names, farm animal sounds, what they eat, where they live, etc. Our newest preschool activity is a great way to expand a child’s vocabulary while enjoying a free farm themed activity.
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Learning About Farm Animals in Preschool
ON THE FARM PRESCHOOL ACTIVITIES
EXPANDING VOCABULARY WORDS IN PRESCHOOL AND EXPOSING CHILDREN TO A GREATER WORLD ARE IMPORTANT OBJECTIVES TO IMPROVE PRE-READING SKILLS.
Whether you live right on the edge of farmland like us or live in an urban area, it’s important for young children to learn about farm animals and the part that they play in our lives.
On the farm we’re taught at a young age about the way life works. In preschool, farm animals are a great place to start understanding the bigger picture of their purpose in our lives. Watching animals birth, raise young, provide milk, and then eventually providing food. It’s a very natural process when you live on a farm.
But when you don’t live on a farm it can be hard to understand where food comes from. I’ve even met kids who have never seen a cow in person or compared the softness of cotton balls to a real sheep! These are the kind of kids who have the potential to grow up thinking that their food is manufactured in some magic lab rather than grown on a farm.
Farm animal activities for preschool and kindergarten spark conversations about the ways that farms provide for us in age appropriate ways.
- What do cows/pigs/sheep provide for us?
- Do you have a garden?
- Would you want to be a farmer?
- What do the animals need every day?
What Can Preschoolers Learn From A Fun Animals Hide & Seek Game?
i SPY PRESCHOOL GAME
ENGAGING WITH DRAMATIC PLAY OR PRESCHOOL I SPY PRINTABLES/HIDE AND SEEK GAMES MAKE LEARNING MEANINGFUL FOR KIDS.
This free printable preschool farm game is a fun way to engage with kids and teach them about different animals. There are the very familiar animals like cows, horses and pigs, but there are also pictures included for a hen, chick and rooster which create a great opportunity to explain that they are all different kinds of chickens.
This can lead to a conversation about the different names that we have for adult animals and baby animals. It’s also a great springboard for pretend play. Finally, the free printable I Spy game works those fine motor skills while grasping the cards to find the barn.
Why Is It Important For Kids To Learn About Farm Animals?
Children are naturally curious about everything around them. Learning about farm animals helps them understand the world a little bit better.
Background Knowledge
Learning about animals is really the first step toward more complex science concepts, like the scientific process.
Connect with Nature
The more children know and understand about the natural world, the more they will connect and understand to natural surroundings.
Understand Cycles
Many things in our world are cyclical: life, seasons, and weather are a few examples. Understanding farm animals gives kids knowledge of general cycles.
Make Connections
Learning different farm animals, from cows to ducks, helps kids make deeper connections among them and relate it to themselves.
How to Make This Farm Animal Hide & Seek Game
Step One:
This Hide and Seek Farm Animal game for preschool is super easy to set up and the kids simply LOVE it! To prepare the farm animal game, print the version you prefer to use. You can choose from the color farm animal game or the black and white version.
Step Two:
Next, just cut the farm animals and the hiding barn. Laminate if you prefer. Place the farm animals in a pocket chart.
Step Three:
To play, children can take turns guessing an animal and checking to see if that is where the barn is hiding. While the kids have their eyes covered, hide the picture of the barn behind one of the farm animals.
Expand Background
Increase background knowledge with videos on YouTube that can show kids the different animals that live on the farm (or elsewhere).
Sensory Bin
A farm themed sensory bin complete with plastic farm animals is a great way to implement sensory play into learning about animals.
Picture Matching
Give your child real-life farm animal pictures and see if they can match them to the printable pictures.