Syllable Clapping: "Alligator and crocodile are some pretty long words, and they're also fun to say. Parents and caregivers, clapping while sounding out long or unfamiliar words together is a great way to help children recognize that words are made up of smaller sounds, a skill that will help them when they start to learn to read." [Clap and say "AL-LI-GA-TOR" slowly to beat, then say it again and again clapping with group, speeding up. If it starts to sound like applause, bow and say 'Thank you.' Do same for "CROC-O-DI-LE."]
Talk: "Crocodiles have the strongest bite of any animal--much stronger than sharks and tigers! Alligators are in 2nd place. Crocodiles have around 60 teeth [sources differ]. Can you imagine having to brush that many teeth every morning and night?"
Book: Clarabella's Teeth by An Vrombaut
OR
Book: I'd Really Like to Eat a Child by Silviane Sonnio
Action Rhyme: "One Little Crocodile"
One little crocodile swimming through the SWAMP, [swimming action]
looking around for something he can CHOMP ["looking around" action, clap on CHOMP]
He SNAPS at a frog,
but the frog gets away [hold hands out, palms up, shrug]
and the crocodile goes home hungry that day. [rub belly to indicate hunger]
He SNAPS at a turtle...he SNAPS at a fish...
One little crocodile out in the SWAMP,
looking around to see what he can CHOMP,
he SNAPS and he SNAPS but he doesn't catch a thing,
so he has to get his dinner from Burger King.
Song: “Dance, Freeze, Melt” by The Learning Groove from Rockin’ Red
Book: Snip! Snap! What's That? by Mara Bergman
Action Rhyme: "Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree"
Action song: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"--"First, we'll sing the familiar verse together, then, I'll sing a new verse you might not have heard, then we'll sing the new verse all together! [New verse ending: "If you see an alligator, don't forget to scream. Aah!"]
Talk: Alligators and crocodiles are reptiles. Can you name some other reptiles? All reptiles are born from eggs [segue to shaker eggs]...
Song with Shaker Eggs: "Twist and Shout" by Rob Newhouse from Songs for Wiggleworms
Book: The Wide-Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulkner
Closing Song: Laurie Berkner's "These Are My Glasses" a cappella. "Today, everything we find in our book will begin with A." Possibles before opening to kids for suggestions: Astronaut! [blast-off] Alien! Avalanche!
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Alternate Book: There's an Alligator Under My Bed by Mercer Mayer
