Preschool Halloween Bats
Preschool Art Lesson Plan (45 minutes)
Theme: Halloween Bats
Age Group: 3-5 years
Lesson Objectives:
Introduce children to the characteristics of bats.
Develop fine motor skills by using glue and folding paper.
Encourage creativity in making a bat puppet with movable wings.
Materials Needed:
Black, white, and red/yellow construction paper
Glue sticks
Pre-folded black paper (long strips, folded into double-layer tubes)
Pre-cut bat wings (black paper)
Pre-cut bat teeth, tongue (red or yellow paper)
Pre-cut eyes (white paper with black circles for pupils)
Smocks or aprons for children
Lesson Procedure:
Introduction (5 minutes)
Discussion (2 minutes): "Today, we’re going to make a Halloween bat! Bats are creatures that fly at night, and they have big wings and funny faces."
Characteristics of Bats (3 minutes): "Bats have big, pointy wings, sharp teeth, and sometimes a long tongue. They like to fly around at night and are very good at using their ears to find food. Now let’s make our own bat friends!"
Show a simple bat picture to illustrate the features (wings, teeth, eyes).
Activity Explanation (3 minutes)
Instructions (3 minutes):
"We already have the paper tubes ready for our bat’s body. Now we’re going to make the bat’s wings, teeth, and eyes! First, we’ll fold the paper tube, then glue on the eyes, teeth, and wings. Once your bat is ready, you can make it fly using your hands."
Hands-On Activity (24 minutes)
Step 1: Prepare the Bat Body (5 minutes): Provide each child with a pre-folded black paper tube. Show them how to fold the tube twice, creating a "Z" shape or a zigzag fold. This will form the body of the bat. Help them glue the edges to secure the folds. Once the body is complete, move on to the next step.
Step 2: Attach the Bat's Features (6 minutes): Provide pre-cut eyes, teeth, and tongue shapes. Show children how to glue the eyes at the top of the tube. Have them attach the teeth and tongue at the front of the tube. Use red or yellow paper for the teeth and tongue to add color and contrast. Help children glue the bat wings to the sides of the paper tube.
Step 3: Make the Bat Fly (8 minutes): Once the bat's features are attached, guide the children to insert their thumbs and ring fingers into the two ends of the paper tube. Encourage them to open and close their fingers, making the wings of the bat flap and creating a flying effect. Let children try this several times to see how their bats can fly.
Clean-Up and Reflection (5 minutes)
Clean-Up (3 minutes): Ask the children to clean up their workstations, putting away glue sticks.
Reflection (2 minutes): Gather the children to share their bats with the group. Ask questions like, "What color is your bat?" "How did your bat fly?" and "Can you show us how your bat flaps its wings?"
Key Vocabulary:
Bat: A flying mammal that comes out at night.
Wings: The body part that helps bats fly.
Teeth: Sharp parts in the bat’s mouth.
Tongue: The soft part of the bat’s mouth used to eat.
Fold: To bend paper in a way that makes it smaller or creates a shape.
Fly: To move through the air.
Learning Goals:
Fine Motor Skills: Children will practice folding, gluing, and using their hands to manipulate the paper tube to create a moving bat.
Creativity: Children will make their own bat and explore how to animate it with their hands.
Understanding Movement: Children will understand how bats flap their wings and can move through the air.
Assessment:
Engagement: Observe how children engage with the activity and follow the steps.
Fine Motor Skills: Check how children use glue and folding techniques.
Creativity: Assess how children personalize their bats and create movement.
Extension Ideas (Optional):
Bat Story Time: After finishing the activity, read a Halloween-themed book about bats, like Stellaluna by Janell Cannon.
Bat Dance: Have children pretend to be bats and flap their wings, flying around the room.
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