Shrine Circus

(K-2) Themed Unit

The circus is an especially valuable experience for young children. At the circus there are daring feats of tightrope walkers, acrobatic skill, performances of animals, and the lasting impression of lovable clowns. Children will observe differences in the playing, eating , and sleeping habits of animals. After a visit to the Shrine Circus, communication should be encouraged by the teacher so optimal learning will take place. A trip to the circus will provide many opportunities to write, read, sing, and discuss their experiences for a memorable lifelong learning adventure.

Theme Goals:

Through children participating in the experiences provided by the performances of Shrine Circus, the children will:

1. Learn about various animals that perform at the circus.

2. Be able to discuss and describe different circus performances.

3. Have a better understanding about the life of a circus worker.

4. Investigate interesting facts about circus history.

Concepts for Children to Learn:

1. Both children and adults can enjoy a circus.
2. The circus can be performed under a big tent.
3. Understand the life of a performing clown.
4. The trainer teaches the animal tricks.
5. Many people work at the circus.

Vocabulary:

1. circus – traveling show with people and animals.
2. clowns – people who wear make up and dress in silly clothes.
3. ringmaster – the person that runs the circus performances.
4. trapeze – short bar that is swinging.
5. trainer – the person that helps the animals learn their tricks.

Language Arts:

1. Brainstrom: Students will brainstorm a list of their favorite circus performance.
2. Journal Writing: Students will draw a picture and write about their favorite performance.
3. Letter Writing: Students will write thank you notes to the Shrine Circus about what they learned during their visit.

Math:

1. Graph: As a class, the students will graph their favorite circus performance.

2. Estimating: Before attending the circus the students will estimate the weight of a performing elephant. After attending the circus the class will review earlier estimates and determine which student was closest to the correct weight.

3. Peanut Math: Students will match the number of peanuts to the correct written number given. (Matching number to object).

4. Sorting: Find various pictures of animals found in a circus and sort them according to size, color, and species of animal.

Science:

1. Make Peanut butter: Take the shells off fresh peanuts. Blend peanuts in a blender until smooth. Add one to two tablespoons of oil per cup of peanuts and blend well. Add salt if desired. Spread on crackers. Eat for snack.
2. Sizzle Balloon: Pour 1 inch of vinegar in soda or catsup bottle. Put 2 teaspoons of baking soda inside a balloon. Quickly slip the open end of the balloon over the soda bottle. Watch the balloon fill with gas created by the interaction of the vinegar with the baking soda.

Social Studies:

1. Read, You Think It’s Fun To Be A Clown!, by David A. Adler. After finishing story, discuss the lives of circus workers.
2. Students will learn about the history of the circus through information given by Hamid Circus, Inc.

Arts and Crafts:

1. Puppets: Students will create an elephant, lion, clown, monkey, or peanut paper bag puppet (see attachment).
2. Paint a Clown: Students will paint a picture of a clown.
3. Stencils: Cut various circus animals out of tag board. Have students trace with felt tip markers, crayons, and pencils.
4. Clown Masks: Provide paper plates and markers to make paper plate clowns. Use glue to attach tongue depressor to paper plate.
5. Peanut Shell Collage: Provide peanut shells, paper, and glue for students to create collages.

Dramatic Play:

1. Circus: Set up a circus in your classroom: Use masking tape to make a circle on the floor. The students take turns performing in the ring.
2. Animal Trainers: On show and tell day have each student bring in their favorite stuffed animal and pretend to be animal trainers for the circus.
3. Clown Makeup: In housekeeping area, set up two to three make up mirrors and provide face paint. Students can apply face paint to imitate a clown.

Music:

1. “Circus” (Sing to the tune of “Did You Ever See a Lassie”)

Let’s pretend that we are clowns,

are clowns, are clowns.

Let’s pretend that we are clowns,

We’ll have so much fun.

We’ll put on our make up and make people laugh hard.

Let’s pretend that we are clowns,

We’ll have so much fun.

Let’s pretend that we are elephants,

are elephants, are elephants.

Let’s pretend that we are elephants,

we’ll have so much fun.

We’ll sway back and forth, and stand on just two legs.

Let’s pretend that we are elephants,

We’ll have so much fun.

Let’s pretend that we are on a trapeze,

a trapeze, a trapeze.

Let’s pretend that we are on a trapeze.

We’ll have so much fun.

We’ll swing high and swoop low and make people shout “oh!”

Let’s pretend that we are on a trapeze.

We’ll have so much fun!

Large Muscle:

1. Five Big Elephants: Choose 4 students to be elephants who follow one student chosen to be king. Walk around the room several times as the rhyme is chanted.

Five big elephants- Oh, what a sight.

Swinging their trunks from left to right. (Crouch over and clasp hands. Move arms left and right as the walk continues around the room).

Four are followers and one is the king,

But they all walk around in the circus ring.

2. Tightrope Walker: Provide a balance beam and a stick for the children to hold perpendicular to their bodies as they walk.

Cooking:

1. Elephant ears: Adult supervision required for this activity:

5 (10 can) refrigerated biscuits

1 ¼ c. sugar

5 tsp. Cinnamon

Open can of biscuits. Press two together and roll out between two sheets of wax paper until thin as possible. Heat vegetable oil enough to cover bottom in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry elephant ear one or two at a time until golden brown on one side, then turn and fry on the other side. Drain on paper towel and sprinkle with mixture of sugar and cinnamon. Serve warm. Makes 25 large elephant ears.

Book Resources:

The following books can be used to compliment this circus theme.

1. You Think It’s Fun To Be A Clown!, by David A. Adler.
2. If I Ran The Circus, by Dr. Seuss.
3. The Twelve Circus Rings, by Seymour Chwast.
4. The Circus Come Home…When the Greatest Show on Earth Rode the Rails, by Lois Duncan
5. Engelbert Joins the Circus, by Tom Paxton.
6. Clown Games, by Harriet Ziefert.
7. Sing a Song of Circus, by Ward Schumaker.
8. Mirette on the Highwire, by Emily Arnold Mc Cully.
9. Cannonball Simp, by John Birmingham.
10. Paddington at the Circus, by Michael Bond.