After months of preparation, Alphabet Zoop was started with a total of 11 children and 11 adults (all mothers and 1 grandma!). The first term was designed around the new Melbourne Zoo precinct called Growing Wild. This precinct was developed for children, particularly in the 3-8 year old bracket, with a myriad of interactive experiences ranging from digging in sand alongside a mob of Meerkats to becoming a Aldabra Giant Tortoise under a huge tortoise shell. This precinct was opened to Melbourne Zoo visitors in the September school holidays, 2012 and was well received by parents and children alike.
Growing Wild was an obvious first choice for Alphabet Zoop, however each term of a school year will have a different precinct assigned to it and therefore different animals for the children to experience on a return booking.
The first animal of the program that was bound to create great enthusiasm was the beloved Meerkat from Africa. The program was introduced to parents and children, each child receiving their own name tag on arrival. Once the children had chosen a cushion, they were given clues to identify the animal and letter of the week. Meerkat was guessed quite quickly by a number of the children and so the program commenced....
We read 'Meet the Meerkat' written by Darrin Lunde, which includes a series of questions and answers to aid children in learning more about the Meerkat. We then sang a song together, (which I created to the tune of 'Five Fat Sausages') a copy of which was provided to each parent in their 'song book'. To my delight all of the parents joined in the singing.
Then it was time to make our Meerkat masks. For this activity, each child was given a mask template, jumbo crayons and a paddle pop stick to hold their mask with. The children were shown an example of a pre-made mask but told that their mask could look however they wanted.
We then went on a journey of discovery to visit our Meerkat friends (and show off our masks). The Meerkats were looking for danger and sunning themselves when we arrived which is not unusual....
The program ended with a tea and coffee as a chance to meet one another and this also gave the children the opportunity to explore the book corner and sensory tub which included plush Meerkats, woodchips, insects and yellow play sand.
(A special thank you to Michael M. for hand-making our wooden sensory tub...the children adore it!)
