There are many species of rabbits. Each type of rabbit has its own special characteristics, often adapted to the environment, or habitat, in which the rabbit lives. Check out a site such as enature.com that helps you determine what rabbits you have in your area. The below preschool activities and games are based on the characteristics of the Eastern Cottontail, although they are general enough to include in a rabbit lesson plan.
Rabbit Leap Preschool Games
Cottontail rabbits usually hop but can leap ten to fifteen feet. Put a piece of tape down on the floor or rug as a starting line. One at a time, have the children leap their furthest. Put down a sticker dot for each child, so they can see how far they jumped.
When each child has had a turn, measure out ten to fifteen feet from the starting line and put down another dot or a rabbit sticker so the children can see how far a rabbit, with a body that’s approximately 15” to 18” long, can jump. If you are doing this game outside, you can use pebbles or pine cones are place markers.
To fool predators that are hunting a rabbit by smell, the rabbit will often jump sideways to break the scent trail. Have the children practice jumping sideways, providing a rope on the ground, if necessary. Next, have the children, one at a time or in small groups, walk or run three steps and then jump sideways.
Maze Memory Game
Rabbits will often create a network of trails beneath protective brush and shrubs simply by running over and over the same paths. Because they know where the trails lead and how they interconnect, the rabbit will have an easier time escaping predators such as house cats, foxes, and coyotes.
Set out a 3 x 3 or 4 x 4 grid of colored paper. Ideally, each piece of paper will be a different color. If that isn’t available, draw simple pictures – smiley face, heart, flower, triangle, square, etc. – on each piece of paper without repeating the designs. Now, create a pattern through the grid. Select four designs/colors, which each child must step on to move successfully through the grid.
Repeat the activity. Change the pattern and perhaps add the number of steps that will move the child through the maze.
Start a rabbit lesson plan with a story followed by information about real rabbits. Introduce a fact or two followed by an activity that allow children to act out rabbit behavior through kids’ games and make believe play. End the lesson with a rabbit craft that kids can take home to prompt a home conversation about the lives of rabbits.
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