Glitter and Gluesticks Forever: We're Off on An African Safari!: I'm Going on a Safari" Chant

We’re off on an African safari to meet some of our animal friends! Some of those friends include roaring lions, stomping elephants and leaping gazelles. The children were so excited to jump into a jeep, buckle their seat belt s and go trekking through the beautiful African Savannah (grasslands). With a “camera” in hand, they “snapped some pretty cool photos and had lots of fun, too.

The kids went “wild” over the following language arts activity which introduces and identifies the proper names of African wildlife titled I’m Going On a Safari in a chanting format. You will find the chant at the end of this post.

How to Make the I’m Going On a Safari Chant

Supplies Needed

Construction Paper or Card-stock

Glue

Laminator (optional)

Photos of African Animals (I especially liked the photos from Cahill’s Creations on the Teacherspayteachers.com site)

Camera Coloring Page

scissors

Word Processing System such as Word or Pages

Printer

hole punch

String or curling ribbon.

Type the following chant into a word processing system. Cut out with scissors and glue onto a sheet of construction paper or card-stock.
Laminate the paper with chant. (optional)
Find pictures of safari wildlife such as lions, elephants, hyenas etc. or go to the teachers pay teachers website. You can create a free account in order to receive the free download of African Animal Photographs from Cahill’s Creations. These can be found by typing in African Animals and refining your search to free items only or by clicking on the previously typed Cahill's Creations link above.
Select and print the photos onto card-stock that correspond to the bolded words. Example: print out the picture of the zebras and the acacia tree.
Type out words that identify each animal or thing such as cheetah, savannah etc. using a word processing system. Cut out the words with scissors. Glue words onto the correct photos.
Laminate the photos (if desired).
Search the internet for a camera coloring page onto card-stock. Print the coloring page out and color as desired.
Laminate the camera coloring page. (optional)
Punch holes on the sides of the camera and string a small piece of string or curling ribbon through the holes. Tie off so that the camera can be worn around your neck during the chant.

*Tip: You could turn this chant into a flannelboard by placing velcro on the back of the pieces*

How to Teach “I’m Going On a Safari” Chant

*If you place the chant on your easel, you will need tape to affix the pieces*

The teacher should tell the children that they are going on an African Safari. She should ask the children questions such as Do you know what a safari is? What animals do you think you will see on a safari? etc. Give the children a few minutes to answer the questions.
If the children incorrectly answered the questions, the teacher should tell them that a safari is a special trip that people go on to see the animals of the African savannah (Grasslands). She should continue by showing the children a map of Africa and tell them that the Savannah is a place that is very dry or wet, depending on the season, and where tall grass grows. She should discuss that they will learn about all the exciting animals that live there!
The teacher should give instructions to the students before starting the chant. She should tell the students they are going to make believe that they are taking pictures of all the animals they see on their safari. She tells them that when she say s“I snap a picture” they should place their hands in the air mimicking a camera taking a picture. She will then place “their” picture of the animal on the board. After this has been told to the children the teacher begins the chant.
The teacher should place the camera around her neck and begin to chant the verses. She retells the children to mimic the camera flashing when they hear the appropriate words.
As she snaps her picture, she should place the photos of the animals on her easel using tape or velcro for a flannelboard.
The teacher should continue until the chant is finished and all the photos have been placed on the board.

I’m Going On a Safari

I’m going on a safari

my camera’s with me