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You can't take an elephant on a bus
by Patricia Cleveland-Park

Just the cover of this book is enough to entertain some kids for ages. The title just begs for a discussion about the elephant and where he is going and why he can't fit on. Each page provides similar images of animals doing something preposterous and is a real conversation starter for children. 
Scroll down for:
​⚈​ 1 Play ideas     ⚈​ 2 Classroom Activities 
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Get your hands on this book here:
Book Depository

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Prepositions - Age 3+
This book naturally encourages kids to talk about positions. You can start off discussing it as you read. Where is the elephant? Beside the bus. Where is the seal? In the taxi. After reading, try using toys to show positions. Can you put the truck on the rhino? Can you put the cat in front of the train? Depending on the ability level, you can also introduce written words with visual cues (shown here in the picture to the left). Children could try to match the cards to animals set up in those positions. 

Read about when we originally did it on Instagram - HERE
Blank objects- Age 2+
Colouring sheets can be used in so many different ways. Either draw an image from a book or find one online to print off. Repeat the object and add numbers for an extra bit of number revision. Your child can simply colour them in if they choose. For something different though, why not have them rip up some tissue paper and glue them on? It adds a bit of muscle building (gripping and ripping the tissue) and sensory play (scrunching the tissue into little balls as well as sticky glue). 
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  • Write your own silly version of  the story or just a page 
  • Use a page to tell a story in more detail about one of the animals
  • Create a better option than a roller coaster for all the animals to share
  • Design (and build?) a form of transportation for one of the animals

Click below for other books and activities about London:

You can't take an elephant on the bus - London themed book activities
You can't take an elephant on the bus - London themed counting activity
You can't take an elephant on the bus - London themed craft
You can't take an elephant on the bus - preposition activity
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