"The question is, are we happy to suppose that our grandchildren may never be able to see an elephant except in a picture book?" - Sir David Attenborough
This week's CST session focuses on the animal kingdom. This is because Wednesday 4th October is 'World Animal Day'.
Begin with welcome and introductions and ask members to say what their favourite animal is, which they have seen or would most like to see, which impresses them the most and so on.
Have members got an animal as a pet, or have they had one? What type of animal are/were they? What are/were their names? (Take care as the death of a beloved pet can represent a significant loss for people.)
SIMILIES
Ask members to complete the following statements ...
- As cunning as a FOX
- As wise as an OWL
- As stubborn as a MULE
- As gentle as a LAMB
- As blind as a BAT
- As busy as a BEE
- As quiet as a MOUSE
- As proud as a PEACOCK
- As sick as a DOG
- As slippery as an EEL
- As strong as an OX
- As mad as a March HARE
- As busy as a BEAVER
- As graceful as a SWAN
- As brave as a LION
IDIOMS
Ask members to complete these well known phrases, together ...
- Elephants never FORGET
- Birds of a feather flock TOGETHER
- A bird in the hand is worth TWO IN THE BUSH
- Ants in your PANTS
- The birds and the BEES
- Cat's got your TONGUE
- Chicken OUT
- Clam UP
- Copy CAT
- Dropping like FLIES
- Eager BEAVER
- Fishy BUSINESS
- Hold your HORSES
- Get the lion's SHARE
- In the dog HOUSE
- Kill two birds with ONE STONE
- Let the cat out of THE BAG
- A little bird TOLD ME
- Nest EGG
- Pig OUT
- Put the cat amongst THE PIGEONS
- Rat RACE
- Red HERRING
- See no EVIL, Hear no EVIL, Speak NO EVIL (THREE WISE MONKEYS)
- Straight from the HORSE'S MOUTH
- Take the bull by THE HORNS
- Until the cows COME HOME
- While the cat's away THE MICE WILL PLAY
Whys it this phrase special? - 'The quick brown fox jumps over the LAZY DOG?' - IT CONTAINS ALL THE LETTERS OF THE ALPHABET
NATIONAL ANIMALS
Ask members to think about which animals are synonymous with particular countries, i.e. regarded as National Animals or Emblems.
- Australia - RED KANGAROO
- Canada - NORTH AMERICAN BEAVER
- China - GIANT PANDA
- France - COCKEREL
- India - ROYAL BENGAL TIGER & KING COBRA
- Japan - KOI CARP
- Mauritius - DODO (extinct)
- Mexico - GOLDEN EAGLE
- Nepal - COW
- New Zealand - KIWI
- Russia - EUROPEAN BROWN BEAR
- Scotland - SHETLAND PONY
- South Africa - SPRINGBOK
- Thailand - ELEPHANT
- United Arab Emirates - PEREGRINE FALCON
- United Kingdom - BRITISH BULLDOG, LION
- United States - BALD EAGLE, AMERICAN BISON
- Wales - RED KITE, RED DRAGON & SHEEP
MUSIC & PICTURE QUIZ
Help members enjoy these pictures, questions and music clips. Give lots of clues like first names to help members get the answers. Encourage story telling and reminiscences.
ROUND 1. Record breakers
1. The world's largest animal is what?
Who wrote 'Moby Dick' in 1851?
2. The world's tallest land animal is what?
How tall does a male one grow?
(They are HERBIVORES - Their long necks allow them to reach leaves, seeds, fruits, buds and branches high up in mimosa and acacia trees. They get most of their moisture from the vegetation they eat.)
3. The world's tallest dog, 'Zeus', was which breed?
How tall was he (when stood on his hind legs)?
4. The smelliest animal in the world is what?
How far can it spray?