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The Lion King: Class Activities for Early Years

Aim: To think about the reasons for leaving one's country, and the possible experience of exile.

The Story:

When Simba is born he is introduced to the inhabitants of the Pride Lands as their future king. As he grows up, he is taught about his culture and his role in the future of his kingdom. His jealous uncle, Scar, plots to kill him but fails. Instead he kills Simba's father and drives the young prince into exile.

Simba is welcomed by the inhabitants of the neighbouring country, who share their food and way of life with him. However, he misses his own place and people, and so returns to oust Scar, who had become king and brought devastation to the land.

Activities

  1. Read the story/show the film to the class.
  2. Recap the story and allow the children to give their immediate responses in Circle Time.
    'Tell me one thing you remember about the story'
    'Why do you remember this part?'
  3. Picture board: Fold a large piece of paper into 4. Ask the children to tell you the main points of the story. Try to agree on the 4 main points of the story, one for each section of the paper. These can be illustrated or phrased in one or two sentences. The children can make their own versions as zigzag books.
  4. Why did Simba leave? Teacher holds a toy lion/picture to represent Simba. Allow the children to ask Simba what happened to him, how he feels etc, with the teacher replying in role.
    'Is there anything you'd like to ask Simba? How do you think he feels? Is there anything you could say to help him feel better?'
  5. Timon and Pumbaa looked after him and made him feel welcome. How do the children make people feel welcome who come to their class? Brainstorm ideas, making them as practical as possible, e.g. 'we let them play with our toys'. These ideas could then be illustrated to make a 'friendly welcome' display.
  6. Look at the DVD, Scene 13: 'Hakuna matata' (until Scar comes on screen): learning about a new culture. Simba has to get used to new words and ideas, and new food. In Circle Time, ask the children if what it might be like to do that. We all like different things to eat, and yet they all help us to keep alive and healthy. Sometimes there is something we don't like the look of, but it's nice when we try it. Read the poem 'Five Senses' to the children, and use it as a template for writing a class poem, using ideas of their own.

Resources: