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The jungle is a happy place. All the animals live there together in harmony until one sad day. The lion, King of the jungle, calls them together to say that something is wrong. Can they find out the cause of the problem and solve it, or will they have to decide to leave their homes and make a journey to find a new home?
Time passes in the jungle. One day, the lion again decides to consult the animals about something that is worrying him. He has heard a strange sobbing sound coming from the river. Could it really be the scary crocodile making that terrible noise? Why is he in pain? Can the animals help him? Is anyone brave enough?
Aims
To explore ideas about threats to society.
To discuss feelings of jealousy towards a new sibling.
To provide a challenge and present motives for asking questions.
Themes
Resources
Optional: Crown or cloak for the lion.
The imaginative play area can be designed as the jungle.
Notes
This selection of drama stories is based in a ‘story-book jungle’ with animals from different habitats living in the same environment. You may or may not want to be scientifically accurate about this.
It is important that you do not encourage the children to take on animal characteristics in this drama (e.g. growling, crawling on the ground). Encourage the children to ‘be’ the animals without behaving like them! They will be expected to be able to talk to you and to each other sensibly and you may have to set out these expectations explicitly at the start of the session.
The story about the crocodile is based on the story of The Selfish Crocodile by Charles Faustin.
In the jungle, by Charlie
Activity 1 Who lives in the jungle?
Teacher's intentions
To consider the animal life of a jungle.
To build belief in their own roles and in the place.
To practise being in an animal role without making exaggerated animal noises and exhibiting other overt animal behaviour.
Discussion: setting the scene
Ask the children to sit in a circle on the floor. Tell them that this represents the clearing in the jungle where the animals gather to have a chat and hold meetings when something important happens. Tell the children that you are going to be the lion, the King of the jungle in the story. You could use a crown and cloak to show when you are in role. Ask the children:
Which animal would you like to be in the jungle? Why do you think it would be fun to be a parrot? Please introduce yourselves to the group saying where you live in the jungle and what you like to eat. The children introduce themselves to the other ‘animals’.
Discussion
What do we know about jungles (e.g. climate, vegetation)? What animals might we find living there? Make a list and add attributes (e.g. monkeys – swing from trees, eat fruit, carry babies). What sounds and smells might we experience?
Dramatic play with teacher in role: the animals enjoy their environment
First narrate:
Once upon a time there was a peaceful jungle. All kinds of wonderful birds and animals lived happily together there. The big animals looked after the little animals and the little animals looked after the tiny ones. The lion was King of the jungle. His name was Leo. One lovely day in the jungle Leo was wandering around the jungle chatting to the animals and finding out what they were doing.
Stories
About the jungle: e.g. Professor Noah's Spaceship by Brian Wildsmith; Walking Through the Jungle by June Crebbin; The Selfish Crocodile by Charles Faustin; The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl.
What would the animals be doing on a hot lazy day in the jungle?
Discuss possibilities and tell children to find a space where they will be in the jungle.
Tell the children that you will be the lion walking around the jungle.
In role as the lion, the teacher chats to th...
