Manual Main Page | Preschool

Home on the Range

Books to Share

• Cowboy Bunnies by Christine Loomis.
• Cowpokes by Caroline Stutson.
• Raising Cows on the Koebels' Farm by Alice K. Flanagan.
• Tall in the Saddle by Anne Carter.
• Whitefish Will Rides Again! by Arthur Yorinks.

Books to Display and Booktalk

• The Cowboy and the Black-eyed Pea by Tony Johnston.
• Cows by Pete Brady.
• Slim and Miss Prim by Robert Kinerk.
• Why Cowboys Sleep With Their Boots On by Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton.

Bulletin Board

Howdy Pardner… Read All About Cowboys!!!

Cover the top half of a bulletin board with blue paper to represent the sky the bottom half with brown paper to represent land. Place a green cactus on one side of the board. Put a paper fence on the bottom of the board and a ranch house to the right of the board. Surround it with book jackets or titles, authors, and call numbers of books about cowboys.

Display

Cowboy Book Display

Display books and realia, such as Why Cowboys Sleep With Their Boots On and a boot, The Cowboy and the Black-eyed Pea and a cowboy hat filled with black-eyed peas, and Tall in the Saddle with a plastic horse and a man's bolo tie. Cut out cowboy hats in various colors and place them on the wall or on the end of the bookshelf so that they lead to the display of cowboy books. Hang stars, hearts, and Texas shapes from the ceiling to represent the song, "Deep in the Heart of Texas."

Fingerplays

I Am A Little Horned Toad

(Traditional)

I am a little horned toad
Hopping down the road (Make fingers hop in time to verses)
Just listen to my song. (Cup hand behind ear)
I sleep all winter long. (Palms together at side of head)
When spring comes, I peep out (Peep behind hands)
And then I jump about (Make arms jump)
And now I catch a fly (Clap hands)
And now I wink my eye; (Wink one eye)
And now and then I hop, (Make hands hop)
And now and then I stop! (Fold hands)

This Little Cowboy

(By Tina Irene Hager)

This little cowboy rode into town, (Hold up first finger)
This little cowboy stayed home, (Hold up 2nd finger)
This little cowboy ate some beans, (Hold up 3rd finger)
This little cowboy had none, (Hold up pinky)
This little cowboy yelled "Yeehah" all the way home. (Hold up thumb with other fingers and yell yeehah)

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Songs

Tex McDonald Had a Ranch

(By Tina Irene Hager)
(Sing to the tune of "Old McDonald Had a Farm.")

Tex McDonald had a ranch, yippy, yippy, yoh,
And on this ranch he had cowboys, yippy, yippy, yoh,
With a yeehah here and a yeehah there,
Here a yee, there a ha, everywhere a yeeha,
Tex McDonald had a ranch, yippy, yippy yoh.

Tex McDonald had a ranch, yippy, yippy yoh,
And on this ranch he had a cook, yippy, yippy yoh,
With a come and get it here, and a come and get it there,
Here a come, there a get it, everywhere a come get it,
Tex McDonald had a ranch, yippy, yippy, yoh.

Tex McDonald had a ranch, yippy, yippy yoh,
And on this ranch he had horses, yippy, yippy yoh,
With a neigh, neigh here, and a neigh, neigh there,
Here a neigh, there a neigh, everywhere a neigh, neigh,
Tex McDonald had a ranch, yippy, yippy, yoh.

Tex McDonald had a ranch, yippy, yippy, yoh,
And on this ranch he had cattle, yippy, yippy, yoh,
With a moo, moo, here and a moo, moo, there,
Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo, moo,
Tex McDonald had a ranch, yippy, yippy, yoh.

Tex McDonald had a ranch, yippy, yippy, yoh
And on this ranch was a coyote, yippy, yippy, yoh,
With a howl, howl here, and a howl, howl, there,
Here a howl, there a howl, everywhere a howl, howl,
Tex McDonald had a ranch, yippy, yippy, yoh.

Cowboy Bob

(By Tina Irene Hager)
(Sing to the tune of "Frere Jacques.")

Mind the cattle, mind the cattle,
Cowboy Bob, Cowboy Bob,
Keep them on the trail, keep them on the trail,
Yippy yi yob, yippy yi yob.

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Story

Tell "The Cowboy Who Cried Coyote."

Crafts

Fancy Cowgirl/Cowboy Hat Magnet

Materials

• Cowgirl hat pattern
• Glue
• Scissors
• Buttons
• Foil stars, glitter, or glitter pens
• Magnets

Directions

Cut out the cowgirl hats using the pattern. Children glue on buttons to the hats and decorate them with foil stars, glitter, or glitter pens. Attach the self-adhesive magnet so it can be placed on the refrigerator.

Put the Cowboy Together

Materials

• Copies of the cowboy pattern
• Glue
• Scissors
• Colored construction paper

Directions

Copy the cowboy pattern pieces. Cut out all the shapes. Let an adult help the children glue them onto a piece of construction paper to make a cowboy.

Games and Activities

101 Uses for a Bandana

Show the kids a bandana and ask them to name various things for which they could use it. Examples are a beanie baby bed, scarf for head, scarf for around the neck, blindfold to play games, bracelet, and belt.

Cowpoke Boot Scramble

Ask the children take off their shoes and place them in the middle of the room. Mix them up and tell them to find both of their shoes when you call out, "Ride'm Cowboys." Give a prize to the child who finds his or her shoes first and to the first child to put his or her shoes on to the correct feet.

Guest Speakers

Contact a local clown organization and invite a rodeo clown or a clown who portrays a cowboy character to entertain the children.

Invite a ranch hand to tell the children about his work.

Musical Recording

The Cowboy Album.

Video

Meanwhile Back at the Ranch. (29 minutes)

Table of Contents | Texas Critters

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