Lesson Plan
Hot Dog Clown Trick
- Grades: PreK–K
- Unit Plan:
Overview
- Students will make a hot dog clown prop.
- Students will develop their own way of verbalizing the clown trick to others.
- Students will understand what clowns do.
Objective
- Students will make a trick hot dog.
- Students will plan what they will say and how they will act to do the clown trick.
- Students will perform the clown trick with other classmates.
Materials
- 24" length of string
- Clown books (See My Best Books for Teaching the Circus)
- Manila, 12" X 15" construction paper
- Red, 6" X 18" construction paper
- Scissors
- Tape
Set Up and Prepare
Pre-cut paper and string
Directions
Day 1: Clowning
Step 1: Read a book about clowns. Explain that sometimes clowns play funny tricks on people and on other clowns.
Step 2: Demonstrate the following clown trick with a student volunteer.
Dialogue
Clown 1: Would you like a hot dog?
Clown 2: I would love a hot dog.
Clown 1: Here you go!
(Clown 1 gives Clown 2 a construction paper bun with a paper hot dog
[connected to a string] inside. Clown 2 tries to take a bite as Clown
1 pulls the string and runs off with the hot dog.)
.
Clown 2: Where did my hot dog go?
Clown 1: It ran away!
Step 3: Make the hot dog by cutting corners and points off of red 6" X 18" sheet of construction paper.
Step 4: Make the hot dog bun by cutting corners and points off of manila 12" X 15" sheet of construction paper.
Step 5: Fold bun in half lengthwise.
Step 6:Tape string to the hot dog, near the end. If the hot dog were on the ground, it would move like a pull toy.
Step 7: Place the red hot dog into the manila folded bun. Straighten the string so that it hangs off the end of the hot dog.
Step 8: Practice the trick with classmates. Each student will be Clown 1 and Clown 2. Each student must figure out the words they will say.
Lesson Extensions
- Brainstorm other trick ideas.
- Have students find pictures of clowns and make a class clown collage.
Assignments
Have students practice the clown trick on parents.
Evaluation
- Did the students laugh?
- Do students understand what clowns do?
- Do students see the word relationship between clown and clowning?
Assess Students
- Subjects:Discovery and Learning, Circus, Carnivals, Fairs, Parades, Cooperation and Teamwork, Arts and Crafts, Listening Comprehension, Public Speaking, Early Social Skills, Communication and Language Development, Class Projects, Following Directions, Teacher Tips and Strategies
- Skills:Listening Comprehension, Public Speaking
- Duration:1 Class Period

