Bug Pickin' Chimp

Monkeys love to pick bugs and little eggs out of their friends’ fur and eat them. It’s called nit picking. Their arm-spread is longer than the length of their whole body. They easily arm walk through the trees. They knuckle walk on the forest floor.

Instructions

1. Bend your knees and squat down on your feet. Walk around. Lead with your long arms and jump with your bent legs. On a soft surface, try ‘knuckle walking.’
2. Check each other for bugs and nits. Pick them out and pretend to eat them.
3. Make monkey sounds. Roll your lips away. Bare your teeth. Breathe with a “he he he” sound. Make monkey lips and breathe with a “who, who, who sound.” Go back and forth.

You’ve cleaned each other up and fed yourselves too. Good monkeys. Reward yourself with a banana.

Activity Ideas for Home or Classroom

Bridge of Diamonds

Cooperation and taking care of one another is a good idea for all living things.

Math Medley

You picked ___ nits. Your friend picked ___. How many nits did you pick together?

Musical Musings

Sing to the melody of 5 Little Monkeys.

“Bug pickin chimps went swinging through the trees

They laughed and sang and breathed he he. .

Cleaned their fur til their coats were nit free

Then shared big bananas for all to see”