Our final day of preschool was filled with “last day” activities but, to my delight, we did manage to make room for this very fun activity for the Letter Z is for Zoo.
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This book is a favorite of teachers – big fascinating ANIMAL book! #Ad
The day started out with a guessing game where everyone volunteered kinds of animals that THEY had seen in a zoo. I printed many photos of the likely candidates and, as the children shared, we displayed the corresponding picture.
Later that day, during craft time, we made our own little “zoo” with animals that can be seen through the bars of the cage. I wanted them to have something memorable for the letter Z to take home.
Supplies
-free printable below-
Crayons
Scotch tape
Single Hole Punch
Pointy knife*
Laminator (optional)
*PARENTS: for safety please do the cutting of the window for the zoo yourselves…or at least start it… for your little one. I started in the corner of the window. You can do all of the cutting or make that first cut and turn it over to your child, who should use the round-tipped child safe scissors, to complete it.
Zoo animals? Safari animals? All FUN! #ad
Directions
- Print the template onto a piece of cardstock.
- Fold the cardstock in half with the “zoo” side showing.
- Cut out the square in the middle.
- Punch holes where the circles are.
- Glue pictures or stickers of animals on the part that you can see through the window.
- Color the outside of the zoo.
- String pipe cleaners from hole to holeacross the opening to make bars for the zoo cage.
- Scotch tape the zoo “closed” using small pieces of tape on each side.
Tip: I had some animal stickers on hand. What I lacked were enough jungle animals to make this craft special. So, I made a page using clipart of tigers and elephants, plenty so that each student would have them for their zoo cage as well. I printed the animals on cardstock for durability and laminated them but laminating is not necessary for the success of the craft.
Tip: If you do not have animal stickers, you can use animal crackers!