We're Going to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo!

Visit a local zoo or a community reserve park (an area where wild animals are caged in a natural environment). Observe and discuss the different animals there. Read or paraphrase the information given about the animals at the zoo or park. Call or ask about getting a guided tour for a kids group.

Animals That Live Over in the Zoo

(Sing to the Tune: “Muffin Man”)

Do you know the kangaroo, the kangaroo, the kangaroo?
Oh, do you know the kangaroo that lives over in the zoo?

(Let the kids come up with some other zoo animals to sing about. Other verses could include: monkey, elephant, giraffe, lion, turtle, bear, snake, alligator, tiger, etc.)

Born or Hatched?

Sort pictures of birds, snakes, lizards, dinosaurs, puppies, kittens, mice, horses, etc. into two bags or boxes, one labeled with a picture of an egg that says "Hatched" and one with a picture of a baby that says "Born".

Clipart of animals were found at http://www.learningpage.com/

Paper Plate Lion

Give the children paper plates, crayons, markers, scissors, yellow and brown yarn, and scissors to create a create a lion face (the yarn can be glued on to look like a mane).

Elephant Masks

Give the kids a large paper plate, have them cut a hole in the middle. Let them stuff a leg of a pair of nylons with newspaper or packing peanuts. Pull the opened end through the hole in the paper plate and knot it. They can color/paint the plate. You could use elastic to hold the mask on.

Zebra Painting

Let the children marble paint with black paint on white construction paper. Place a piece of black construction paper in a pan or box. Dip a marble in white paint and let the children roll the marble around the paper by moving and tilting the pan/box. Dip the marble in the paint whenever necessary. When the children finish they will have a fun striped zebra painting.

Our Zoo

The children can pretend to be animals in the zoo. Provide large appliance boxes that have slits cut into them to resemble cages; fur coats, blankets and/or zoo animal costumes; food pails or troughs.

Banana Butter

Mash 3 small ripe bananas with a fork.
Mix in 3/4 cup peanut butter.
Add 1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp shredded coconut and 1/2 cup raisins.
Blend well, serve on bread, crackers or fruit.
While you are making it, talk about the different foods that zoo animals eat (bananas, peanuts, etc.).

Helpful Animals

Discuss how some animals can be helpful to humans. Examples: camels are used as transportation in some countries, elephants are often used to pull things, dogs can be used as seeing-eye dogs or sled dogs, goats can give milk to drink, etc. Ask the children to come up with some ideas as well.

Zoo Animals Journal Page

Read a book about zoo animals then hand out a journal sheet with this question on it: "How would you feel if you were an animal at the zoo? Why?" Record the children's responses and let them draw a picture to go along with their response.

Click on the image to view and/or print.

Playing With Animals

Place plastic zoo animals in the sensory table with sand, grass, hay, wood shavings, dirt, water, or a combination of some. You can encourage the children to build little habitats for each animal.

Walk Like the Animals

This game is played like “Simon Says:

“The zookeeper says to walk like a giraffe”. The children can walk as they believe each animal would. Repeat using different animals (monkey, elephant, lion, turtle, bear, snake, alligator, tiger, etc.). Let each child take a turn leading the game.

Animal Habitat Sort

Sort animals by habitat. Use photos/pictures of habitats such as ocean, desert, jungle, savannah, etc. Use plastic zoo animals or pictures of them and have students sort them to their correct home. It might help to have a animal habitat picture book on hand for the children to reference.

The following attachments were found at http://www.learningpage.com

Zoo Animals Lesson Plan

Click on the image to view and/or print.