I love to go to the
zoo. I hope I never lose the
thrill of seeing the animals and watching what they will do to entertain the
people. Whether you take a real trip
to the zoo or an imaginary trip on the internet, over the next three days
you’ll find some activities that children will enjoy. These ideas could also be related to literature, such as
making the elephant puppet when you read HORTON HEARS A WHO. Other ideas could be adapted to
literature standards (poems or riddles about zoo animals) or informative
writing (habitats, body covering, babies, food).
We’re Going to the Zoo
(Tune: “The Bear Went over the Mountain”)
We’re going to the zoo.
We’re going to the zoo.
We’re going to the zoo.
Won’t you come, too?
The elephants swing their
trunks. (Stick out one arm like a
trunk
The elephants swing their
trunks. and stomp from side
to side.)
The elephants swing their
trunks.
And we can do it, too.
*Insert other animal names
and these motions:
Kangaroos jump around… (Bend elbows like paws and jump.)
Bears put all fours on the
ground…(Put hands and feet on ground and walk.)
Giraffes walk on tippy
toes…(Stretch neck and walk on toes.)
Zebras gallop to and fro…(Gallop
in place.)
Snakes slither and
wiggle…(Wiggle as you go up and down.)
Penguins wobble with a
jiggle…(Palms out by sides and wobble.)
Hint! Let children suggest other animals and
their motions.
Zoo Animal Puppets
Let children create their favorite zoo animal from a lunch bag, paper plate, craft stick, or envelope.
Animal Cheers
Seal of Approval – Extend
arms in front of you and cross them over each other. Clap as you make a barking noise.
Elephant Cheer - Stick one arm out straight from under
your chin. Put top lips over
bottom lip as you blow and make a trumpeting sound.
Snake Cheer – Palms folded
together next to your chest.
Keeping them together wiggle them out as you make a “Ssssss” sound. Stick your tongue quickly in and out of
your mouth.
Tiger Cheer – You’re
GGGRRREEEAAATTT! (Stick fist in
the air.)
Guess Who?
Let children take turns
pantomiming different zoo animals as their friends try and guess who they are.
Imagination Bag
Give each child an empty
lunch bag. Demonstrate how to open
the bag and ask them to do the same.
Explain that you are going to take an imaginary trip to the zoo. Ask them to look in their bags to see
what they can find. Encourage
children to name the animals in their bag as they create an imaginary zoo on
the floor in front of them.
Matching Game
Make a matching game where
children match up mother zoo animals and their babies. Can they tell you the names for the
different animal babies?
*You could also play a
memory game with these cards.
Hint! I found my pictures at google images.
bemboszoo.com
bemboszoo.com
This is one of my favorite websites for children. After the gates of the zoo open you can click on a letter. You'll hear the animal sound, see the word, and then then letters will turn into the different animals. Great for print connections.