Who's Who in the Zoo?

• 1.

  Young children begin to develop a sense of what goes on behind the scenes in a zoo, as well as what kinds of animals live there. For toddlers, follow their cues about animals that interest them. With children ages 3 and younger, close adult supervision is

• 2.

  Visit a zoo, pet store, park, and/or circus. Notice animals, signs, and facilities. Take notes and ask children to draw pictures to help them remember.

• 3.

  Find out about what people do with animals and who takes care of zoo visitors. Interview people about their jobs.

• 4.

  Want to open a zoo? What will you need? Cages, signs, tickets, animals, zookeepers? With your friends, plan who will do which projects.

• 5.

  To make cages, tear construction paper strips (ages 3 and younger) or use Crayola® Scissors (4 and older) to cut strips for bars. Find stuffed animals, or make your own, to put in each cage. Glue the bars to cardboard boxes with Crayola® Glue Sticks.

• 6.

  Design construction paper signs for animal cages with Crayola® Washable Markers. Make a big entrance sign with the name of your zoo. Ask how to spell any new words.

• 7.

  Create a map so visitors can find their way to, and inside, the zoo. Use markers and construction paper.

• 8.

  Make tickets for visitors. Cut construction paper into rectangles (children 3 and younger use index cards). Write the zoo name on the tickets.

• 9.

  Create name badges or hat bands for zoo workers, such as guides, animal trainers, snack bar attendants, cage cleaners, and veterinarians.

Benefits

• Asking Questions
• Letters, Numbers & Words
• Vocabulary
• Physical: Eye - Hand Coordination
• Physical: Small Muscles
• Social & Emotional: Flexibility
• Social & Emotional: Making Friends
• Social & Emotional: Negotiating
• Social & Emotional: Pretend Play
• Thinking: Creating
• Thinking: Observing
• Thinking: Problem Solving