Z = Zoo Animals
In this unit the children learn about different types of zoo animals. Incorporating a zoo field trip would be a nice addition to this unit.
People have different relationships with different animals. For example, cows are more tame, they live on a farm, tigers and other wild animals cannot. Think about the kinds of animals that can live on a farm and the kinds that live in a zoo. Discuss why
some animals live on a farm (horses help farmers do work, cows give milk, hens lay eggs, etc.) and other animals are kept in a zoo (they are wild and most people might not see and learn about them otherwise.
On a piece of poster board, write Farm on the left and Zoo on the right. Name each animal from the list below and ask children to tell you whether it lives on a farm or in a zoo. If you have a matching picture, hold it up as you say the animal’s name.
cow, tiger, lion, horse, hen, bear, rooster, giraffe, elephant, duck, rhinoceros (rhino), sheep, goat, hippopotamus (hippo), pig, kangaroo
Zoo Activities
A person who specializes in the study of animals is called a zoologist. There are other scientists that specialize in specific animals.
Ornithologist - studies birds
Ichthyologist - studies fish
Entomologist - studies insects
Herpetologist - studies reptiles and amphibians
Mammalogist - studies mammals
I’m Going To The Zoo
Have the children sit in a circle, the first child says I’m going to a zoo and I’m going to see an Aardvark, the next child says the same and uses a B animal, the 3 a C animal and so on.
Zoo Animals
Cut out pictures of animals out of a magazine and paste them on a yellow piece of construction paper. Glue strips of black construction paper across the yellow paper like a cage.
Zoo Habitats
Have 3 bowls filled with grass, hay and water. Use many different types of plastic zoo animals. Place each animal where you would most likely find them living in
Edible Zoo
Use Q-tips to paint animal crackers with edible paint made from corn syrup and food coloring.
Visit A Zoo
Ask each child which animal they wanted to see the most, make masks with paper plates, construction paper, and yarn of each child’s animal so that they could wear them at the zoo.
Make a Zoo
On a paper plate spread out a chunk of brown playdough, stand some animal crackers in the playdough, cover with a strawberry basket for the cage.
Giraffe Facts And Activities
Did you know that in the very long neck of the giraffe, it only has seven bones?
Did you know the giraffe can reach tall trees to eat but cannot lower his long neck low enough to touch the ground?
Make A Giraffe
Cut out the shape of a giraffe on yellow paper, put spots on it with a bingo marker.
Hippo Facts
The hippo’s complete name is Hippopotamus Amphibious. There are two kinds of Hippo’s the river Hippo and the Pygmy Hippo.
A hippo’s ears, eyes and nostrils are very high on his head so he can emerge under water and still see and breath.
Hippo’s sometimes attack small boats if they feel threatened.
Hippo’s like spending most of their time in the water, they even sleep in the water.
Hippos’ can hold their breath for six minutes.
Bear Facts And Activities
Bears are omnivorous - that means they eat both meat and plants.
The bear is part of an animal group called Sloths, the males are called boars and the females are called a sow, the babies are called cubs.
Learn about Smokey The Bear by writing to Smokey Bear Headquarters 201 14th and Independence Avenues S.W. Washington DC 20250
Have each child bring their favorite teddy bear. Have a sharing time and allow each child to tell about their bear.
Have the children learn about real bears, Grizzly Bears, Brown Bears, Polar Bears, Black Bears, Panda Bears or Koalas Bears. Do this by using the internet or visiting the library.
Bear Tracks
Use brown paint on the bottom of the children’s feet and stamp them onto clear contact paper, cut them out and use as bear track stickers
Pudding Bears
Use chocolate pudding to finger paint a teddy bear.
Polar Bear Science
Polar Bear Science.. How do Bears stay warm? Because they have so much blubber. Bring in a bowl of water and add allot of ice cubes. Put each child’s hand in and count and write down how long they can keep their hand in the cold water. Then using Crisco
in a zip lock bag, put the child’s hand in another baggy and then cover it with the Crisco in the zip bag and then sub merge their hand back into the icy water.. Count how long they can keep it in the water this time. Graph the results Why do they think
they could keep their hand in the water when in Crisco... cause of the fat... same for the Polar Bears...
Where Did The Bear Go?
Learn about hibernation, take a large box; paint it brown, then glue leaves, grass, etc,. on it. This becomes a bear cave. Discuss hibernation, place plastic bears in the cave.
Kangaroo Facts
Kangaroos can jump seven feet high and 30 feet long in one jump.
Kangaroos can hop up to 40 miles an hour.
Kangaroos grow up to six feet tall and weigh over 150 pounds
Penguin Facts and Activities
A penguin has a special gland in its body that produces an oil which makes the penguins feathers waxy. The waxy feathers protect the penguin from cold and icy waters in the South Pole.
Penguins are all black and white
Penguins live at the north pole
Penguins only fly when they are in danger
Eskimos hunt penguins
Not all penguins love ice and snow
There are different types of penguins
Adelie penguins are hyperactive, are smaller and live in the Antarctic
Emperor penguins are very regal and stand over 3 1/2 feet tall
Crested penguins have fiery red eyes and orange or yellow crests on their heads
Yellow Eyed penguins have bright yellow eyes and a yellow crown. The generally live in South New Zeeland.
Magellanic penguins are most commonly seen in zoos and prefer warmer climates.
Science Experiment
In order to show the children how the water repels off of the waxy feathers, draw a picture of a penguin. Have the children color the feathers of the penguin with black and white crayons. Pour a cup of water all over the picture. The water will soak the
paper however will roll off the crayon. This science experiment will show the children that the water will roll off of the penguin because of the waxy feathers. The children loved this experiment.
Feet Penguins
Trace the child’s foot on black paper, cut out. Trace another smaller shape foot on white paper and cut that out. Paste the white foot on the black foot. Add eyes, possibly wiggly, and orange diamond for the beak.
Paper Plate Penguins
You will need: a paper plate, four long ovals cut from black paper, a circle from black paper big enough for the head, two wiggly eyes and a triangle cut from orange paper for a beak. Attach black circle to the paper plate body of the penguin on top. On
the sides of the body, glue two of the long black ovals, these are the wings of the penguin. The other two, long black ovals should be attached to the bottom as feet, sticking out the side just like a penguin. To the head of the penguin add the eyes
beak.
Walk like penguins when lining up to go somewhere.
Toilet Paper Tube Penguins
Paint the tube black or cover it with paper. Cut out a white oval for the belly. Add two eyes and a construction paper beak.
Games:
Bear, Bear, Penguin
Play this Duck, Duck, Goose just change the words. Players waddle like penguins around the circle until they reach the empty spot and sit down.
Songs:
Three Little Penguins (tune: I’m A Little Teapot)
Three little penguins
Dressed in black
Waddle, waddle forward
Waddle right back
They stand on the ice and they look so neat
As they waddle along on their little flat feet
Have You Ever Seen A Penguin? (Tune: Have You Ever Seen a Lassie?)
Have you ever seen a penguin? A penguin? A penguin?
Have you ever seen a penguin swim this way and that?
Swim this way and that way? And this way and that way?
Have you ever seen a penguin swim this way and that? (make swimming motions with arms)
. . . slide this way and that (make sliding motion with arms) . . . waddle this way and that
(feet close together, tiny waddling steps) . . . flap this way and that (arms close to sides,
flap little wings)
Lion Facts And Activities
Lions are carnivores. Find out what a carnivore is.
Paper Plate Mask
Use a large paper plate, use lots of brown, yellow, and orange yarn (cut into 2 inch strips). Color the lions face, and then glue the yarn all around the edge to make a furry face!
Elephant Facts And Activities
Here are two different types of elephants but they are not alike. Here is how they are different
Asian Elephants
Have 4 toenails on their hind feet
have bumps on their foreheads
Have smooth skin
Have 1 finger on the end of their trunk
Are the longest elephant
Are easy to train
Have arched backs
African Elephants
Have 3 toenails on their hind feet
Have rough skin
Have the largest ears
Have two fingers on the end of their trunk
Are the largest elephants
Eat mostly grass
Have flat backs
Elephants And Peanuts
Elephants like peanuts, so do most people. Here are some peanut activities.
Make Peanut Butter
With an electric blender grind 2 cups of dry roasted peanuts until it becomes a pasty mixture. It works best if you only grin 1/4 cup at a time. Next add 1 tablespoon of peanut oil and a dash of salt. Serve on toast or apple slices.
Peanut Trail Mix
Combine 1 cup dry roasted peanuts, 1 cup sun flower seeds and 1 cup raisins in a baggie.
Plant Peanuts
Peanuts can be grown if the seeds are green, unprocessed and not exposed to severe temperatures. Sprout the peanuts in a jar and place in a sunny location.
Peanut Information
Write to the address below for free peanut information:
National Peanut Council - 1000 16th Street, N.W. Suite 700 - Washington DC 20036
The Oklahoma Peanut Commission - PO Box D - Madill, OK 73446