How to Make a Zoo With Animals on Construction Paper
An engaging activity for children of nearly any age is working with construction paper to create imaginary worlds all of their own. One way to channel such creativity is to have children make a zoo with animals on construction paper. By creating flat layers of different colors of construction paper, the children can watch their zoo come alive. Once their zoo is made, they can play pretend with the animals as much as they like.
Things You'll Need
- Construction paper in multiple colors
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Tape or glue stick
- Markers
Instructions
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1
Select a piece of paper to be the bottom layer of the zoo. Typically green or brown will work, since this will be the ground of the zoo.
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2
Draw a wavy line lengthwise across a sheet of blue paper. Cut along the line. Pair one half of the blue paper with the bottom layer of the zoo and align the corners. Tape or glue the blue on so it can become the sky of the zoo.
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3
Cut out gray and brown squares of paper 4 inches square to create the cages for the animals. Cut one edge on each square to curve inward on the square to look like a pocket.
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4
Set down two or three squares on each child's background with the curved side toward the top. Glue down the cage only along the three straight sides, leaving the curved side unattached.
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5
Draw clouds on white paper, tree trunks on brown paper, and tree tops on green paper. Have the children draw on extra details to these items, if desired, before cutting them out and taping or gluing them to the paper where they want them.
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6
Cut out multiple pieces of 3-inch square paper in a variety of colors. Let each child take one square at a time and draw an animal on it, letting the outline of the animal come all the way to the edges of the paper.
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Have the children draw extra details and color on the animals as much as they want before cutting them out from the square. Slip finished animals into the cages without securing them so they can be played with freely.
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Tips & Warnings
For added fun, have the children make up stories about their zoos and the animals in them.
To create more detail, help the children draw in or add on walkways between cages, benches, or make birds in the sky.
Always use caution and your best judgment for letting children use scissors. If they are too young, or haven't mastered the coordination, simply have them hand you their finished drawn pieces for cutting.
References
- Photo Credit what look? zoo image by Pali A from Fotolia.com
