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.