Sponge Painted Giraffes
orange construction paper
small sponges or cotton balls
spring-type clothes pegs
styrofoam meat trays for paint
black tempera paint

Cut a giraffe shape out of orange construction paper.  Pour small amounts on black paint into styro trays.  Pinch a sponge or cotton ball with the clothes peg and dip into paint.  Dab spots on the giraffe! 

Make Animal Masks
I have several animal masks for you to print out and laminate for the kids here:  Printable Masks

Sorting Zoo Animals
Using small zoo animals (from the $ store - or toy store bins) and berry baskets have the children sort the animals.  Check your local Zoo Gift Shop for more exotic animals!

Classification Ideas:

• animals with no legs, two legs, four legs
• animals that have feathers, fur, scales
• animals that live in a pond, forest, jungle, desert, ocean
• animals that eat meat, leaves
• anmials that swim, walk, fly
• animals that belong on the farm, in the zoo, or at home.

Songs, Finger Plays, Nursery Rhymes

Do Not Touch the Animals
Never pet a porcupine.
Never poke a skunk.
Never grab a tiger's tooth,
Or squeeze an elephant's trunk.

Porcupines have prickly spines.
A skunk's scent smarts and stings.
Tigers' teeth are razor sharp.
Elephants remember things.

Never punch a crocodile.
Never pinch a rat.
Never whack a sleeping bear,
Or tickle a bob-tailed cat.

Crocodiles have mighty tails.
Rats have strong, sharp claws.
Bears don't like to wake up fast.
Bob-tailed cats have wicked jaws.

If I Had To Meet a Gorilla
A gorilla is an animal
That's very big and strong,
It has a wrinkled raisin face
And arms so very long.
If I had to meet a gorilla,
I'll tell you what I'd do.
I'd meet it in the safest place,
I'd meet it in a zoo!

Who is at the zoo?
The camel and the tall giraffe,
The lion and the gnu!
Who is at the zoo?
Who is at the zoo?
The hippo, seal, and monkeys,
Who do a trick or two.
Who is at the zoo?
Who is at the zoo?
I wish, I wish, I wish, I wish,
I wish I were there too!

Zoo Cakes
Make a batch of cupcakes and ice with white frosting. Place an animal cracker on top of each
cupcake and you have a fun afternoon snack.