Zoo-Themed Activities for Kids! Lions, tigers, zebras, monkeys…. get kids thinking about all the wonders of the zoo with these fun activities.
Use these zoo-themed activities as part of a virtual field trip, learning theme, or as related activities for an actual trip to the zoo!
Animal Masks: Provide the children with templates of different animal faces or masks. They can color and decorate them with crayons, markers, or craft materials. Help them cut out the masks and attach a string or elastic band to wear them.
Animal Charades: Write down the names of various animals on small cards or pieces of paper. Have the children take turns acting out the animal without speaking while the others guess which animal it is. This game can help them learn about different animal movements and behaviors. Add some following directions fun with this activity:
Brain Break Following Directions Activity
Zoo Scavenger Hunt: Create a scavenger hunt list with pictures or names of different animals found in a zoo. Take the children to a nearby park or playground, and let them search for objects or features that resemble those animals. For example, they might find a tree that looks like a giraffe’s neck or rocks that resemble turtle shells.
and…
Animal I-Spy: Give each child a picture or a card with a specific animal on it. Encourage them to search the surroundings and find real-life examples of the animals they have on their cards. This activity promotes observation skills and helps them recognize different animals. This is fun to do if you are visiting the zoo. If you are doing this at home or at school, try animal photos or small animal toys.
Animal Sounds Guessing Game: Play various animal sounds or imitate them yourself and have the children guess which animal is making the sound. You can use online resources or animal sound apps to find accurate representations of the sounds.
or…
Zoo Dramatic Play: Set up an imaginary zoo corner in your classroom or play area. Provide stuffed animals, costumes, and props like feeding bowls, signs, and tickets. Let the children take turns being zookeepers, visitors, and different animals. Additionally, they can act out feeding, caring for, and interacting with the animals.
Animal Habitat Collages: Teach the children about different animal habitats, such as the jungle, ocean, or desert. Provide them with magazines, colored paper, scissors, and glue. Ask them to cut out pictures of animals and create collages representing their respective habitats.
Still more…
Animal Sorting: Prepare pictures or cards of various animals and make two large signs labeled “Land Animals” and “Water Animals.” Encourage the children to sort the animals into the appropriate category based on where they live. Discuss the characteristics of each group as you go along.
additionally…
Zoo Animal Puzzles: Give each child a zoo animal puzzle to solve. You can find printable puzzles online or use simple jigsaw puzzles with animal images. Also, this activity helps develop problem-solving and fine motor skills.
Zoo Animal Puzzles with Pattern Blocks
Zoo Animal Yoga: Teach the children simple animal-themed yoga poses such as the lion, elephant, snake, and butterfly. You can find resources online that provide step-by-step instructions and illustrations for yoga poses suitable for preschoolers.
Remember to adapt these fun zoo-themed activities for kids to suit the age and developmental level of your kids. Have fun exploring the zoo theme and learning about animals together.
If you enjoyed these zoo-themed activities, then you might also like these themed activity units:
Train Activities for Preschool
and,
Fairy Tale Activities for Kids
Finally, here are a few great zoo-themed books to go with your zoo-themed lessons:
The View at The Zoo by Kathleen Long Bostrom
and
What Do you Do If You Work At The Zoo