Zoo: Day Four

Zoo Animal Habitats

Book:
We read out of a book called Animal Fact File: Head to Tail Profiles of More than 90 Mammals by Dr. Tony Hare, which is a great source of information about many zoo animals.

Song:
Zoo (to the tune of "Skip to my Lou")

Zoo, zoo, who's in the zoo?
Zoo, zoo, who's in the zoo?
Zoo, zoo, who's in the zoo?
Let's go for a visit.

Monkey, swinging in a tree.
Sheep and lions, grazing free.
Tall giraffes-a sight to see,
all on our zoo visit.

Or

I see Animals (to the tune of "Are you Sleeping?")

I see animals,
I see animals
in the zoo-
in the zoo.
Elephants, giraffes,
lions and seals,
monkeys, too-
monkeys, too.

I see animals,
I see animals
in the zoo-
in the zoo.
Tigers and bears,
hippos and snakes,
lizards, too-
lizards, too.

Lesson:
Different animals have different habitats, or places to live. Some animals live in hot, dry areas and some live in snow and ice. Some animals live in caves and some swing in trees.

In zoos, zookeepers try to recreate the habitats of the animals that live there so they will feel more at home.

Games/Activities:

• Zookeeper, Zookeeper, where do I live?

Place bowls of different animal "habitats," (sand, dirt, grass, water, etc) on a towel. Let children pretend to be zookeepers by giving them plastic animals and placing the animals in the correct habitats.

• Zoo Vet: Lay out stuffed animals and various first aid supplies. Have children pretend to be vets to take care of the sick animals.
  

• Animal Cages: Recycle styrofoam plates (like those you buy meat in) and transform them into animal cages. Give children a picture of a zoo animal to glue in the center. Decorate the cage to resemble the habitat of the animal. Punch holes at the top and bottom of the place and thread black yarn through the holes to resemble the cage bars.