Z is for Zoo

Circle Time

Zoo Books, Zoo Songs and Rhymes

Activities
Ziplock Sensory Bag
Zoo Animal Matching Game
Zoo Stickers and wax paper
Zen Garden
Fishing Game
Follow the Zig Zag

Felt Board
The cast of Brown Bear, Brown Bear

Art Study
The Bridge in 8 Parts by Katsushika Hotsukai

Snack
Animal Crackers

Arts and Crafts
Glue Zebra Stripes

Cooking
Zucchini Bread

Great Zoo Books

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle

A mirror of the popular Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, this book is full of zoo animals done in Eric Carle's signature collage style. With great adjectives like "trumpeting", "snarling", and "hissing" and an ending scene of children acting out their favorite animals, this is a book sure to get you off your feet and playing




Never, Ever Shout in a Zoo by Karma Wilson

One little girl's shout sets off a disastrous cause and affect string of events. With expressive water color illustrations and plenty of rhyme, repetition, and alliteration this was always the first and last book Zeke wanted to read.


My Heart is Like A Zoo by Michael Hall

I'm not usually fond of digitally illustrated picture books, call me snooty that way, but this one, with each animal crafted using hearts, stole my heart away. Sweet and simple rhymes about feelings both good "brave as a lion" and bad "snappy as a crab" finish it off.





Good Night Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
As a family who's little ones often sneak into our bed after the lights go out, this sweet story of a gorilla who lets all the animals loose to quietly sneak into the zookeepers room to sleep was particularly recognizable. Details like the pink balloon drifting farther and farther away with each page, and the toys each animal has in its cage made this a book I was willing to read again and again.

Zen Garden

Inspired by the Magic Onions, I made Zeke a Zen Garden for letter Z.

They made theirs in a 9x13 casserole pan, but I used an empty storage tub (previously the home of our 12-18 months clothes). I thought the higher sides would help in my sand control efforts, and the lid would keep the cats out when it wasn't in use. I thought about making pretty little tools like the Magic Onions had...but then Sunday night came and I wanted to crochet instead. So Zeke only gets a stick and a shell scooper to make his designs.

Zoo Matching Game

I used to make these matching games for all sorts of themes, from matching simple shapes and colors, to matching pictures of weather with the appropriate outfit.

This one, obviously is a Zoo game, matching animals with their babies.
Just print out, color, cut, and paste a few different animals to the inside of a manilla folder. Babies can be colored, cut, and then laminated.
I always staple a baggie to the inside, to hold the loose pieces of the matching game.

Zoo Songs and Rhymes

5 Baby Kangaroos
5 baby kangaroos standing in a row
When they see their mama, they bow just so (Bow)
They kick to the left (Hop to the left)
They kick to the right (Hop to the right)
Then they close their eyes & sleep all night. (Put head on hands like sleeping)

Oh I Went to the Zoo
Oh I went to the zoo, And what did I see?
I saw a great big tiger, Lookin' at me
He went Raaar, raaar He went Raaar, raaar
He went Raaaar raaar raar, And that's what he said to me

Oh I went to the zoo, And what did I see?
I saw a great big monkey, Lookin' at me
He went Ooo-ooo-o Ooo-ooo-o, He went Ooo-ooo-o Ooo-ooo-o
He went Ooo-ooo-o Ooo-ooo-o, And that's what she said to me!

(go on as long as you want)

5 Little Monkeys in a Tree (A long-time fav. of Zekeys)
Five little monkeys swinging in a tree, (Swing 5 fingers)
Teasing M Alligator, "you can catch me, you can catch me...." (Hands teasing at ears)
Along came a alligator quiet as can be....... (Clap)
And snapped that monkey right out of that tree!
4, 3, 2, 1...

Koala Bear, Koala Bear
Koala bear, koala bear, Turn around, (Turn around)
Koala bear, koala bear, Touch the ground (Touch the ground)
Koala bear, koala bear, Dance on your toes, (Dance on tip toes)
Koala bear, koala bear, Touch your nose (Touch your nose)
Koala bear, koala bear, Give a little clap, (Clap)
Koala bear, koala bear, Take a nap (Put head on hands like sleeping)