Animal Scales and Tails

crayola supplies

household supplies

Why

Children find patterns on reptiles and fish, liken them to alphabet letters, and draw textured skin. What an ideal way to follow up a trip to a zoo or aquarium!

Steps

  1. 1. With your family and friends, look at reptiles, fish, birds, snakes, and other animals at a zoo or aquarium. Talk about skin textures and patterns. Fish scales sometimes look like the letter C, and snake skin looks like repeated patterns of the letter V. What do you think it would feel like to touch each animal?
  2. 2. Use Crayola® Fine Line Markers to outline an animal. Divide the animal's skin covering into areas with lines. Fill each area with repeated patterns of a letter of the alphabet in several colors. Design each area with a different color or texture.
  3. 3. If you like, cut out the completed animal with Crayola Scissors and glue onto contrasting construction paper with a Crayola Glue Stick.

When & Where

"This activity is a top draw at our aquarium. Children see live animals and record their observations right away."
- Lisle F., aquarium children's coordinator.

"My son made so many of these after our trip to the reptile house, we called his bedroom the Reptile Room."
- Jay E., dad of 4-year-old.

Interesting Info

Fish scales protect the skin underneath from being scratched or cut. Biologists can tell how old a fish is by looking closely at its scales under a microscope.

Safety Guidelines

Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.

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