Shoe Box Zoo Box

crayola supplies

household supplies

Why

Bring a day at the zoo back home and give kids 'paws' for thought with their own 3D wildlife display. Open the cage on lions and tigers and bears... and watch kids go wild with new knowledge and untamed creativity.

Steps

  1. 1. With Crayola® Markers, draw a zookeeper and animals on construction paper. Cut them out using Crayola Scissors, leaving tabs at the bottom of each figure.
  2. 2. Take the lid off of a recycled cardboard shoe box and turn on its side. Decorate the inside of the box with markers to look like the animals' habitat at the zoo.
  3. 3. Use Crayola School Glue to attach the animal tabs to the bottom of the box, and toward the back, so they stand upright.
  4. 4. Tape a plastic drinking straw across the box in front of the animals. Glue the zookeeper in front of the straw.

When & Where

"After our trip to the zoo, the kids made replicas of their favorite exhibits. They added sticks and rocks for a realistic look."
- Ming Y., playground leader.

"Before visiting a game preserve, children made these dioramas. They added information and details after our trip."
- Tenille C., summer enrichment program advisor.

Interesting Info

Zoos today do more than keep animals on view for human observation. Most work hard to preserve endangered species around the world. The Bronx Zoo, one of the oldest and biggest in the United States, was instrumental in bringing back the dwindling bison population at the turn of the 20th century. The zoo helped create and stock wildlife refuges with bison in 1907, just 8 years after opening its doors.

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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