Shoe Box Zoo Box

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.

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. 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. Use Crayola School Glue to attach the animal tabs to the bottom of the box, and toward the back, so they stand upright.

4. Tape a plastic drinking straw across the box in front of the animals. Glue the zookeeper in front of the straw.

Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure appropriate use of arts and crafts materials. Some craft items, particularly beads and buttons, are potential choking hazards for young children. Avoid use of such small parts with children younger than 3 years. Craft items such as scissors, push pins and chenille sticks may have sharp points or edges. Avoid use of materials with sharp points by children younger than 4 years. Read all manufacturers' safety warnings before using arts and craft supplies.

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.

Crafts

crayola supplies

• Markers
• No-Run School Glue
• Blunt-Tip Scissors
• Construction Paper

household supplies

• recycled boxes
• clear adhesive tape
• plastic drinking straws

"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.

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.