Which Animals Are Like Me

Are you as sly as a fox? Loyal as a dog? Sculpt imaginary animals that have traits in common with you! Get to know your classmates better, too.

1. With your friends, list several interesting animals. What are some qualities that describe how they look or act? (lions=fierce, stealthy; giraffes=tall, graceful; turtles=steady, deliberate)
2. Which of these animals are most like you? Which qualities do you have in common? Choose three animals that are similar. Use Crayola Erasable Colored Pencils to sketch an imaginary animal that combines features of all three!
3. Cover your craft area with newspaper. Use Crayola Air-Dry Clay to sculpt your animal. Work on a paper plate to shape a fanciful creature that has some of your best qualities.
4. Paint your imaginary creature with Crayola Washable Watercolors. You may want to use several coats for deep hues. Air-dry your animal for at least 3 days before handling.
5. Share your imaginary animals with each other. What can you learn about your classmates?

Use this activity as an ice breaker early in the school year.

Older students create exhibition labels for their animals that identify the unique qualities they possess.

Using cardboard, craft sticks, and Crayola Tempera Paint, construct a school zoo to showcase the animal creations!

Assessment: Students write a self-assessment describing the animals they created. What qualities do they have in common with their animals?

Students explore some similar characteristics of animals and humans.

Students generate ideas as a class and share their knowledge about animal behaviors and attributes.

Students sculpt an imaginary animal that combines the features of three creatures with whom they have something in common.

Grades 4 to 6

Science
Visual Arts

Multiple Sessions

US: Research U.S. Standards
UK: Research UK Standards
Canada: Research Canada Standards

Crayola Modeling Materials including Crayola Model Magic®, and Model Magic Fusion™, Crayola Air-Dry Clay, and Crayola Dough—

Keep away from open flames. Do not use to make candleholders, hot plates, trivets, or other similar objects that will be used or placed near fire and other heat sources.
Do not put in an oven, microwave, or kiln.
Do not make into vessels/containers that will hold unpackaged food.
The use of modeling material to make items that look like food is discouraged for children younger than age 5 to avoid their confusion with real food.
Unless sealed with a water-resistant glaze, do not make projects exposed to or immersed in water, such as boats or outdoor bird feeders. They would disintegrate when exposed to moisture.
Crayola Dough—contains gluten (wheat flour) as an ingredient.
Crayola Air-Dry Clay, Crayola Model Magic and Model Magic Fusion are gluten-free. However, they are produced on the same machinery as Crayola Dough which does contain gluten. Although the machines are cleaned prior to the start of each production run, there is a slight possibility that trace amounts of gluten from Crayola Dough may be present in the other modeling compound products. For information regarding specific ingredients or allergic concerns, please call our Consumer Affairs department at 1-800-272-9652 weekdays between 9 AM and 4 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Crayola Washable Paints—Not for use as body/face paint.