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These zoo activities for preschoolers are all play based so that your 3-5 year old will get the most out of their time. From playing games to going on a safari your child will learn about the different animals who live here on earth.
The following zoo activities for preschoolers are all from a mini-unit study for your preschooler themed around Zz is for Zebra. This week of learning includes the activity instructions for the following list and additional book suggestions for the week. As well as, coloring pages, printables and more. Also, it’s all free!
Table of Contents
Books to read before doing zoo activities for preschoolers.
Everyday this week we begin our morning with zebra themed books. We have a couple and I was able to find others at our library. The following three are wonderful reads and I highly recommend:
- Firstly, Lots and Lots of Zebra Stripes by Stephen R. Swinburne, is a wonderful look at art and patterns in the natural world.
- Secondly, On Beyond Zebra! by Dr. Seuss, is a whimsical book. Unfortunately, it is not widely distributed anymore but it is completely worth finding!
- Lastly, Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr/ Eric Carle is a classic. This book captivates children only as Eric Carle’s illustrations can.
Preschool mini unit study: Zoo activities.
Zoo Activities for Preschoolers #1: A backyard safari.
A backyard safari is a delightful, easy activity that sparks imagination in young children. To set it up, I scatter toy animals commonly found in grasslands around the backyard. These usually include zebras, lions, elephants, and more. My 4-year-old loves the thrill of embarking on a safari adventure and it quickly turns into an exciting game of hide-and-seek. Also, I include a special challenge, whoever finds the zebra first wins. However, finding all the animals keeps the fun going.
Additionally, we craft homemade binoculars using simple materials to enhance the experience. You can find a step-by-step guide to creating these binoculars with your preschooler here. This activity not only encourages exploration and creativity but also fosters a love for nature and animals, and it does this all while enjoying quality time outdoors in the safety of our backyard.
Zoo Activities for Preschoolers #2: The life cycle of a zebra.
Today’s engaging activity focused on exploring a zebra’s life cycle. We dove into learning about the zebra’s life cycle using DK Life Cycles Illustrated by Sam Falconer. The book vividly details the stages from foal to adult. Then, to make it hands-on, Mick used a free printable to help him sequence the life cycle stages.
For more learning opportunities, the Life Cycles Bundle offers printables for butterflies, frogs, chickens, and zebras. This is perfect for pairing with life cycle toys linked on the bundle page. The toy sets that are available for the other animals are linked there as well. Unfortunately there is no zebra set available. But this is why I designed the zebra printable to be engaging and interactive. Overall, this ensures a fun and educational experience for each animal.
Zoo Activities for Preschoolers #3: Play Animal Charades and Who Am I?
The next activity is all about getting to know each animal better. We had a blast playing charades using a free printable from the post, Animal Charades. My kiddos acted out animals like zebras, which sparks laughter and creativity. Another fun game is Who Am I? With the same printable, an animal is taped to a headband for each player. Without knowing their animal, players ask yes-or-no questions to guess it. The other players must answer. Overall, this encourages critical thinking and teamwork.
Zoo Activities for Preschoolers #4: Sorting animals by habitat.
Sorting animals by habitat is an educational activity that has potential to be transformed into a play-based learning adventure. Firstly, I hide various animals from different habitats throughout our living room. Next, my kiddos find these animals and then sort them. Such as, zebras, into their respective environments—grasslands, forests, or oceans. This hands-on experience sparked curiosity and deepened their understanding of animal habitats. Ultimately, this encourages creativity and critical thinking. For full instructions and to download the printable, visit Habitats, . It’s a fantastic way to make science engaging and memorable for young learners.
Zoo Activities for Preschoolers #5: Visit the zoo.
What better way to end the week of zoo activities for preschoolers than to go to the zoo? In short, it was a beautiful, hot summer day and the boys had a blast.
My 4 year old was especially enjoying himself because he knew this visit completed his preschool lessons. That is what brought us to the zoo. He was so proud of himself and we were proud of him. He had graduated preschool at home by finishing Letter of the Week.
Letter of the Week.
Zz is for Zebra is the last week of the 26-week preschool curriculum, Letter of the Week. To learn more, follow the link. Overall, Playing for Hours has reimagined Letter of the Week for all that homeschool has to offer. There is an emphasis on learning the alphabet through review and themes while maintaining a play based learning environment.
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