Grants by Kaplan Early Learning Company
1-800-334-2014
18 months & up. The wild animals in this set are detailed in texture, traits, and size. Children will enjoy learning about each of the animals through engaging, hands-on learning experiences. Each set comes with eight animals and an activity guide. The figures represent animals that commonly live in the wild.
Giraffe - A giraffe has a long neck and eats leaves that are high on acacia trees. Invite children to stretch their necks and pretend to eat leaves from the top of trees.
Zebra - Zebras eat grass and live in grasslands. They are best known for their black and white stripes. Have children tear black and white paper into strips to represent the stripes and glue on a sheet of paper.
Crocodile - A crocodile has two eyes, four feet, and one tail. Count the crocodile’s eyes, feet, and tail with the children.
Elephant - Elephants use their trunks to breathe, make noise, grasp, and touch. Ask children to walk like an elephant and use their trunk (arm) to make noise and grab things like an elephant.
Gorilla - Gorillas are closely related to humans. However, one difference is that gorillas make nests out of leaves and twigs to enjoy during the day and night. Ask children to make a nest outdoors with twigs and leaves, just like a gorilla.
Tiger - Sometimes a tiger’s walk is very slow, controlled, and sneaky. Other times a tiger will run fast and powerfully. Play music of varying speeds. When the music is slow, have children move slowly and carefully, when the music is fast, have them move quickly.
Lion - Lions spend about two hours walking each day. Have children use clay or dough to make lion prints. Put the dough on the table and have the lion ‘step’ in the dough to leave a footprint.
Practice imitating the sounds made by the wild animals. Ask children to make the noises in a variety of ways: loud, quiet, low, fast, etc.
Hippopotamus - Hippos live in large groups with their family and friends. Pretend to be a pod of hippos swimming together in the river.
