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ANIMALS

CRAFTS:

Animal Pictures
Equipment: Newspaper 
What to do: Have the kids scour the area for picture-making materials: twigs, grass, stones shells, leaves, etc. Give each Beaver a sheet of newspaper. Ask the kids to arrange their materials in shapes of animals or birds. When all the kids gave finished,  do a tour of the pictures so everyone can admire each others' ideas. Then, put all of the materials together in the circle, and create another picture with new natural materials.

Animal Painting
Cut out different animal shapes for easel art or sponge painting. 

Food Chain Mobile
Discuss what would happen if the water was polluted and made the fish sick. How would this affect the raccoon and other animals?
This mobile not only makes an interesting work of art but it also shows how animals and plants depend on each other. Materials: construction paper, markers, string, tape and clothes hangers. What to do: Let the children draw or cut out of magazines animals, plants and natural objects (e.g. water, air) that depend on each other. Include carnivorous and herbivorous animals. Tape a short piece of string to the back of each picture then start taping the pictures together with the string. For example water might connect to a fish, then a raccoon, then a fox, then a wolf. Fasten 3-4 food chain strings to each coat hanger.

Paper Plate Owls
Each owl will require one large paper plate, two paper baking cups, black and orange construction paper, string, scissors and glue. Cut out a large black triangle and glue to the top of the paper plate as shown. Glue a black circle in each baking cup, and then glue them onto the plate for eyes. Glue an orange diamond-shaped beak under the eyes. Tape a loop of string on the back to hang the owl on a wall. As an alternative, turn the owl into an Halloween mask. Cut holes for the eyes, instead of using the baking cups and black circles. Punch a hole on either side of the mask and tie yarn in each hole for fastening the mask around the child’s head. 

GAMES & ACTIVITIES:

Animal Block Area
At many toy stores you can buy those small plastic animals for cheap to put in your block area.

Animal Guess Game
Cut pictures of animals (2 of each animal) out of magazines or coloring books. Pin one picture on each child's back. All the children should move around the room behaving like the picture of the animal on their back. The object is for the children to locate their matching animal.

Animal Hospital 
The children can brainstorm ways to make the area look like an animal hospital. Let them make a sign and decorate the area themselves. Items to have:
cotton swabs
empty milk bone boxes
cloth bandages
band aids
rubber gloves
long white lab coats
stethoscope
scale
clipboards
paper
pencils
baskets with pillows and blankets for overnight guests
dog food dish
water dish
stuffed animals from home
telephone
thermometer
plastic (toy) shots 

Animal Hunt Be animal detectives.Go to a nearby area where animals are frequently seen.Walk very quietly and listen to the sounds you hear.And see who can spot the animals first.When found, stopped and observe it.What color is it?What kind of food doesn't eat?Take a photograph of its tracks.Find two or three animals altogether.Marked the location where they were spotted and also the trail you take back to your meeting hall.Where do you think the animals were going?

A Picnic Lunch for Animal Pals Tell each child to bring in food that the animals like to eat.Look at the food that was brought in.Feel it and smell it.What does it feel like?Does it have any smell?Take a picnic lunch out to these animals by going back to the same marked location.Note: you might let the children taste of food if it is something that is eaten by humans.Then they can decide what taste and animal likes best such a sweet, sour, tart, etc...Be aware of food allergies.

Back TrackTake another walk to the locations.Check to see if the food is gone.Check the tracks made where the food was placed.Take a picture of the tracks.Compare the photograph taken with the one taken in the first activity.Were that tracks the same?

Beaver Soup 
The kids should stand along one wall of the pond. Leaders form a circle in the centre of the room, pretending they are stirring a giant pot. With older kids as prompter to help them ask the questions, the kids call, “What are you making?” The leaders shout back, “Beaver soup!” Then the kids ask, “What are you putting in it?” Leaders reply “Baboons”. the kids ask, “What else?” Leaders reply, “Bacon”. This continues until the leaders reply, “the Beavers!” At this point the kids race to the other side of the room and leaders try to catch them. Tagged the kids join the leaders in making the soup; play continues until all the kids are in the soup. If “B” words are the only words used, a list might be helpful. Or, use the names of any foods and catch the kids off-guard when leaders shout, “the Beavers!”

Lunar Calendar Animals
Looking for ways to mark the 12 years in the Chinese zodiac, mythical gods decided to name them after 12 different animals. Of course, the animals argued endlessly about who was the most important and should come first. Fed up with their quarrelling, the Chinese mythical gods decided the best way to end the arguments was to hold a swimming race from one bank of the river to the other. The winner would give his name to the first year. All the animals lined up at the river bank, raring to go. The gods counted to three and the animals jumped into the water. The rat was the most determined to be first and, seeing the ox doing well, quickly climbed on the ox's back. Then, when they got close to the opposite bank, the rat jumped off, made a quick dash and reached land first. The rat won the race and gave his name to the first year. After him came the ox, the tiger, the rabbit, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the sheep, the monkey, the rooster, the dog and finally the pig. And that's the order the gods used to name the 12 years, according to legend. Ask the childs what they think of the rat's actions. Is this where rats first got their bad name? To discover what calendar animal you are, find the date you were born. For fun read the personality traits that someone born in that year might share with others. Emphasize that these traits are just for fun. They have nothing to do with reality. Rat: Born in 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984.Traits: Thrift, intellectual skill, charisma, meddling Ox: Born in 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985.Traits: Integrity, diligence, eloquence, stubborn. Tiger: Born in 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986.Traits: Bravery, good luck, magnetism, sometimes disobedient. Rabbit: Born in 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987.Traits: Artistic, refined, gracious, cunning. Dragon: Born in 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988.Traits: Strength, success, enthusiasm, good health. Snake: Born in 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989.Traits: Compassion, intuition, discretion, extravagance. Horse: Born in 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990.Traits: Popularity, style, persuasive, haste. Sheep: Born in 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991.Traits: Serenity, sincere, gentleness, extravagance. Monkey: Born in 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980.Traits: Stability, leadership, cunning, wit, silliness. Rooster: Born in 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981.Traits: Enthusiasm, humor, conservatism, bossiness. Dog: Born in 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982.Traits: Heroism, dependability, morality, intelligence. Pig: Born in 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983.Traits: Gallantry, sincerity, culture, hesitation.

House Hunt Take a walk to find animal homes.Look for holes in ground, under rocks, or around edges of buildings, nests and trees, holes in trees, anthills, owl nest, squirrel nest, groundhog openings, or beds of leaves or needles were an animal may have laid.How do kids describe what they see.How are the homes made?What materials were used?What kind of animal would live in each home?Is there any sign of the animal that lives in the nest or burrow?Look for clues that tell how the home was constructed.Was it dug?Put together with mud?Or a natural poll that was already there?

Home Builders Have that kids think of a favorite animal they might see on a walk or in the woods, or fields.Think of the kind of shelter that the small animal, bird or insect would need to raise its young, one for home, or require for protection.Collect the materials needed for construction of a home for animals that children select.How the children in groups build shelter for the chosen animal: dry dirt or sand for anthill; mud, twigs and grass for a bird's nest; pine needles spread out under a tree as a mat for a deer; small clumps of leaves on a branch for squirrels nest.Is the home strong?Dry?Big enough?How do you feel about it?

Making Plaster casts of Animal Tracks
Materials: a small box or bag of plaster of Paris; mixing bowl; a stick for stirring; a water bottle with water; a few cardboard strips 
What to do: When you have found an animal track, put a 2 cm high cardboard strip around it like a collar. An easy way to make the collar is to cut a milk carton into 2 cm wide rings. The collar will keep the plaster from running all over the ground. You'll have to experiment with how much plaster different sized tracks will need. For the average dog track, start by putting 10 teaspoons of plaster in the mixing bowl. Slowly add water and stir until the plaster looks like gray pancake batter or cake mix. Carefully pour the plaster into the track and let it harden. You can also practice by making a track in play dough and pouring plaster into the track. Once the plaster is set, you can lift the cast off the track. Brush off any dirt and you'll see what the foot looked like of the animal that made the track. Can your childs identify which animal made this track?

Sort Animal Crackers
Animal crackers can provide excellent sorting and matching experiences for children. And the best part is once you have finished the task, everyone gets to eat the assignment.

Wild Animal Babies Visit a petting zoo are nurseries section of a large zoo.Have the kids look for newborn or baby animals.Find gear, prairie dogs, seals, errors or other wild animals with their young.Call the zoo and ahead of time to check on who is new and ready for the public to see.Let the kids observed a wild animals and make comparisons between animal parents in animal babies.How do the babies resemble parents?Difference?If the mother is caring for her young, how?Do the zoo keepers have to care for some babies?Why?What do that young eat?How are the unprotected by their mothers?Can people touch the baby animals?Have they kids tell what they observe about the size, err, teeth if any, ears, tales, movement and sounds of the baby animals.No: have the kids write a card of thanks for their visit.

SONGS:

100 Animals
I went to the zoo
And what did I see?
100 animals
Looking at me.
There were,
10 tall giraffes, eating from the trees.
10 silly monkeys, scratching on their knees.
10 sleeping snakes, lying in the sun.
10 munching elephants, eating peanuts one by one.
10 leaping tigers, performing in the shows,
10 pink flamingos, standing on their toes.
10 grouchy bears, trying to get some sleep.
10 happy hippos, in the water deep.
10 roaring lions, walking two by two.
10 galloping zebras, all living in the zoo.

Herman the Worm
Sittin' on a fence post, 
chewin' my bubblegum (chew, chew, chew, chew)
Playin' with my yo-yo, woo-oo, woo-oo (yo-yo motion)
when along came Herman the worm, and he was this 
(show small length with hands) BIG! 
And I said, "Herman! What happened?" 
I ate my father. 
"Sittin' on a fence post
(repeat the verse and actions, only showing that the worm is a little bigger this time)
And I said "Herman. What happened?" 
I ate my mother."
(Next verse, the worm gets bigger)
And I said "Herman, What happened?" 
I ate my brother."
(The worm is huge by this verse)
And I said " Herman! What happened?" 
I ate my sister. 
"Sittin' on a fence post chewin' my bubblegum. (chew, chew, chew, chew)
Playing with my yo-yo, woo-oo, woo-oo, 
when along came Herman the worm, 
and he was this (make a tiny length between your thumb and finger) BIG! 
And I said, "Herman! What happened?" 
I burped!!"
 

STORIES:

How Bats Came to Be
Early one morning while he was on his way to his home in the sky, Father Sun got caught in the branches of a tall tree. He tried and tried to free himself, but only managed to entangle himself more firmly. Soon Father Sun could not move at all.    That morning all the animals waited in vain for Father Sun. When he did not appear, they went quietly back to their beds. They thought that they had not slept long enough and that it was still night. The bear went back to his cave. The rabbit returned to his nest under a bush at the edge of a field of sweet clover. The chipmunk went into his hole in the roots of an oak tree. Only the owl, the wolf, and the fox were happy, for they could hunt a little longer than usual in the dark.   When Father Sun did not appear the next day, the animals began to suspect that he had got lost on the way home. They searched through most of the forest, but they could not find him.   One little squirrel always looked at the treetops because he liked to jump from branch to branch. He discovered Father Sun stuck in the top-most branches of a tall tree. By this time Father Sun was very weak and pale. "Little squirrel, little squirrel;" he rasped in a low voice, "little squirrel, set me free."  "Certainly, Father Sun," replied the little squirrel, and he ran up the trunk of the tree towards the top-most branches. But Father Sun's heat drove him back to the ground at once. Again Father Sun called out "Little squirrel, little squirrel, set me free, set me free."   "Oh Father Sun, you are too hot," said the little squirrel sadly. "You have already burnt my fine long tail." He had always considered his tail very handsome and was sorry it was gone.   "Try again," pleaded Father Sun. "I am so tired that my light will soon go out." The squirrel ran up the trunk of the tree a second time. He almost reached Father Sun before the fierce heat drove him back. As the squirrel reached the ground once more, Father Sun groaned, "Little squirrel, little squirrel, please try one more time."   "Father Sun," cried the squirrel, "your heat has burned off my fine long tail. My fur is black. What is more, I can't see. Your light has made me blind."   "Please, little squirrel, try again," whispered Father Sun. "My light will soon go out."   Once more the little squirrel ran up the trunk, this time as fast as he could go. When he reached the branches at the top of the tree, he gave Father Sun a tremendous push. At that moment father sun broke free and sailed up towards his home in the heavens. The squirrel held on to the branches with all his might. The intense heat had made his arms grow longer, and his neck stretch out. Now it seemed that he was caught at the top of the tree forever. There was no one to rescue him. His scorched skin hurt, and his eyes were so sore that he could not see at all.   Father Sun paused and looked back. He was distressed to see how much he had harmed the kind squirrel and knew that somehow he must help the creature. "Poor little squirrel," he said, "in helping me you have been hurt. Now I shall repay your kindness. What is your dearest wish?"   "I have always wanted to fly," the squirrel answered, "but now it is too late; I am blind, and my skin hurts so much that I will surely die." Father Sun nodded and suddenly pain left the squirrel. But he could not see, and still his arms and legs were stretched.   "From now on," said Father Sun," you will be able to fly into the heavens just as you have always wanted to do. Since my light hurts your eyes, you will fly at night. Although your eyes are blind, your ears are still very sharp. When you call out, the trees and rocks will send you back echoes to you. Then you will know that there is something in your way and you will be able to dive and swoop to avoid hurting yourself. I shall see you in the morning and in the evening on my journey back and forth."   The little squirrel dropped his arms from the branches and flew away. He had become a brown bat. Ever afterwards he would hang upside down when he slept in the daytime. Then everyone would remember the day a squirrel saved Father Sun so that the world would have light and warmth.   And that is how the squirrel became the brown bat.(Wahwahskgone)

FOOD:

Animal Soup
Make chicken noddle soup with animal crackers in it. 

TIPS

Did You Know?
Here are some neat, nature facts to use in a game, or to just amaze your group.
*An earthworm doesn't breathe through his mouth or nose, as we do,  but through his skin!
*A deer gets a new set of antlers every year. During the winter his old set begins to get itchy, and he rubs it against trees until it comes off. If you see him early in the spring, he won't have antlers at all.
*Birds have a calendar too. No one knows how, but birds have a special way of telling how long days are. When the days get shorter in the fall, they know it is time to go south. And when the days get longer in the spring, it is time to come back. It took scientists a long time to learn this secret, and they still do not know everything about it.
* Although some dinosaurs were large, the blue whale is bigger and heavier than any of them were.
* A hummingbird's wings buzz because he beats them more than five thousand times each minute. If you could flap your arms that fast, you would buzz too!* A beaver sharpens his own teeth. The outside of each tooth is softer than the centre of it, so the softer part wears off first, leaving the harder part always sharp.
* A fish can't see as far as you or I can, but he can point his eyes in two directions at once!
* If a bird doesn't have any teeth, how can he chew? He swallows his food whole, and his gizzard grinds it.* A catfish has fingers! Well, not really, but he uses his whiskers to feel the bottom of the murky lake, as we use our hands.
*The albatross is a large seabird with a wingspan of six to twelve feet. It sleeps while it glides through the air.
* The artic tern is the champion long-distance traveller among birds. Late every August, terns leave their nests on the northern islands of the Arctic Ocean. They fly south to Antarctica where waters are full of fish that terns eat. In mid-June the terns return to nesting places in the far north. Their round trip covers 22,000 miles.