Mother Goose Time- How to Make a Zebra Craft and Giraffe Footprint Craft

This month, we are learning about going on a safari with Mother Goose Time!

The girls have enjoyed going through all of the activities on the Mother Goose Time January safari topic web. Each day we study a new topic. You can see "Packing Up" under "Topic" on Day 2 (right side of bulletin board below).

You can see our Mother Goose Time calendar and bulletin board here. This is a foldable and portable bulletin board, so you can take it with you while traveling and teaching.

They made their passports, packed a pretend suitcase, studied the map and went on a pretend safari.

Packing for the safari.
Passports and packing list. Checking off each thing as it goes in the suitcase.
Photo Copyright Caroline Brooke
 

I didn't even realize this until now, but this makeup box was given to
me by their paternal grandma and their maternal grandma gave her the bear inside.
As you can see, each thing to pack is actually a picture. You can see the pants there right on top.
Photo Copyright Caroline Brooke

We talked about how important it is to remember to pack your passport before you leave.

After this, they actually created their own airplane out of cardboard and my youngest daughter pretended she was a pilot.
She really wants to be a pilot already! Wow! She talks about it a lot.

Photo Copyright Caroline Brooke

Mother Goose Time packing song.
January's safari topic to sing while packing suitcase for the safari.

Studying the Map Before They Leave on the Safari
Photo Copyright Caroline Brooke

"Let's point to Africa on the map."
"Look a zebra, lion and cheetah!"
"Let's go see the animals."

African Animals

Now, they are learning details about all the animals found on the game reserve in Africa.

They are learning that animals in Africa are different than animals here in the United States. Of course, they have been to the zoo and have seen giraffes and zebras in person, but I think it's time to make another trip to the zoo towards the end of this month to wrap up our safari topic.

One thing I love about homeschooling is showing the girls things in the real world, not just in books (like in the classroom). Yes, we love books, but there is nothing like experiencing the real thing. So, off to the zoo we will go. I will surprise them on the perfect morning. :)

See... These are animals that can be found on a safari in Africa.
Matching Game by Mother Goose Time.
Photo Copyright Caroline Brooke

Favorite African Safari Animal Crafts

 

Two of their favorite Mother Goose Time animal crafts have been:

• Zebra Craft
• Giraffe Footprint Craft

Zebra Chalk Stripes Craft

Explain that all zebra stripes are different, just as our fingerprints are different.

So, all of our zebras' stripes will be different.

Supplies:

• Light blue cardstock or construction paper
• Black cardstock or construction paper
• Googly eyes (1 for each child, since it is a side profile view.)
• Chalk
• Glue
• Scissors
• Green crayon

Instructions:

1. Draw the grass on the light blue paper.
2. Cut a zebra shape out of the black paper.
3. Glue the zebra shape onto the light blue paper.
4. Draw stripes on with the crayon.
5. Glue on the googly eye.

Zebra Art from Mother Goose Time
By 8-year-old
Photo Copyright Caroline Brooke

Zebra Art from Mother Goose Time
By 4-year-old
Photo Copyright Caroline Brooke

Giraffe Footprint Craft

Supplies:

• Blue paper
• Yellow Paper
• Markers or crayons
• Googly Eyes (2 per child)
• Brown yarn
• Pencil

Instructions:

1. Use the pencil to trace each child's foot. (This is the face of the giraffe.) Explain that we are all different. That is good, because the world would be boring if everyone was exactly the same.
2. Cut and glue a strip of yellow paper onto the blue paper. This is the neck.
3. Then, cut out the child's foot tracing to make the face.
4. Cut and glue on triangular pieces to make the ears.
5. Draw the face.
6. Draw the spots.
7. Glue on the googly eyes.
8. Glue the yarn onto the neck.

Giraffe Footprint Craft
Created by 8-year-old
Copyright by Caroline Brooke

Giraffe Footprint Craft
Created by 4-year-old
Copyright Caroline Brooke

Thanks, Mother Goose Time!