Discussion Starters
In addition to providing great opportunities for pretend play, the Jumbo Zoo Animals are discussion starters in early science. Ask questions like these to help students understand the similarities and the differences between the animals.
Which animal has feathers? (Penguin)
Which animals have fur or hair? (Polar bear, zebra, monkey, hippo) Do any of the animals lay eggs? (Penguin)
How are the feet of each animal alike or different from the others? (Zebra has hooves; polar bear has paws with claws; penguin has webbed feet)
Does the coloring of any of the animals help it blend into its natural habitat? (Polar bear is white to blend into a snowy habitat)
Which animal is most like a horse? (Zebra)
Which animal has a long tail to help it hang on trees? (Monkey)
Which animal likes a cold environment in the wild? (Polar bear, penguin) Which animal spends a lot of time in water? (Penguin, hippopotamus) Which animal probably eats fish in the wild? (Penguin, polar bear) Which animal only eats plants in the wild? (Hippopotamus, zebra)
Questions like these help students develop early classification skills based on the characteristics of the animals.
Design a Habitat
Challenge students to use crayons and paper to design one of the animals in a zoo habitat that is most like its natural habitat. Make sure the students consider the basic needs of the animals including food and shelter.
Animal Act
Encourage students to move and make noise like each of the animals as you hold them up in view. Have students take turns acting like one of the animals and have others guess which animal the actor is pretending to be. Discuss how the animals sound and move in comparison to each other. How are they alike? How are they much different?
Your opinion matters! Visit www.LearningResources.com to write a product review or to find a store near you.
© Learning Resources, Inc., Vernon Hills, IL, US 
Learning Resources Ltd., Oldmedow Road,
King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 4JX, UK
Please retain our address for future reference.
Made in China. | |
Fabriqué en Chine. | Informations à conserver. |
Made in China. | Bitte bewahren Sie unsere Adresse |
| für spätere Nachfragen auf. |
Hecho en China. | Conservar estos datos. |