Mixed-Up Animals

Art

Children will make cutouts of animals and recombine the fronts, backs, and middles, to make new animals.

Fold sheets of 8 1/2 x 11" paper into thirds and give one sheet to each child. Tell children they will be drawing a picture of an animal on the paper, using the folds as a guide.
If children choose to draw a four-legged animal, have them draw the animal's head and neck in the right-hand third of the paper, its front legs and middle in the middle third, and its back legs and tail in the left-hand third.
If children choose to draw a bird, have them draw the head and neck in front, wings and legs in the middle, and tail in the back. Post a sample drawing of each animal as a model.
Explain to children that later they will cut the paper at the folds and trade the parts with those of classmates to create new animals.
Encourage children to exaggerate the characteristics of each animal as they draw, and to use plenty of color. Long tails, big horns, pointy snouts, or large raised wings will make the next part of the activity more fun.
Once the drawings are done, have children cut each third from the sheet of paper at the folds. Then organize children in small groups and have them make three piles: one pile of fronts, one pile of middles, and one pile of backs. Have them mix up each pile.
Have each child pick out a head, a middle and a back. Have them tape the three pieces of paper together to make a new animal. Explain that they can fill in or color gaps if there are any. Invite children to name their new and strange animals.