Credit: USFWS
Check out our games, quizzes, and activities and learn all about some of the world’s most unique and at risk species. Take time to meet the species that we’re working to conserve and learn about these animals and why they need our help.
Get permission from your parent or guardian before you try out any of our crafts and activities. For more activities, games and crafts, click here.
Paper Plate Masks
What you’ll need:
- Paper Plates
- Water Based Paint
- Scissors
- Liquid Glue
- Paint Brushes
- Construction paper
- Markers
- Pom-poms or other decorative materials (optional)
- Hole punch
- String
Directions: The first step to creating your animal mask is to decide what type of animal you want to be. After you decide what type of animal you want to be, have an adult help you to carefully measure and cut out eye holes. After you’ve made eyeholes cut construction paper to make any ears, trunks, or other special animal parts you need for your mask. With the plate right-side-up clue on your animal ears and allow the glue to dry. After your glue has dried, you can flip the plate over, if you have to glue on a trunk or other special part do so now and allow the glue to dry. With the bottom side of the plate up paint your mask accordingly. Once you’ve painted your mask, allow the paint to dry before painting on any spots or stripes. After all the paint has dried, use markers to draw on a nose and mouth. Be creative! If you’re going to be a species that is known for its teeth, make sure to add those! Once your mask is finished have an adult carefully punch a hole on each side of the plate and tie on string so that you can wear your mask.
At Home Safari:
What you’ll need:
- Paper
- Pencil
- Camera
Objective: Try and spot as many different wildlife species as possible in your backyard and around the house.
Directions: Under the guidance of a parent or adult, go out to your backyard or a local park. Once you’re there let the safari begin. Keep an open eye for different animals and plants. When you spot something take a picture and write it down. In the backyard it might be easy to spot animals, but with real safaris you might not have as much luck. In those cases things such as nests and tracks are the only way to tell what species are around. So make sure to keep an eye out for any nests and tracks, if you see any take a picture and write it down. Also while on your safari make sure to point out things animals need to survive, such as water sources and food. Once you’ve completed your backyard safari, come home and go through all your pictures and the things you’ve written down so that you can learn all about the different wildlife species near your home.
Wildlife Snacks - Elephant Sandwich:
What you’ll need:
- 4 slices of bread
- Sandwich fillings
- Orange Pepper slices
- 1 Green grape
- Cheese for eyes
Directions: Start off by cutting two slices of bread into circles, then cut other two slices into elephant ears. Fill Sandwich as desired.
Cut two long slices of orange pepper. Cut the first slice wide enough to be the base of the elephant’s trunk and cut the second slice so that it makes a “c” for the curve in the trunk.
Next, cut a grape in fourths using the two flat pieces for the eyes. Using a small scrap of white cheese, place a small dot on top of the grapes to finish up the eyes.
You can use any extra scraps to place in the elephant’s trunk to make it appear as if it’s eating.
