Preschool Zoo Theme

Preschool zoo theme is an appropriate theme to introduce to the children about zoo. The children usually are fascinated by the zoo and the animal live there. And this is a great way to develop an appreciation and respect for animal life too !

What are the objective ?

In preschool zoo theme, children will learn :

  1. Mention zoo animal names.
  2. Types of zoo animal homes.
  3. Needs of zoo animal.
  4. The caretaker’s role.

What are the concepts for the children ?

  1. Mention zoo animal such as : zebra, elephant, camel. bear, tiger, monkey, kangaroo, giraffe, snake etc.
  2. A zoo is a place for animals.
  3. Zoo animals are kept in cages, fences or water.
  4. A person who feeds and takes care of the zoo animal is a zoo keeper.
  5. Veterinarian are animal doctors .
  6. Zoo animal needs food, water and shelter.

Learning Center Activities


Half and half. Find zoo animal picture in old magazine, cut in half and glue one half one side of a sheet of paper or print this animal zoo. (a new window will open) Ask children to draw and color the other half.

Find another wonderful project for preschool art activities.


Make a zoo. Set out many blocks, rubber and plastic model of zoo animal. Let the student build a zoo.

Go to block center to find another activity.


Set up a zoo. Set a zoo in the dramatic center by collecting large appliance boxes. Cut slits to resemble cages. Put some zoo animal mask. Let the children pretending to be animal in the zoo.

Find another great activity for symbolic play.


Skill : Sight Words

Zoo Animal Wheel. Using cardboard cut 25 cm diameter of circle. Divide it into eight sections. Writes names of the zoo animal each section. Provide eight clothespins, paste the related animal zoo picture on the clothespin. Have children match the appropriate clothespin to the names on the wheel.

Wonderful idea for preschool language activities for you to learn about and share with your children.


Skill : Clay and Play Dough

Zoo Animal Play Dough. Provide ready to use play dough or make your own mixture. Ask children to make the zoo animal. Add rolling pins and zoo animal cookie cutter.

Uncooked Dough

Mix 250 grams all-purpose flour and 100 grams salt. Add 60 ml oil. Add water until you get the perfect consistency for molding. Keep it in airtight container.

A list of fine motor activities


Skill : Pattern

Zoo Animal Pattern. Provide games that require children to complete a pattern.

Preschool math activities can be used to teach children math.


Animal Skin. Collect some fur and snake skin in the science center. The children can look and feel the differences.

Includes all of preschool science activities for the young scientist.


Animal Cookies

Serve : 8


Cookies :
300 gr all-purpose flour
250 g butter
150 g caster sugar
1 egg yolk
2 tsp vanilla essence
½ tsp salt

Icing :
125 g icing sugar
1 tbsp water

Method :

  1. Beat the butter and sugar in a bowl.
  2. Add the egg yolk and vanilla, beat the mixture until it smooth.
  3. Add the flour and salt, mix together.
  4. Form a ball, wrap it in cling film, and put in the fridge for 30 minutes.
  5. Pre heat oven to 180 degree C
  6. Sprinkle the surface with flour, roll the dough to about ½ cm thick.
  7. Cut out animals. Put them on the baking trays.
  8. Bake the cookies for 12 minutes or until golden. Leave them on a wire rack to cool.
  9. Mix together the icing sugar and water. Pipe the icing sugar onto the cookies to decorate.

Look at another recipes in kids recipes for young chef.


Visit a local zoo. If possible, bring children to the local zoo. Observe the animals that are of particular interest to the children such as : monkey, elephant and giraffe.

This is a good idea for preschool field trip.


Zookeeper may I ? Choose one child to be a zookeeper. Ask the “zookeeper” stand about 5 meters in front of the remaining children. The zookeeper gives the instruction for other children, for example: five kangaroo’s hops, four elephant’s steps etc. Once the children reach the zookeeper, the zookeeper chooses a child to be the next zookeeper.

Contains exciting fun games for gross motor skill.


To the Zoo
(sing to the tune of “Are You Sleeping?”)

Where do you go? Where do you go ?To the zoo, to the zooWhat do you want to see? What do you want to see?Elephant, Elephant

(You can use another zoo animal such as: snake, bear, monkey, lion, penguin etc)

One elephant

One elephant went out to play,
Upon a spider's web one day.
He had such enormous fun,
That he called for another elephant to come!

Two elephants went out to play...

Two Little Monkey

Two little monkeys, jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said:
No more monkey jumping on the bed!

Going to the Zoo

Daddy's takin' us to the zoo tomorrow,
zoo tomorrow, zoo tomorrow
Daddy's takin' us to the zoo tomorrow
and we can stay all day!

We're goin' to the zoo, zoo, zoo
How about you, you, you?
You can come too, too, too
We're goin' to the zoo, zoo, zoo.

See the elephant with the long trunk swingin'
Great big ears and a long trunk swingin'
Snuffin' up peanuts with a long trunk swingin'
And we can stay all day!


See all the monkeys they're scritch-scritch scratchin'
jumpin' around and scritch-scritch scratchin'
Hangin' by the long-tail (huff huff huff)
And we can stay all day!


There's a big black bear he's a huff-puff-a-puffin'
His coat's too heavy he's a huff-puff-a-puffin'
Don't get too near the huff-puff-a-puffin'
Or you won't stay all day!


Well the seals in the pool all honk-honk-honkin'
Catchin' the fish and honk-honk-honkin'
Little tiny seals all honk-honk-honkin'
And we can stay all day!


Contains song and rhymes related to your themes.

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