Box Zoo

Create a mini zoo out of a large box or plastic tray and populate it with easy-to-make standing paper animals or with exciting three-dimensional folding animals.

Materials Needed

  • Self-hardening clay or salt dough
  • Scissors
  • Craft sticks or wooden ice
    cream spoons
  • Sand
  • Plastic tray or any
    wide box (pizza box,cereal box
    or large shoe box)
  • Decorative materials: feathers,
    flower-shaped beads, sequins,
    pipe cleaner, egg carton tray

Box Zoo

Safety Guidelines

  • Always let your child use child-safe scissors.

Recommended Books

Steps

Step 1a Box Zoo 1. For three-dimensional paper animals, follow the instructions in the Folding Zoo Animals craft.
Step 1b Box Zoo An easier option for younger kids is to make these Standing Paper Animals.
Step 2 Box Zoo 2. Now that you have created your paper animals, you can make a zoo for them using a large box or old plastic tray.
Step 3 Box Zoo 3. Think of a layout for your zoo. Decide on where each animal should be housed. Sketch an outline of your plan on the tray.
Step 4 Box Zoo 4. Cover the area inside the animal enclosures with green self-hardening clay or salt dough, putting a thicker layer around the edges.
Step 5 Box Zoo 5. You can make a watering hole with blue clay or salt dough. Use the tip of a spoon to etch some waves on the dough.
Step 6 Box Zoo 6. Find suitable fencing material- you can use wooden ice cream spoons like these or you can cut craft sticks in half. Other materials you can use are drinking straws or construction paper cut into thick strips. Stick the fence pieces around the borders of the animal enclosures. Make sure to bury them deep into the dough.
Step 7a Box Zoo 7. Here are some lanndscaping ideas for your zoo:

a.) Make flowers with flower-shaped beads, sequins or craft foam. Use craft wire, pipe cleaner, or colored toothpicks for the stems.
Step 7b Box Zoo b.) Use natural rocks or pebbles for landscaping. You can also create your own rocks out of an egg carton tray. Cut them into desired size and paint with brown or black poster paint. Press them firmly into the dough.
Step 7c Box Zoo c.) Create ferns by bunching up several green feathers and planting them into the dough ground.

Try to think of other things you want to decorate your zoo with. Dough or clay is a versatile medium and can be molded into many different shapes and items.
Step 8 Box Zoo 8. Cover the paths with sand.
Step 11 Box Zoo 9. Put the animals inside their enclosures.

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