Animal Mix-Up Activity
Animal Mix-Up Activity is a fun printable craft that lets kids create silly new animals by mixing different heads, bodies, legs, and tails. Children can use their imaginations to invent brand new creatures, then give each one a funny name. This easy craft for kids also helps build fine motor skills through cutting, arranging, and gluing. It is a great choice for classroom activities, rainy day fun, or creative time at home.
Supplies
- White paper
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Crayons or markers, optional
Instructions
- Print out several copies of the animal mix-up printable templates.
- Let each child choose the animal parts they want to use for their new creation.
- Cut out the pieces carefully. Younger children may need help with some of the smaller parts.
- Arrange the pieces in different combinations to make a brand new animal.
- Glue the parts onto a sheet of paper.
- Give the animal a silly new name and let the child tell a story about it.
- Make more than one and compare all the funny animal combinations.
Fun Facts
The United States is home to many different kinds of wild animals, from bears and raccoons to elk, foxes, and mountain lions.
Some animals have special features that help them survive, like long ears, sharp claws, or strong tails.
Imagining brand new animals is a fun way for kids to think about how real animals are built and how body parts help them live in different habitats.
Patterns, Templates and Printables
Click on a pattern to open it in a new window to print.
Teacher Friendly Educational Extension
This printable activity works well as a simple science and art crossover.
Ask children to describe the habitat their new animal would live in, what it would eat, and how it would protect itself.
You can also turn this into a writing prompt by having kids write one or two sentences about their mixed-up animal. In a classroom, display the finished animals on a bulletin board with each child’s creature name and description.
