Paw Print Memory Game
Turn recycled playing cards into a fun Paw Print Memory Game that kids can play again and again. This easy craft for kids combines art, animal learning, and hands-on play all in one activity. Children can design matching paw print cards, decorate them with animal fur patterns, and then use them for a homemade memory game that is great for classroom activities, homeschool lessons, or rainy day fun.
This printable craft also gives kids a chance to learn about wild animals, tracks, habitats, and observation skills while making something they can actually use.
Supplies
- White cardstock
- Old deck of playing cards
- Colored pencils
- Watercolor brush markers
- Scissors
- Glue
- Pencil
- Paper
- Animal track reference pictures
Instructions
- Print the blank card template or use the printable paw prints provided.
- Choose the animals you want to include in your game. Look at photos or drawings of their paw prints and sketch ideas on scrap paper first.
- Draw matching paw prints onto the printable cards. You can make each pair exactly the same, or match front and back tracks from the same animal.
- Add a few simple facts below each paw print, such as the animal’s name, habitat, or favorite food.
- Draw fur, color, or markings around the border of each card so both cards in the pair match.
- Color your cards with colored pencils or watercolor brush markers. Try using lighter and darker shades to give the fur more detail.
- Carefully cut out each card and glue it onto the front of an old playing card.
- Make several matching pairs, then shuffle the cards and play your homemade paw print memory game.
Fun Facts
Bears have an amazing sense of smell and can detect food from miles away. Even though they are very large animals, they can run surprisingly fast over short distances.
Animal tracks can tell us a lot about wildlife, including where an animal has been, how big it is, and sometimes even what it was doing.
Learning to identify animal tracks is a fun outdoor skill for kids who enjoy nature, hiking, or camping.
Patterns, Templates and Printables
Print the blank card template or paw print patterns to get started. These printable templates make it easy to create matching game cards at the correct size for play.
Teacher Friendly Educational Extension
This paw print memory game works well as a science and nature activity. Invite children to compare paw prints from different animals and talk about how tracks vary based on size, habitat, and movement. You can also turn this into a writing lesson by asking students to write one fact about each animal they include. For younger children, use fewer card pairs and focus on simple animal recognition. For older students, challenge them to match prints to habitats or sort animals by forest, desert, arctic, or mountain environments.
Supplies
Staedtler® ErgoSoft® Coloured Pencils
Staedtler® Watercolor Brush Markers
White Cardstock
Old deck of cards
Scissors
Elmer’s® Glue-All®
Pencil and paper
Instructions
Research animals and decide which paw prints you will make. Draw sketches of prints that you find on the internet.
Click on Printables and print out the blank card template and transfer your paw print sketches onto them. You can also use the paw prints we've provided . On each set could be identical tracks, or you can do the animal’s front and hind tracks as a set.
Add facts about your chosen animal below their paw print. The real size of the track and name of the animal are good, but you could also add facts about the animal’s habitat or eating habits.
Refer back to your research and sketch the corresponding animal’s fur around each paw print. It helps to have printed pictures of the animals to look at. Make the two cards in each set match.
Using Staedtler Ergo Soft Coloured Pencils, add color to each of your sketches. Try to make them look realistic! Remember to try blending your colors and using lighter and darker strokes to help add dimension. Here are some color tips for the samples provided:
Bear: - Dark brown first, using side of pencil and coloring in fur direction. Do center of border this way, then fill in the edges by using a black crayon and the same technique.
- Next do some strokes with the tip of the dark brown
- Finish with black, using lots of small strokes.
Coyote: - Soft yellow in each of the tufts
- light brown tufts of fur on each of the yellow tufts
- grey shading over all
- black fur on top
Cut each card out and adhere it to the front of an old recycled card. Color in each paw print, or leave it as a sketch. Create a dozen pairs of animals for a really fun memory game!
Patterns, Templates and Printables
Click on a pattern to open it in a new window
Contributor
Remember what we all say at Hands On Crafts for Kids, ”there’s no right or wrong way to crafting…only our way!” We hope that you will join us for Hands On Crafts for Kids – Back to Basics.
