Use this zebra to help your students learn about the letter Z! Zebra crafts will fit right into a Zoo Animal theme and help make your life one day easier.
Skills
Types of skills can include math, science, fine motor, dramatic play, social and emotional. Here is how this zebra applies these skills:
Math
Add in math concepts by having your child count how many stripes are on the zebra, or having them count how many black stripes they are using to create the zebra. This will allow you to teach the child A:B pattern! If you have other animals, you can have the child sort and count animals that falls into the same category.
Science
If you have other crafts with your child, have them classify the zebra along with the other crafts. For example, sheep fall under farm animals, where zebra are zoo animals.
Fine Motor Skills
Your child will learn how to use scissors to cut the zebra’s stripes and tail.
Your child will use their pincer grasp to pick up and glue the stripes. If you use googly eyes or sticker eyes, this will also allow them to improve their pincer grasp skills.
Dramatic Play and Social/Emotional
Children can use this zebra as part of their zoo and pretend to be zebra and create their own zebra sound.
Boundaries
Make sure you supervise your child when using scissors and other sharp items.
Materials
You will use black and white construction paper, sticker eyes, markers, yarns, pipe cleaner, scissors, and glue.
Steps
Firstly, find yourself a letter “Z” template. Trace the letter “Z” onto a white construction paper and cut it out
Next, give the child a black construction paper. Depending on the child’s cutting skills, have the child cut several thin strips of black construction paper for the stripes and set aside. Do the same for the tail. ( You may want three to four pieces depending the how thick you want the tail to be.) If the child does not have the necessary cutting skills, either guide them or cut the stripes for them.
Cut out an oval that is the size of the tip of the letter “Z” for the nose. Have the child glue the nose on the top right end of the letter “Z” on the back side.
Then have the child use a sticker eye to put on to the letter “Z” close to the nose. Have the child draw the mouth using a marker.
Lastly, have the child glue the black strips of construction paper on the letter ‘Z” making sure to leave a space in between each strip to create a zebra. Don’t forget to glue the tail to the upper left part of the “Z”! And glue the black pipe cleaners to the bottom of the “Z” for the legs.
Modifications
You can use googly eyes or sticker eyes instead of having the child draw them.
Instead of using black construction paper for the stripes, have the child draw the stripes using a marker which will increase the fine motor skills.
Decorate your zebra with your favorite color for the stripes and tail.