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handprint

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

January 8, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

M is for monkey is a lovely theme that can be stretched out to include zoos, rainforests, bananas, trees, or any other direction you would like to go with it. Also, I have more alphabet letter fun on my page How to Homeschool Preschool.

It naturally includes science as you learn about different species.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

And you can work in geography by locating places on a map or globe where different monkeys are native.

Use banana manipulatives for simple math, and introduce geography/history concepts like teaching about people in the community such as zookeepers.

I found great ideas to cover all subjects to make your M is for monkey study fun, easy, and a great learning experience.

More How to Homeschool Preschool Letter of the Week Activities

  • Alphabet Letter A is for Apple Craft for Preschool | Fun Apple Study
  • Letter O is for Owl Preschool Craft | Fun Great Horned Owl Study
  • Alphabet Letter H Handprint Craft For Fun Preschool Horse Study
  • How To Make An Alphabet Teeth Cleaning Activity | 5 Preschool Letter T Crafts
  • Alphabet Letter R is for Rainbow Craft for Preschool | Fun Rain Mobile
  • Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study
  • Alphabet Letter G is for Gorilla Fun Paper Plate Preschool Mask
  • W Is For Winter Craft Easy Snowman Oobleck Activity
  • Letter E Is For Eagle Easy Preschool Eagle Study
  • Alphabet Letter N Is For Nest Handprint & Fun Nests Preschool Craft
  • B is for Bird Craft | Free Preschool Bluebird Study
  • X is for X Ray Craft | Unique Crayon Resist Skeleton

Language Arts Focus Day 1

Letter M Song -I like to begin with a song that builds on letter recognition, the sound, and words that begin with that letter and it can be repeated throughout the week to reinforce it.

Letter/Sound Recognition- Cut banana shapes out of cardstock or construction paper.

Use a marker to write letters in upper and lowercase letters, or even numbers.

Mix up a few at a time and let your child match the letters.

For children who already know all their letters, you can write out the whole alphabet and let them place the letters in the correct order in a line.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

Book- A Book of Monkeys- I just love the illustrations of this book that covers not only monkeys but all other primates breaking each one down with their characteristics.

This is a great opportunity to teach comparison of differences as well as similarities.

Craft/Activity- Start off the week with this Monkey Ears Headband so they can wear them all week as you learn about M and of course monkeys.

Song/Fingerplay- Let’s jump right into the obvious song for this theme-5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed,  it’s classic and fun.

Snack-Bake some cupcakes and then decorate them together using this Monkey Cupcake Tutorial, enjoy them with a glass of milk.

Science Focus Day 2

Letter/Sound Recognition- Take this Monkey Sensory Bin activity and add lower and uppercase M’s to it,

You can use magnet letters, letter tiles, flashcards, letters cut from magazines, or whatever you have on hand. These magnetic letters will get a lot of use for all your preschool years.

Book- Use today to learn what a monkey is, before they are ready for more complicated taxonomy preschoolers can still learn to sort and classify.

Primates cover a wide variety of creatures but are not all monkeys. 

The easiest way to learn and remember is that everything that is not an ape is a monkey and monkeys have tails while apes do not. 

Chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and gibbons all do not have tails, so they are apes.

Wildlife Anatomy contains so much information on different monkeys.

For example, it has Howler Monkey, Squirrel Monkeys, Capuchin, Baboons, and Mandrills, and the illustrations are outstanding you will use this book again and again for different zoology topics.

Here is a great video that teaches different Monkey species.

Craft/Activity- Barrel of Monkeys is a great addition to your homeschool supplies, these monkeys can be used as manipulatives for math, in a sensory bin, or as the game is meant to be played for fine motor work.

Song/Finger Play- Three Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree with finger motions.

Snack- We are going to keep it simple today with this free Printable Monkeys for Banana Treats all you need is a printer and a banana for this treat.

Math Focus Day 3

Letter/Sound Recognition –  These Monkey and Banana Counting cards are a great thematic way to practice number recognition, counting, and sequencing.

I highly suggest laminating them, so they last throughout your unit.

Book- Sometimes the best way to open a dialogue about feelings and how to handle them is through a silly book like Grumpy Monkey.

Emotional intelligence is a very important part of preschool learning.

Craft/Activity- While the Smart Bananas Math Activities may seem simple but children will be getting so much natural math exposure through addition and subtraction, comparison, measuring, weighing, and counting.

Song/Fingerplay– 5 Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree, oh those little monkeys were teasing Mr. Alligator, and this song and fingerplay is really easy to learn and so much fun to act out, teaching through Makaton Signing.

Snack- Kids will go bananas over these adorable Monkey Sandwiches and they are pretty simple to make if you buy premade PBJ sandwiches.

History/Geography/ Day 4

Learn about zookeepers as a simple social studies lesson and what it takes to care for the animals.

In addition, look at my Rainforest Unit Study and Free Lapbook.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

Kids Learn About Zookeepers and Taking Care of Animals is a short 3-minute video set to music to keep it engaging.

Letter/Sound Recognition – Use Wikki Stix to create upper and lower case m’s, remember to repeat the /m/ sound often.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

Book- How could we do a preschool monkey unit without the classic Curious George?

Craft/Activity- Create a Paper Bag Monkey Craft or create an entire troop of unique monkey puppets.

Song/Finger Play- Itsy Bitsy Monkey – (Sung to the tune of The Itsy Bitsy Spider)

The Itsy Bitsy monkey climbed up the coconut tree.

(“Climb” up the tree, alternating cupped hands one on top of the other in the air.)

Down came a coconut & hit him on his knee—OWWW!!!!

(Make a double fist above your head & hit your knee)

Out came a lion a-shaking’ his mighty mane—AND—

(Frame your face with your hands, fanning fingers out for mane.

Shake head & hands. 

The Itsy Bitsy monkey climbed up the tree again!

Repeat motions.

Snack- Make a Monkey Rice Cake Curious George Snack to go along with today’s book selection and it is a relatively healthy snack to boot.

Books for Learning About M is for Monkey

11 M is for Monkey Preschool Books & Resources

Add these fun books and resources about monkey to your preschool theme.

A Book of Monkeys (and other Primates)

Can you tell a slow loris from a slender loris? Did you know that when it rains orangutans make umbrellas using leaves? What's the difference between a monkey and an ape? Discover all of this (and many more monkey facts!) in Kate Viggers' humorous, illustrated guide to monkeys and other primates.

Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business

Children will delight in following the peddler’s efforts to outwit the monkeys and will ask to read it again and again. Caps for Sale is an excellent easy-to-read book that includes repetition, patterns, and colors, perfect for early readers.

This tale of a peddler and a band of mischievous monkeys is filled with warmth,
humor, and simplicity and also teaches children about problem and resolution.

Magnetic Alphabet Letters

Suitable for preschoolers and young children:EVA foam magnetic letters are an innovative early education toy suitable for preschoolers and young children. They can help children learn English letters, improve spelling abilities, and enhance their oral expression skills.

Winning Moves Games Classic Barrel of Monkeys

Classic Skill Game

Squirrel Monkey Plush

These realistic stuffed animals are created with high-quality materials and are surface washable in case you get its luscious fur coat dirty.

Grumpy Monkey

Jim the chimpanzee is in a terrible mood for no good reason. His friends can't understand it--how can he be in a bad mood when it's SUCH a beautiful day? They have lots of suggestions for how to make him feel better. But Jim can't take all the advice...and has a BIT of a meltdown. Could it be that he just needs a day to feel grumpy?

Fidget Toy Plus Arts & Crafts for Kids; Non Reusable Hands-on

Calming Sensory Fidget Toy: Soft And Pliable, Easy To Have On Hand To Help Tame Those Fidgety Fingers

Curious George

In this book, George meets his friend, the man with the yellow hat, and begins the life of mischief and adventure so beloved by generations of readers. The inspiration for television, films, and hundreds of books, Curious George is a mainstay of children's picture books

Monkey Puzzle

"I've lost my mum!" It's not too much fun being lost in the jungle, and little monkey wants his mummy. A kindly butterfly is keen to help, but they don't seem to be having much luck as the well-meaning butterfly misunderstands monkey's descriptions and leads him to all sorts of unsuitable animals! But eventually, they find... Dad! It's just as well that he knows exactly where mum is, and she's waiting with a well-deserved cuddle.

Hanging Stuffed Monkeys

Soft and Quality: monkey stuffed animals are made of plush, with evenly and full filling, which are skin friendly and comfortable to touch, not easy to deform; They have exquisite workmanship, are sturdy enough for long term use.

Wildlife Anatomy: The Curious Lives & Features of Wild Animals around the World

Julia Rothman's series of Anatomy books are beloved by children and adults alike. In Wildlife Anatomy, Rothman captures the excitement and distinctive attributes of wild animals around the world. The book is packed with hundreds of her charming, original illustrations, detailing the unique features of animals of the rainforest, desert, grasslands, oceans, and much more. From lions, bears, and zebras to monkeys, mongoose, bats, elephants, giraffes, hippos, and much more, Rothman's visual guide covers all the key features, right down to the anatomy of a lion's claw and a wild horse's hoof. All the illustrations are accompanied by labels, intriguing facts, and identifying details, such as: When is a Panther Not a Panther? and What Makes Aardvarks So Odd? Rothman's characteristic combination of curiosity and an artist's eye makes this wildlife treasury rich and full, and promises new discoveries every time it's opened.

Also, add day 5.

Language Arts Focus Day 5

Learning letter recognition and phonics are key facets for a foundation of language arts in the early years. I think that hands-on fun and repetition are key for the mastery of these skills.

Letter/Sound Recognition-I found this cute song- M Monkey, and it’s a cute repetitive song covering many of the simple words that start with M.

Book- Monkey Puzzle is a sweet little book about a little monkey who is missing his mom written by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, creators of The Gruffalo.

Craft/Activity- Gather up some old magazines and go on a Magazine Letter Hunt and Sort Activity for the letter M not only is it good for letter recognition but cutting and pasting help those fine motor skills by building up hand muscles.

Song/Fingerplay-  Try out the Letter M song by ABCmouse.com, the tune is so much fun even for grown-ups.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

Snack- Make this cute little Banana Sushi treat to finish off your week, after all little monkeys love those tasty bananas.

M is for Monkey Handprint 

You will need:

  • Blue construction paper
  • Brown construction paper
  • Google eyes
  • Green craft paint
  • Brown craft paint
  • Paintbrush

First, let your child paint green vines wherever they like on the blue construction paper. Allow to dry.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

Paint your child’s hand brown.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

Stamp it down over the vines with the thumb pointing upward. Be sure to press down firmly over the whole hand.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

Paint a circle of brown over the thumb to create the monkey’s head and give him a curling little tail as well.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

Paint your child brown and use it like a stamp to create two round ears.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

While the paint is drying, cut out a small brown oval for the mouth and two smaller ones for the inside of the ears.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

After the paint has dried your child can glue on the mouth, inner ears, and some googly eyes with a glue stick.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

Finally, use a pen to add a little more detail like a mouth and nostrils.

I like to also write down the upper and lowercase letters on the paper to reinforce what they are learning.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: crafts, handprint, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool preschool, monkeys, phonics, preschool, preschool skills

Interesting Facts For Kids About Africa | Cute Handprint Cheetah

December 4, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Sharing interesting facts for kids about Africa is a great way to introduce or refresh information on this amazing continent. Also, grab more ideas on my post Free Africa Unit Study for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning | Free Continent & Country Reports.

There is much to be learned about Africa as a continent.

For, you want to learn about its people, customs, animals, plants, landforms, and the resources that we get from there.

It is truly one of the most diverse places on earth from the Savanna to the Congo.

Interesting Facts For Kids About Africa | Cute Handprint Cheetah

We’re focusing on the amazing African wildlife that covers it and makes its homes in all the different biomes.

Too, we’re creating a cute handprint cheetah and then digging into some interesting facts.

Whether you are just looking for a single activity or want to create a whole unit there is no shortage of ideas and information.

Books About Africa for Kids

Also, add some of these books to your reading diet.

13 Resources for Children Studying About Africa

Add one or two of these books to your study about the art of Africa.

Africa For Kids: People, Places and Cultures - Children Explore The World Books

Africa For Kids: People, Places, Culture gives children not only a peek into the land and its people but the artwork of even simple everyday items like weaving and serving plates.

Africa Coloring Book For Kids!

Here is a coloring book filled with African souvenirs to color that is soothing and a great springboard for discussion.

African Patterns Scrapbook Paper

I found this beautiful book of African Patterned Scrapbook paper that can be used for many craft projects.

Africa, Amazing Africa: Country by Country

Atinuke’s first non-fiction title is a major publishing event: a celebration of all 55 countries on the African continent! Her beautifully-written text captures Africa’s unique mix of the modern and the traditional, as she explores its geography, its peoples, its animals, its history, its resources and its cultural diversity. The book divides Africa into five sections: South, East, West, Central and North, each with its own introduction. This is followed by a page per country, containing a delightful mix of friendly, informative text and colourful illustrations.

Africa Is Not a Country

Enter into the daily life of children in the many countries of modern Africa. Countering stereotypes, Africa Is Not a Country celebrates the extraordinary diversity of this vibrant continent as experienced by children at home, at school, at work, and at play.

The Water Princess

With its wide sky and warm earth, Princess Gie Gie’s kingdom is a beautiful land. But clean drinking water is scarce in her small African village. And try as she might, Gie Gie cannot bring the water closer; she cannot make it run clearer. Every morning, she rises before the sun to make the long journey to the well. Instead of a crown, she wears a heavy pot on her head to collect the water. After the voyage home, after boiling the water to drink and clean with, Gie Gie thinks of the trip that tomorrow will bring. And she dreams. She dreams of a day when her village will have cool, crystal-clear water of its own.

Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions (Picture Puffin Books)

Artists Leo and Diane Dillon won their second consecutive Caldecott Medal for this stunning ABC of African culture. "Another virtuoso performance. . . . Such an astute blend of aesthetics and information is admirable, the child's eye will be rewarded many times over."

When Stars Are Scattered

Omar and his brother Hassan, two Somali boys, have spent a long time in the Dadaab refugee camp. Separated from their mother, they are looked after by a friendly stranger. Life in the camp isn't always easy. The hunger is constant . . . but there's football to look forward to, and now there's a chance Omar will get to go to school . . .With a heart-wrenching fairytale ending, this incredible true story is brought to life by Victoria's stunning illustrations. This book perfectly depicts life in a refugee camp for 8-12 year olds.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Young Reader's Edition

When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba's tiny village in Malawi, his family lost all of the season's crops, leaving them with nothing to eat and nothing to sell. William began to explore science books in his village library, looking for a solution. There, he came up with the idea that would change his family's life forever: he could build a windmill. Made out of scrap metal and old bicycle parts, William's windmill brought electricity to his home and helped his family pump the water they needed to farm the land. Retold for a younger audience, this exciting memoir shows how, even in a desperate situation, one boy's brilliant idea can light up the world. Complete with photographs, illustrations, and an epilogue that will bring readers up to date on William's story, this is the perfect edition to read and share with the whole family.

Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart is the first of three novels in Chinua Achebe's critically acclaimed African Trilogy. It is a classic narrative about Africa's cataclysmic encounter with Europe as it establishes a colonial presence on the continent. Told through the fictional experiences of Okonkwo, a wealthy and fearless Igbo warrior of Umuofia in the late 1800s, Things Fall Apart explores one man's futile resistance to the devaluing of his Igbo traditions by British political andreligious forces and his despair as his community capitulates to the powerful new order. With more than 20 million copies sold and translated into fifty-seven languages, Things Fall Apart provides one of the most illuminating and permanent monuments to African experience. Achebe does not only capture life in a pre-colonial African village, he conveys the tragedy of the loss of that world while broadening our understanding of our contemporary realities.

Wildlife of East Africa (Princeton Pocket Guides, 3)

Those looking for a concise yet informative, visually breathtaking yet affordable East African safari need look no further than this spectacular field guide. Featuring full-color photos of 475 common species of bird, mammal, snake, lizard, insect, tree, and flower, Wildlife of East Africa takes us on an exquisite one-volume tour through the living splendor of the main national parks and game reserves of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Many of the species included--from pelicans to plovers, ostriches to elephants, from the daintiest of antelopes to cattlelike giants, from leopards to lions, baboons to gorillas, chameleons to crocodiles, acacias to aloes--also inhabit neighboring countries. The selection was based on the personal experiences of the authors, wildlife experts who have been leading safaris in the region for more than twenty years.

Facing the Lion: Growing Up Maasai on the African Savanna

Heads up: this is a great book but there is a rite of passage and has a part about circumcision.

Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton gives American kids a firsthand look at growing up in Kenya as a member of a tribe of nomads whose livelihood centers on the raising and grazing of cattle. Readers share Lekuton's first encounter with a lion, the epitome of bravery in the warrior tradition. They follow his mischievous antics as a young Maasai cattle herder, coming-of-age initiation, boarding school escapades, soccer success, and journey to America for college. Lekuton's riveting text combines exotic details of nomadic life with the universal experience and emotions of a growing boy.

The Bitter Side of Sweet

Fifteen-year-old Amadou counts the things that matter. For two years what has mattered are the number of cacao pods he and his younger brother, Seydou, can chop down in a day. The higher the number the safer they are. The higher the number the closer they are to paying off their debt and returning home. Maybe. The problem is Amadou doesn’t know how much he and Seydou owe, and the bosses won’t tell him. The boys only wanted to make money to help their impoverished family, instead they were tricked into forced labor on a plantation in the Ivory Coast. With no hope of escape, all they can do is try their best to stay alive—until Khadija comes into their lives. She’s the first girl who’s ever come to camp, and she’s a wild thing. She fights bravely every day, attempting escape again and again, reminding Amadou what it means to be free. But finally, the bosses break her, and what happens next to the brother he has always tried to protect almost breaks Amadou. The three band together as family and try just once more to escape.

Next, look at some of the interesting facts for kids about Africa.

12 Interesting Facts For Kids About Africa

  1. The 4 main biomes in Africa are Deserts (the Sahara, Kalahari) Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas and Shrublands.
  2. The Congo rainforest is located here and is the second largest rainforest in the world and is home to over 10,000 species of animals.
  3. There are over 2,000 spoken languages here but the most widely spoken language is Arabic. 
  4. Africa is home to three of the seven species of “Big Cats”, the lion, leopard, and cheetah.
  5. Giraffes have a blue tongue; this blue color gives their tongue extra protection since they are exposed to a lot of sunlight while they feed all day long.
  6. African Lions are nocturnal animals and spend roughly 15-20 hours of every day sleeping.
  7. The same way that babies will suck their thumb for comfort the African elephant sucks on its trunk.
  8. The most abundant animal in Africa is the antelopes which cover the entire continent and have over 80 species.
  9. Africa has the tallest animal on earth, the giraffe, as well as the heaviest on earth, the elephant.
  10. Africa is the world’s hottest continent, temperatures in the Sahara often reach over 100 degrees F.
  11. The deadliest African animal is the adorable hippopotamus, they are primarily herbivores but are aggressive when it comes to protecting their territory, themselves, and their offspring.
  12. The country Nigeria sets the record for the most twins born in the world with an average of 50 sets of twins in every 1,000 births.
Interesting Facts For Kids About Africa | Cute Handprint Cheetah

You can learn more about this fascinating continent as a family by watching Africa: Destination World by Nat Geo Kids.

Also, here is some information to add to your study about the African Cheetah.

The African Cheetah

Almost all wild cheetahs can be found in sub-Saharan Africa.

And they are the fastest land animal in the world, reaching speeds of almost 70mph in short bursts.

They are very distinctive with long slender bodies and of course those spots.

African Cheetahs are unfortunately in the “vulnerable” category and are at risk of extinction in the wild.

Education and conservation are the best ways to protect these gorgeous creatures, December 4th has been marked as International Cheetah Day to call attention to them.

Interesting Facts For Kids About Africa | Cute Handprint Cheetah

So, we’re recreating one in its habitat with a cute little handprint, a classic preschool craft.

Cute Handprint Cheetah

I thought this time we could dress up the usual handprint craft by adding some layers to create a beautiful Savanna sunset and a Baobab tree.

You will need:

  • Pink construction paper
  • Orange construction paper
  • Yellow construction paper
  • Brown construction paper
  • Green construction paper
  • tan/cream construction paper
  • Yellow craft paint
  • Black craft paint
  • Black pen
  • Glue stick
Interesting Facts For Kids About Africa | Cute Handprint Cheetah

Demonstrate how to tear the pink, orange, and yellow paper into strips, you will only need about 2 of each.

Interesting Facts For Kids About Africa | Cute Handprint Cheetah

At the same time have them tear smaller strips of brown for the tree and green for the leaves. You help them tear a half circle for the sun.

Interesting Facts For Kids About Africa | Cute Handprint Cheetah

Use a glue stick to lay down your sunset-colored strips and the sun in the center on just the top half of the tan construction paper.

Interesting Facts For Kids About Africa | Cute Handprint Cheetah

Add the tree trunk, branches, and leaves.

Interesting Facts For Kids About Africa | Cute Handprint Cheetah

Paint the entire hand yellow and press down on to the paper, with the fingers pointed down toward the bottom of the page.

You can either paint on the tail with a paintbrush or repaint a single finger and press onto the back to make a tail.

Interesting Facts For Kids About Africa | Cute Handprint Cheetah

Allow the yellow paint to dry at least partially and then make spots by painting your child’s finger black and having them stamp wherever they like on the yellow.

Interesting Facts For Kids About Africa | Cute Handprint Cheetah

Once everything has dried you can use a small black fine point pen to add face details.

Interesting Facts For Kids About Africa | Cute Handprint Cheetah

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: Africa, cheetah, handprint, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, life science, science

9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft

August 26, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Turn a sweet little handprint into an Australian animals art project by creating a cuddly koala out of it. Also, look at this Hands-On Geography: Australia Awesome and Deadly Animal Art.

Are you learning about Australia as a country? Just Australian animals? Marsupials specifically?

This easy craft project is perfect for all the above, or even just because you want a cute handprint craft.

9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft

Kids love to get involved fully hands-on and moms love to see their little ones’ handprints in art projects.

This is a very sweet option to create a keepsake while they learn.

It’s a simple and fun way to talk about Australian animals, their habitats, eating habits, characteristics, and where they live in the world.

9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft

3 Koala Questions and Answers

  1. Where are koalas from? Australia, in the open forest and woodland areas.
  2. What do they eat? Mostly eucalyptus (Gum Tree) but will sometimes snack on other trees.
  3. What is a marsupial?  They are a group of mammals that are known for carrying their young in a pouch.

Also, look at more hands-on activities to learn about animals in Australia.

9 Australian Animals Art Ideas

Make it a full lesson on the creatures from the outback.

Photo Credit: www.notimeforflashcards.com

Koala Craft

My goal for this lesson was not creativity ( process art is much more appropriate for that) or even specifically learning about koalas.

Photo Credit: learncreatelove.com

Wombat Printable Craft

Wombats are cute, pudgy marsupials that are found in Australia.

Australia Awesome and Deadly Animal Art

My son began his research at the library, checking out various books on Australia in general, and a few on the animals themselves. For further investigation, we also watched a YouTube video and looked at various pictures of aboriginal art online.

Photo Credit: frompond.blogspot.com

Kookaburra Craft (Frog Spot)

Turn plain boring cups into the laughing Kookaburra Craft.

Photo Credit: woojr.com

Kangaroo Ears Headband

 I’m excited to show you how to make this fun Kangaroo Ears Headband that’s great for a kangaroo lesson or just for your little one to hop around with!

Photo Credit: www.thecrafttrain.com

Paper plate Ringtail possum

Make an adorable paper plate possum using our latest printable template. This easy craft for kids is based on the Ringtail possum which is common all over Eastern Australia.

Photo Credit: cookcleancraft.com

Paper-bag Perry the Platypus Craft

 I made Perry the Platypus from the TV show Phineas and Ferb, complete with his own little hat.

Photo Credit: artprojectsforkids.org

Easy How to Draw a Kangaroo Tutorial and Kangaroo Coloring Page

You’ll find an easy step-by-step tutorial for how to draw a Kangaroo and a Kangaroo Coloring Pages

Photo Credit: www.craftprojectideas.com

Quokka Craft

Conservationists want people to take selfies with quokkas? Quokka’s are considered a vulnerable species and the internet fame quokkas have acquired in recent years have put their names on the map! 

And you’ll love adding these resources.

Australian Animals Art Ideas and Resources

To expand upon this simple koala handprint activity, you can:

  •  Help your child find Australia on a map. I really like the scrunch maps because they can be taken anywhere and are easy to pull out onto the floor for investigating.
9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft
  • Watch Wild Kratts Koalas on YouTube together to learn more about these sweet creatures.
  • Grab some eucalyptus even if it’s dried or artificial for your child to examine the main food of the koala.
  • Add some of these adorable Australian animals to a sensory bin or just strew them around with books and other props to build interest.
  • Play a fun and silly game like Koala Capers.
  • Include an interesting book like Explore My World Koalas with lots of photos and information to help them learn more.

Finally, look at how to make this adorable koala handprint keepsake.

How to Make a Koala Handprint Craft

You will need:

  • Cardstock
  • Grey craft paint
  • Brown craft paint
  • Green craft paint
  • White craft paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Black markers

Have your child paint a tree trunk that is wide enough for their entire handprint on the center of the paper as well as some branches sticking out here and there.

Allow it to dry completely.

9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft

Once the tree trunk is completely dried, paint your child’s entire hand gray; you’ll want the thumb pointing upwards on the tree.

9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft

Press it down firmly to make a good solid print.

9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft

Use a paintbrush to draw a round head over the top of the thumb and a half circle on either side for ears.

9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft

While this part of the painting is drawing, put a small amount of green paint in a dish and have your child dip one finger into it.

They can then stamp little leaves all over the branches with little fingerprints.

9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft

Once everything is dry go back and add details like a little claw on the end of the paws.

9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft

Draw on an oval-shaped koala nose and mouth, as well as eyes and any details you like to the ears.

Let this final part dry completely and it’s ready to go up on display.

9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: Australia, crafts, elementary science, handprint, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, koala, life science, science

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