You have animal related activities on your schedule this week. Why not play with paper plates and create your own zoo with animals. Little ones love animals and they will be thrilled and excited for the given possibility to create craftworks. All they need is paper plates, scissors, crayons, glue and imagination.  Not much for a creative class full of engaged students creating, playing and learning at the same time. Allow and initiate creative time in the classroom because it can have long term benefits for students. The process of creating will stimulate student's creativity, their fantasy, art skills and develop patience.  Beside that, while making the animals craft students will become aware of their fine motor skills and learn to appreciate the abilities of other students . An important message is the comprehension that all of their final products will not be the same, but not less worthy that the others. Lastly, do not forget to  expose students animals craft and decorate the classroom, so they can be proud of their own self-made crafts.   

Students can be amazing creators and they would love to to continue their learning by applying their hand made animals for various  activities such as:

• making animal sounds
• role play using the animals as masks 
• researching about the animal and having an oral presentation
• inventing a story  

Have fun!