March 16, 2012

Bugs 'n Zoo Animals

The Palo Alto Jr. Museum & Zoo is like a little hidden treasure.  I found out about it this past month and decided to take our PattyKakesKidz on a fieldtrip.  It's FREE, with a suggested donation of $5 per person.  Our theme this past week: Bugs & Zoo.  
 Solve my riddle says the Grumpy Old Troll as you cross his bridge.
 Encased bugs. ""What's That Bug Called?""
 Who's that cute little butterfly?
 Come on, I dare you to come into the bat cave.  There are real bats in here!
 Butterflies in the walls and bugs in the drawers.  Too cool!
 A complete felt wall with bug felt pieces.  (I want one of these LOL)
 This life-size chrysalis was the most beautiful site to see.  Such inspiration.
 The kids found the tarantula and it was a must for a picture.
 Kid sized spider web.
 Multi-sensory hands-on exhibit. (Water Pressure)
 More hands-on.  
 Beaming faces, ready to explore.
 Exploring preserved specimens.
 Science with bugs.
What a colorful bird.

 The hollowed out tree has beveled glass windows to explore frogs, snakes, and habitats
 Another angle on exploring bug specimens. 
 Lions Den
 Honk Honk if you love animals.
 More in the lions den.
 What a beautiful bird.
 The outdoor aquarium.
 A froggy-go-round.
 Ducks in the rain.
 Whaaaat is that in there?
 Time for lunch under the oak tree while it rains all around us.
After lunch, some park play in the misty rain.  My hands are cold, this little one says.

 Someone is having loads of fun in the drizzly rainy park.

Check out some of our themed work.
 Making our own zoos (dioramas) 
 Group dioramas
 Reading skills (is sounding out title; "Ethan's Zoo")
 A little glue here will hold the zoo animal.
 The flower here will sit nicely in the water.
 Gathering some foliage for aesthetics.
 Would you like to visit "OUR ZOO?"
 The Elephant Area.
 The Leopard Area.
 Some zoo crafts. (monkey, giraffe and and lion puppets) 
 Bug necklaces.
 Large laminated animals & bugs.  We laid them all around our living room and taped on windows, sat on the couch and role played "going to the zoo".  Couch was large van.  Kitchen was entrance to pay.  Dining area was beginning of stroll thru zoo.  We pretended to feed some animals.  Once done, we made Zoo Books to journal our fun.
 Our Zoo Book/Journal.
Colors, numbers, following directions.  Fun Activity Sheet.
We did so much this past week, S is for Spiders, T is for Turtle, lots of writing, coloring, exploring, pretend play, workbooks for colors, numbers and letters.  The learning and fun never stops.

Next week:
Sun, Stars & Planets
with PattyKakesKidz

1 comment:

  1. Oh the kids look like they had so much fun exploring at the museum and the zoo projects they made are sooo cute! Thanks Patty for all the stimulation you provide the children!

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