A Week of Zoo-Themed Preschool Ideas

Whether you're considering homeschooling your preschooler, scheduling your upcoming homeschool week and need some inspiration, or just want a week of preschool ideas that are already planned out for you, check out the following free homeschool schedule starter. Have fun with your preschooler this week with this free homeschool schedule starter that includes tons of zoo-themed preschool ideas.

To use this starter, simply label a piece of paper with the days of the week along the top and subject areas down the left-hand side (or use this free homeschool schedule printable in Excel or Word from homeschool-curriculum-savings.com), and then choose the activities you like and plug them in.

Field Trip to the Library
Take a trip to the library and have your child ask the librarian to recommend a good zoo book. While you're there, you might look for one of the following books to read together:

Good Night Gorilla, by Peggy Rathmann
Color Zoo, by Louis Ehlert
Zoo Animals, an Eye Openers book
Zoo Looking, by Mem Fox

Write a Zoo Book
Ask your child to make up a little story for you about a lion that escapes from the zoo. What does he do first? Where does he go? As your child speaks, jot down what she says. Then, while your child plays or works on something else, staple together several sheets of paper and write down their story in big, easy-to-read letters at the bottom of each page. Help your child illustrate her book.

Sing Some Zoo Songs
Preschoolers love learning new songs. Check out some of the zoo-themed preschool songs at EverythingPreschool.com, or watch one of these YouTube videos together:

The Kids ABC's at the Zoo
I Went to the Zoo
The Zoo Song

Zoo Charades
After you've talked about the different kinds of animals to be found in the zoo, test what your child has learned with a game. Take turns pretending to be a zoo animal, and the other player has to guess who you are.

Feed the Elephant
This fun idea came from EverythingPreschool.com. Paint and decorate a large cardboard box, the bigger the better. This is an elephant, after all! Cut a hole for the elephant's mouth, and take turns tossing peanuts in from a short distance away. Might be better to do this one in the kitchen, so you don't get peanut shells ground into your living room carpet.

Animal Crackers
Practice sorting and counting with animal crackers. Eat them for a snack when you're done!

Zoo Animal Computer Time
Teach your child computer basics with fun online games about zoo animals, or educational zoo websites. Check out some of the sites below for fun, zoo-related games and information for your preschooler:

64 Zoo Lane
Switcheroo Zoo
San Diego Zoo
Animal Tracks

Use these zoo animal preschool activities to help jumpstart your zoo learning unit or just add some educational fun to your preschooler's day. Learning about the names of animals found in zoos, what they like to eat, what sounds they make, and where they're from can quickly fill up a week-long unit, and with these homeschool schedule starters, you'll have plenty of great ideas to get you going.