Shrinky Dink Crafts 9: Animals

Teachers should begin this lesson with an overview of the animal classification system. There are six main categories that all animals are classified into, they are mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Have each child name a few animals in each group and write them on the chalk board.

You will need the following items to begin your animal shrinky dinks:

1. Shrinky Dink Sheets
2. Cookie Sheet
3. Pencil Crayons
4. Scissors
5. Oven

Follow the directions below to create your animal shrinky dinks:

1. Purchase packages of shrinky dink sheets. Check at your local craft store first, but they may not carry shrinky dink sheets. The best place to find them is directly at shrinky dink. Just click on the link and then click on "Shop Online". You can purchase packages for as little as $3-$5. Make sure you have at least one sheet for each student.
2. Hand out the shrinky dink sheets to the students and have them place the rough side of the sheet upward. This is the side that they will color upon.
3. Have each child choose one of the animals listed on the board and draw an outline of it with their pencil crayon. The child should be advised to draw the outline large, because it is going to shrink when baked.
4. Direct the students to color the animals with the pencil crayons. Try to make the animals look as life like as possible. Add detail to the picture. For example, if the student chose a toad, then it should be drawn with some warts. If the student drew a peacock, then add some swirls onto the feathers.
5. Cut the animals out but leave a small space all the way around the edge. This will help to compensate for the shrinking.
6. Place the animal shrinky dinks on cookie sheets and head to the school's kitchen.
7. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. When the oven is heated, add the cookie sheets.
8. Bake for sixty seconds only. Any longer will cause the shrinky dinks to burn.
9. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least ten minutes.
10. Add a strip of magnet across the back of the animal shrinky dink and to place on your home refrigerator.