Crazy Animal House - Toddler Art Project

Crazy Animal House

Age: 18 Months - 5 Years or older (younger ones need more supervision)

Time: 15 min (+ Prep)

Theme: Doors, Windows, Houses

Books: The Doghouse by Jan Thomas, A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker

Materials:

Construction Paper
Glue Sticks
Small pictures or silhouettes of animals (I used recycled wrapping paper, but it is easy to find and print images)  
Adults get to use Scissors, Exacto Knife and a Ruler

Prep: The house is made from a half sheet of construction paper (6 x 9). You can freehand or use your own measurements for the house, window and door or use mine. Mine were cut with an exacto knife as follows: Mark the Center (3”) of the top of the sheet. From 2” down on each side cut to the top center, creating the ‘roof’. Cut parallel lines 1” and 3” below the roof edge (3” and 5” down from the top) and about ½” from each of the edges. Make a horizontal cut in the middle (3” from edge) to create two window shutters.  The door is 1” below the window (6” from the top), the horizontal cut (top) 2” long and the vertical edge cut to the bottom of the page. The animals are easier – size them so they can ‘hide’ behind the windows and door and cut them out.

Activity: Each child gets a full sheet of construction paper (or copy paper), a pre-cut house, an assortment of animals to choose from and a glue stick. Glue the house to the full sheet of paper (an adult can help fold the windows and door open so they don’t get glued closed). Choose and glue animals inside and outside of the house. Color if desired. 

Notes/Tips: Putting the animals out on a large paper plate will help them from ending up everywhere. The kids I did this with had a lot of fun playing ‘peek-a-boo’ with the animals in the houses, as well as inviting the adults to ‘guess’ where they were.

Owl Love You ('Til the End of Time) - Toddler Art Project

Owl Love You (‘Til the End of Time)

Age: 18 Months - 5 Years (younger ones need more supervision)

Time: 10 - 15 min (+ Prep)

Theme: Owls

Books: Owl Babies by Martin Waddell, The Odd Egg by Emily Gravett, Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

Materials:

Construction Paper

Toilet Paper Tube(s)

Glue Sticks

Reinforcement Labels (little donut shaped stickers used to reinforce pages in ring binders)

Adults get to use Scissors or Pinking Sheers

Prep: From assorted color construction paper cut a wing pair (fold paper then cut a 2” leaf shape leaving the fold side intact), a chest plate (1” loosely shaped triangle) and a beak (>1/2” triangle).

Activity: Each child gets pre-cut wings, chest plate, beak, (2) reinforcement labels, a glue stick and a TP tube. To make the owl’s horns (adult or big kid with guidance) gently press the top of the TP roll in and down so that the side ‘folds’, rotate and push the other side in too. Glue the wings, chest plate and beak into place. Add the labels for eyes. Take your owl out for a test flight!

Notes/Tips: If working with older kids, you can give this project a ‘big kid flair’ by covering the tubes with decorative paper cut to about 4-1/2 x 7 (different brands have slightly different sized tubes). Reinforcement Labels can be found at most office supply stores. I find them to be a great substitute for googly-eyes which can be a choking hazard with very young tots.