This week, we began crafting zoo animals from paper rolls. After starting with the giraffe family, we’re making a paper roll zebra today.
If you enjoy paper roll projects as much as we do and would like to reuse a few things from your recycling bin, this activity is simple enough for preschoolers and older children. No special equipment is required—only paper rolls, paper, paint, a black marker, glue and scissors.
We created a whole zebra family instead of only one: a mom, a dad and their zebra child.
Because of social distancing, visiting the ZOO to see the animals is no longer possible. Yesterday, my 1st grader took a virtual field trip to the San Diego ZOO and especially enjoyed the online cameras, which gave him a glimpse of several animals. He liked watching the koalas, although it still doesn’t compare with visiting the ZOO in person.
Materials:
Equipment:
- scissors
- paintbrush
- round cup or plastic container
How to create a zebra from a paper roll
First, paint the paper roll white, then leave it aside until it has dried fully.
Snip several pieces of black paper into strips.
After the paint has dried, attach the black paper strips to the paper roll with glue.
Trace a circle on white paper using a round cup or plastic container. Add two ears connected to the circle, then cut out the zebra’s head.
With the same round cup or plastic container, trace a second circle onto black paper and cut it out. Sketch a curved line along the circle’s lower edge to form the snout, then cut along it.
Attach the snout with glue to the lower part of the head.
Draw the eyes, smile, ear markings and stripes with a black marker.
Finally, glue the head onto the top of the paper roll.