We made our own zoo for Letter Z day, complete with a family of pachyderms, an owl, a couple of primates, and a few other critters. My preschoolers brought the animals; I provided the backyard. I tried to provide advice on habitats, the food pyramid, and the necessity of segregating omnivores and carnivores, but my young zookeepers had other ideas. Yes, there are ramifications when monkeys shack up with lions. But who cares?
First, we made a sign. I was all about the wording – should it be “Preschool Zoo” or “OmaOpa’s Zoo”, or “Raintree Zoo”? In the end, though, a simple “ZOO” sufficed, as the tots cannot yet read.
Also, animal enclosures: should they be more “cage-like”, or “natural habitat?” The tots had the most fun hauling their critters out the screen door and jumping into the pile of them, so we opted for blankets spread on lawn.
At our zoo, visitors can snuggle, feed, and play with the residents. Does this happen at your zoo? Probably not.
After a busy morning on the job, zookeepers get to take a lunch break and eat monkey sandwiches. Nobody asked the monkey how he felt about that, but presumably the ear of corn stuck in his ear kept him from caring.
Ta da! Our romp through the alphabet, letter by letter, is now complete. Up next: science!
