Zoo Animal Sensory Activities For Preschool

by Jenna Thomasson | Jun 14, 2024

Zoo animal sensory activities for preschool offer a multi-sensory experience that engages their senses and stimulates their curiosity about the natural world.

These activities allow children to explore textures, sounds, and scents associated with different animals, enhancing their sensory development and cognitive skills.

Easy Zebra Slime

Use glue and liquid starch, plus water to make the white slime. Use clear glue, water, starch, and black coloring to make the black slime. Add the zebra figures. Black and white will not stay separated indefinitely but kids will have a blast either way!

Muddy Zoo Sensory Bin

Add some zoo animal figures to a large sensory bin with shaving cream, mud, water, bowls, spoons

Mini Zoo Sensory Bin

Pour clear dishsoap in bottle until half full, drop in tiny animals, add in sequins and glitter. Fill with tap water. Replace lid (you can glue on).

Wash the Zoo Animals

Add a dash of bubble bath to your water table and fill it up. Add zoo animals and you are all set!

Zoo Animal Play-Doh Mats

Use Play-Doh (or another manipulative) to create the numbers on the mat. For extra practice you can have your littles count the animals on the mat.

Zoo Animal Textures

Ice Skating Zoo Animals

If you have an ice cube tray and some zoo animal figurines you are set for this easy sensory play activity. Place zoo animals in the ice cube tray, fill with water, put in the freezer. Once frozen set out some colored paper and let your littles paint with the icecubes and zoo animals.

Muddy Oobleck Sensory Table

Mix the oobleck recipe (cocoa, cornstarch, and water), add to a tub. Provide small zoo animals to play in the mixture.

Tiger Sensory Bag

Grab a gallon sized ziplock bag. Draw a large crcle using a black sharpie. Add a nose, mouth, whiskers, and ears. Fill the bag with a couple squirts of hair gel and a drop of orange food colouring. Cut 9 stripes from black foam sheets and two circles and put them inside the bag. Close the bag and let them play!

Zoo Animal Sensory Play

Mix water, food colouring, and gelatine to create a sensory tub. Add pom pom balls and animal toy figures to it. Allow to sit in fridge to set before playing.

Our Favorite Supplies for Zoo Animal Sensory Activities

To make the most of your zoo animal sensory activities, having the right supplies on hand is essential. Here are some of our favorite items that will help you create a rich and engaging sensory experience for your preschoolers:

Zoo Animal Figures: Small plastic animals are a must-have for many sensory activities. They are durable, easy to clean, and perfect for imaginative play.
Play-Doh or Similar Manipulatives: These are great for creating shapes, textures, and numbers on play mats, enhancing tactile exploration and fine motor skills.
Glue and Liquid Starch: Essential for making slime, these ingredients allow children to experiment with different textures and sensory experiences.
Shaving Cream and Mud: These are perfect for creating messy, muddy sensory bins that mimic natural animal habitats.
Clear Dish Soap, Sequins, and Glitter: For sensory bottles, these items add visual stimulation and make the bottles fun and captivating.
Ice Cube Trays: Useful for freezing small zoo animals in water, these trays help create exciting sensory activities that involve cold textures and melting.
Bubble Bath: Adding a dash of bubble bath to water tables can create a fun, soapy environment for washing zoo animals.
Cornstarch, Cocoa, and Water: These are the main ingredients for making oobleck, a fascinating non-Newtonian fluid that provides hours of sensory play.
Hair Gel and Food Coloring: Perfect for creating sensory bags, hair gel mixed with food coloring provides a squishy, colorful experience.
Pom Pom Balls and Gelatine: These add interesting textures and colors to sensory tubs, making the sensory play even more engaging.
Ziplock Bags: Gallon-sized ziplock bags are ideal for creating sensory bags that are easy to handle and clean up.
Black Sharpie and Foam Sheets: Useful for drawing and cutting out shapes, these supplies help add creative elements to sensory bags and other projects.

By stocking up on these supplies, you’ll be ready to dive into a variety of zoo animal sensory activities that will captivate your preschoolers and enhance their sensory development. Get ready to explore textures, sounds, and scents while fostering a deep appreciation for the animal kingdom!

Be sure to check out all of our fun Zoo Animal activities here.