| Age group: Older toddlers to early
elementary
The giant panda is truly a unique animal that is recognized and loved the
world over. The giant panda is revered in its homeland, the
country of China.
Young children will have fun making an easy and fun craft of a panda (two versions) almost entirely
assembled with heart shapes (except the
eyes). The head only craft has large pieces and is suitable for older
toddlers to under age 6 and large groups Note:
pre-paste small eyes for toddlers;
Many basic skills can be addressed during and after
the craft assembly process. Other printable support materials and links to related
activities are provided.
Activity 1: Hearts Panda Crafts
Review your options for printing the craft version of your choice
as well assembly options that best meet your needs.
Before assembly conduct some of the learning activities suggested
below:
Printing and assembly options for the craft:
Option 1: Print craft color templates of your
choice and assist with scissor cutting when needed. Encourage older children to cut out their own
templates as much as possible. Conduct learning activities below and
assemble.
Option 2: Print black and white templates.Children
will only need a black and red crayon (to color the tongue). Indicate to the
children which heart templates to color black and the gray heart is
colored red.
Option 3: For large groups or to recycle left over
materials, print black & white templates on card stock and use as a master
template. Trace the patterns directly on paper material,
left-over paper, or fun foam to obtain pieces needed.
Other decorations and ideas for the craft option:
- Replace eyes template with medium plastic wiggly eyes (for children ages 3+ only).
- Tape a ribbon, string or a piece of magnet to the back to use as decoration
or ornament.
- Puppet: For the head craft tape it to craft stick
(Popsicle stick or tongue depressor) or
make a paper
bag puppet using the assembled panda head craft and a few
additional templates.
- Attach the finished craft to a handprint wreath made
with red and decorated with yellow star the colors of the national
flag of China.
Activities 2: Learning Activities to conduct before craft
assembly:
To conduct these activities pieces should be decorated and cut out. Choose those activities you feel are appropriate for the ages of children.
Ask children to identify the shapes and colors on the
template if using the color template. Ask the children to
identify the colors.
Numbers/Early-Math Activities:
- Sorting & Sizing: Have the children sort the
circles into piles by size and then these piles from largest to
smallest.
- Counting: Count how many of each size there are and
how many in total to assemble the craft. You may want to write numbers on the blank side to acquaint
the children with printed numbers. Include the paper eyes or
wiggly eyes in this activity.
Activity
3: Letter P Panda lesson plan printable activities
Activity 4:Science
& Social Studies: Learning about the Giant Panda, an endangered
animal
Activity 5: The Senses:
Using the finished hearts theme panda craft, discuss and have the children point to
the parts of the body and the five senses.
A simple chant suggestion or make your own:
- The panda has ears and can hear just like us, just
like us, just like us.
- The panda has paws and can touch and feel things
just like us ..
- The panda has a tongue and can taste just like us, . .
.
- The panda has eyes and can see just like us, . . .
- The panda has a nose and can smell just like us, . . .
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Hearts Panda Craft 1
(head only)
Templates
Color
Black & White
Hearts Panda Craft 2
Templates
Color 1 & 2
Black & White 1 & 2
Letter P
Panda Printable Activities
*Glue or glue stick
*paper, card stock or
construction paper
*coloring tools
*scissors
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