Monster Animals

What You Need:

• Paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Bowl
• Colored pencils

What You Do:

1. Have your child write down a list of their favorite animals. Mammals or reptiles, birds or fish—it doesn't matter. The bigger the list, the more crazy the possibilities.
2. Let your child number the list. They should have at least ten animals.
3. Have your child use scissors to cut up a separate sheet of papers into small squares.
4. Let your child number these squares (up to the same number of animals they have on their list) before putting them in the bowl.
5. Is your child ready to find out their first mad scientist assignment? Ask them to pull two squares from the bowl without looking.
6. Have your child check their numbered animal list. Which animals do the two numbers correspond to?
7. Challenge your child to draw a monster that combines the two animals they selected. Dog and lizard? Whale and spider? Anything can happen! Encourage your child to fully incorporate the features of both animals into a single creature. For example, a penguin and an elephant could result in a penguin body with an elephant's trunk!
8. Let your child use colored pencils to add color and character to their finished drawing.
9. Have your child consider this new creature's habitat. Where might it live?
10. Let your child draw and color in this habitat as a backdrop for their monster.
11. It's time to name your creature! New monsters, just like new animals, need to a name. Let your child see if they can find a "sniglet" (made-up word) for their new creature. For example, an elephant combined with a penguin might be called an elepen or a penguiphant!
12. Have your child write the name of the monster on their drawing.
13. Repeat steps 1–12 to design as many creatures as you like!