Download the printable woodland animals and forest scene for a fun, hands-on matching activity for preschoolers. Kids can have fun playing the game, then use the woodland animals as stick puppets in pretend play.
Woodland animals activity
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Matching games are fun options for early math play with your preschoolers, because they invite critical thinking and fine motor work to match items one on one. Sorting and counting skills are often engaged along with matching skills as kids play, like with this color sorting and shape matching activity.
This woodland animals activity prompts early learners to match the animals in a forest environment. This can lead to discussion about animals and their habitats, then extend fun and learning with pretend play with the animal stick puppets.
Make the animal puppets
Download and print the woodland animals and the woodland background scene.
Print two copies of the animals and one of the forest environment.
Cut out the two sets of woodland animals.
Tape or glue the woodland scene to the bottom of a cardboard box.
Tape or glue one set of the animals to the forest scene, then cover with clear contact paper or wide clear packing tape. Make a small notch in the box near each animal.
Tape or glue each of the woodland animals in the second set of cutouts to a craft stick. Cover these cutouts with clear tape or contact paper as well, before or after you attach them to the sticks.
Play the matching game
Match each craft stick animal to one in the forest scene. Push the craft sticks through the holes made in the box.
This is also a great place to store the stick puppets after pretend play.
Make this activity available for independent play at home or in the classroom to support kids early math skills.
