Animal Remix – Science Ed

Design a mythical animal through collage and illustration! This activity builds creativity as children combine items in new ways.

Materials Required

Children can approach the Animal Remix activity in two ways:

Using pictures of animals from magazines, paste together the front of one animal with the back of a different animal to invent a new, imaginary animal.
Describe the creature’s special features and why they are cool or important to its survival.
Create a name for the animal.

Compile a list of animals.
Write down the most exciting aspects of the animal on a piece of paper. Below are sample animal characteristics and habitats

.Characteristics & Abilities (Some real, others imagined)	Habitats (Some real, others imagined)
Tough armor-like skin covering	Rocky seashore
Extendable toes	Polar ice cap
Sharp teeth	Redwood forest
Unbreakable shell	Storm cloud
Lightning-fast color change	Desert cactus flower
Suction cup feet	Rainforest floor

Decide where their animal will live, what it will eat, and how it will move. These decisions can help inform the features of the creature. For example, if an animal lives in the Arctic it might need very thick fur to keep warm. (The imaginary creature does not need to be realistic.)
Draw a picture of the imaginary animal with some of the interesting characteristics in its habitat.
Describe the creature’s special features and why they are cool or important to its survival.
Create a name for the animal.

Try these add-on activities:

Invent a myth or a fable that tells the story of your animal.
Imagine what your creature’s life is like. What adventures might it have while in its natural habitat? Who or what does it eat? Who eats your animal? Where does it sleep? How does it play? Does it live alone or in a group?
Turn the imaginary animal into a three-dimensional sculpture with blocks, papiermâché, glue and fabric.