Plan an art activity that lets students paint their own zebras. Give each student a picture of a blank white zebra printed on black paper; the larger the picture, the better. Give each student black paint and a paintbrush, and encourage them to paint black stripes on the zebra. Hang a picture of a zebra in the classroom for students to use as a reference as they work. This activity will build students' small motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Create zebra faces by using student footprints, recommends the website Busy Bee Kids Crafts. Place a sheet of thick white card stock on the floor, and ask each student to place one foot on the paper. Carefully trace around the foot with a pencil. Help students cut out their footprints using safety scissors. Give students wiggly eyes and black markers to create the zebra's face. Cut triangle-shaped ears out of white paper and help students glue the ears to the zebra's head. Glue the head to a long rectangular piece of card stock for the neck. Give students black markers or black paint to draw in the zebra's stripes.
During circle time, talk about animals besides zebras that have stripes, such as tigers. Discuss animals of different colors, and what it would look like if other animals had stripes. Let students brainstorm, then provide paper, markers, crayons and paints and direct students to a table for an art project. Ask students to create a crazy animal with colorful stripes. Students can create their own animal or add new features to an existing animal; for example, a cow with pink and blue stripes.
During circle time, discuss the zebra's habitat. Locate Africa on a map or globe for students. Look at pictures of zebras living in the grassy African plains. Explain that zebras eat grass, leaves, fruit and bark. After viewing pictures and videos, if possible, ask students to draw a zebra habitat, including water, grasses and trees similar to those shown in the pictures. Provide markers, crayons and white paper. Hang the pictures side by side in the classroom to create an African landscape. Cut out zebras from white card stock and ask students to decorate them using black markers. Glue the zebras to the pictures.