Paper plates can be used to create just about any jungle animal. The round shape makes a perfect canvas to draw or replicate an animal's face. Lions and monkeys are two common animal faces to make out of paper plates. All the children have to do is draw a face on the plate and then decorate around the edges to add fur, ears and other physical characteristics.
The paper plate also lends itself to more creative crafts such as a coiled snake and a jungle bird. To make the snake, show each child how to draw a spiral line starting from the edge of the plate and going toward the center. Supervise as the children cut along the line. This causes the plate to uncoil in a snake shape, which can then be decorated with eyes, stripes and spots. For the jungle bird project, fold and glue a paper plate in half. Glue a tail at one end of the paper plate and a beak at the other, then glue two wings on each side of the plate. You now have a three-dimensional animal craft to play with and decorate. Use colored construction paper to make the tail, beak and wings.
Large paper bags from the grocery store provide an opportunity for two very different jungle art projects: the jungle map and the jungle vest. A jungle map is created by cutting out one large side of a paper bag and crumpling it up until the texture resembles old, weathered paper. The children then draw or color their own jungle map. This can include mountains, trees, common animals or anything else that comes to mind. The jungle vest project creates a garment the kids can decorate and wear during their jungle adventures. Three holes need to be cut from the bag, two for the arms and one for the head. After that, the children can decorate the vest as they see fit.
The lunch bag puppet is a classic art project because of its versatility and simplicity. A paper lunch bag, turned upside down, transforms into a hand puppet. Children can use lunch bags to make just about any jungle animal with a mouth. They can make a monkey, gorilla, bird -- even an insect. All that needs to be done is to add two eyes on top and draw in a mouth under the fold. Arms, ears, tails and other pieces of decoration can be glued onto the puppet. Encourage the children to color the puppet as well.
Natural habitat projects use outdoor materials to make a picture. First, each child should decide on an animal that they want to draw (provide a list of choices for simplicity). Take the children outside to find natural materials such as grass, leaves and twigs to represent the environment of their animals. For example, a child who picked the monkey will want to find some twigs and leaves to glue on their paper to construct a treat. Someone who picked a lion to draw may want to grab a handful of grass for the project. Help the children glue the materials onto the paper, and then they can start drawing their animals within the environment.