We played Zoo Bingo for the first time last week and my kids LOVED it. It’s a nice way for toddlers and preschoolers to practice their recognition of zoo animals. It’s also a fantastic listening game which is essential for future success in literacy and learning. So if you’re doing a zoo theme in your early years classroom, grab your copy of this zoo free printable to play with your class.
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Zoo Activities for Kids
Zoo play ideas are always a hit with kids, especially if the children are getting excited because you’ve got an upcoming zoo field trip (or maybe a virtual zoo field trip). Here are some more zoo themed activities for toddlers and preschoolers to try.
- Cheeky Monkey Counting Game Printable
- Paper plate lion craft
- How to make an epic toilet roll giraffe
- Free Zoo Animal Coloring Pages
- Washing Muddy Zoo Animals Sensory Bin
For more ideas, visit 60 Zoo Animal Crafts for Preschool
Materials Needed
- The zoo bingo digital file
- Paper and a printer
- A laminating machine and laminating sheets (optional)
- Buttons or bingo markers
- A large bowl or container
How to prepare the free bingo game
- Download and print the zoo animals bingo game found below.
There are 8 different bingo cards and a set of calling cards included in the pdf. - Laminate each bingo board.
This is optional, I like to laminate the boards to make them more sturdy and reusable. - Gather the rest of your materials and enjoy learning about the different zoo animals.
How do you play zoo bingo?
This fun animal bingo game is a great way for toddlers and preschoolers to practice their listening skills while learning animal names. Here are the steps I follow when playing with my kids.
- Place all of the calling cards in a bowl or container.
- Pick out one card and call out what you see.
- Place a bingo button or marker on top of the animal that’s been picked. For example, if you pull out a polar bear, place a button on top of the polar bear picture on each bingo board.
- Repeat this process until someone covers 5 animals in a row. The row can be vertical, horizontal or diagonal.
There is a free space in the center of each board that children do not need to cover up. - The first player to achieve 5 in a row is the winner.
One thing I love doing when playing this game is recalling fun animal facts for kids about each of the different animals. Which you can change depending on how old the kids are.
For example, children who are only 2 years of age can focus on the color of the animal, or how it moves (swim, fly or walks). Older children can have higher level facts, like how polar bears keep warm, or that birds have hollow bones.
Get your copy of zoo bingo for free today, by clicking the download button below.
Are you going to play Zoo Bingo with your kids?
Don’t forget to pin the idea for later.
