Real animals; pretend zoo

Real animals; pretend zoo

The imaginary zoo includes lions, crocodiles, snails, ducks, bats, pangolins and other animals. The back pages introduce animal information. Some numbers and conservation estimates may have changed since 2021; check a current source before repeating them.

1. Choose one animal pictured in the story. What does its picture show?
2. Find one fact in the animal pages. Record the page and check it with an adult-approved current source.
3. Invent one pretend feature for your animal. How will you show that it is made up?

My animal: label a real feature and a pretend feature.

Fact / book page / checking source / date

Teacher notes Animals and imagination

Purpose and preparation

20-30 minutes with the book and an adult-selected zoo, museum or conservation source. Do not handle wildlife.

Suggested responses

1. Identify the chosen animal from the actual illustration; the zoo itself is pretend.
2. Population counts, speeds and superlatives require a current source. Do not reuse every historical number without checking.
3. For younger children, an adult records a fact and the child draws. Keep observation and imagination in separate sentences.

Support and stretch

Read aloud; invite pointing, drawings or dictation. Extend by asking for a page or picture clue.

Teaching links

Suggested England English: discussing reading and explaining ideas. US literacy links apply only to the stated school age group, not automatically to babies. Adapt to the learner; these materials are not an accredited curriculum.