My daughters and I learned some incredible facts about platypuses the other day because we participated in Animal Facts Club's Zine project (a partnership with The Contemporary Austin). So much talk about mammals and eggs got us excited about the Easter Bunny bringing eggs to them in just a handful of days. This inspired them to make their own Easter decorations. Here's an easy activity with supplies you might just have at home.
STEP 1: GATHER SUPPLIES
- Junk Mail/ Magazines
- Cereal Box
- Pencil
- Glue
- Scissors
STEP 2: Cut a Cereal Box in 1/2
Cereal boxes make great work surfaces as well as a super art material that is fairly rigid and easy for most kids to cut.
STEP 3: Cut out one panel of your cereal box.
STEP 4: Search for color in your magazines and junk mail! Rip or cut out these colors and glue them on your cereal box side. (It's ok if they hang off the edges!). Cover the whole area.
STEP 5: Turn the cereal box over and draw an egg shape on the back (or any shape!) and cut out.
Cut out any shape you desire! The kids say that they want to try creating a bunny silhouette next... maybe a platypus?
Platypus Facts:
- One of just a handful of venomous mammals (males have a spur on their back feet).
- One of the two mammals that lay eggs (Echinda is the other).
- SIXTH SENSE: their bills are made of special cells that detect the electric fields of their prey- electrolocation!
- Almost 1/2 of its body fat is in its tail! (Reserved in case of food shortages)
- No NIPPLES! Females produce milk and actually secrete it through its skin!