Do you want to engage 2nd grade students with animal craft activities?
As educators, we all want to make learning not just effective, but truly joyful for our students.
Forget the groans about ‘math time’! This post will share 26 cute animal-themed math crafts, from A to Z, each accompanying specific 2nd grade math concepts.
Designed for easy assembly, these creative crafts act as the perfect, engaging companion to your existing math worksheets.
Ready to embark on an arithmetic safari? Let’s explore some wild ideas for your 2nd grade classroom, from A to Z!
If you like to shop at Etsy, click on the links below to purchase them there. Otherwise, check out the Alphabet Bundle in my TPT store.
- Alligator – Addition Within 1000
- Bear – Bar Model Addition And Subtraction
- Cow – Comparing With Symbol
- Dog – Division of 2-5
- Elephant – Even & Odd
- Frog – Fraction
- Goat – Geometry
- Horse – Hundred More Than/Less Than
- Iguana – Interpreting Data
- Jellyfish – Jump on a number line
- Koala – Keep Numbers Balanced
- Llama – Length (Metric Measurement)
- Monkey – Money
- Narwhal – Number Patterns
- Octopus – Order Numbers
- Peacock – Place Value of Hundreds, Tens, Ones
- Quoll – Compare Quantity (Less than, equal to, greater than)
- Rhinoceros – Repeated Addition
- Sheep – Subtraction Within 1000
- Tortoise – Telling Time to 5 Minutes
- Urchin – Estimate Units of Metric Measurement for Length
- Vulture – Math Vocabulary
- Whale – Word Problems
- X-ray Fish – Multiplication x2 to 5
- Yak – Days of the Week and Months of the Year
- Zebra – Add & Subtract Across Zero
All of the above resources have:
- Ready-made Templates
- Black & White Templates
- Colored Version Templates
- Teacher’s Guide
- Printing Directions
- Assembly Instructions
- Answer Key
And they are great for:
✔️Singapore Primary 2
✔️2nd Grade
✔️Animal Unit Study
✔️Learning Letter A-Z
✔️Math centers / stations
✔️Review
✔️Substitute
✔️Bulletin Board
✔️Math centers / stations
✔️Review
✔️Substitute
✔️Intervention/Remedial
✔️Homeschool
Join me as I pull back the curtain on my design process! I’ll share experiences, tips of using the crafts and some behind-the-scenes stories from developing the 26 animal math.
Alligator – Addition Within 1000
This alligator was modified from the crocodile created in the Long Body Animals Multiplication and Division Crafts.
Can you spot the difference?
Key Features
- 1-Page Alligator Craft
- 8 Addition With & Without Regrouping Within 1000 Worksheets
- 4 Unique Printables
- Add Within 100 Maze
- Alligator Fun Fact
- Word Problems Mystery Puzzle
- Math Search
Find the Alligator Craft at Etsy.
Find the Alligator Craft at TPT.
Bear – Bar Model Addition And Subtraction
I think this bear is so cute that I took it from the Arrays and Repeated Addition Valentine’s Day Craft
While I usually color it brown, you can always make it into black bear or other color bears.
Key Features
- Two 1-Page Bear Crafts
- 6 Unique Printables – 20 Addition And Subtraction Within 1000 Worksheets
- Cut And Order
- Connect The Models
- Understand Comparison Bar Model 1
- Understand Comparison Bar Model 2
- 2-step Word Problems
- Take From Word Problems
Cow – Comparing With Symbol
This cow craft offers two design templates, with one featuring a cow face that lacks a mouth and has a different nostril arrangement.
This design empowers your students to personalize the cow’s facial expression, providing a great outlet for their creativity.
Key Features
- Two 1-Page Cow Crafts Templates
- 4 Unique activities
- Comparing Numbers With Symbols
- Code Breaker
- Mazes
- Comparing Sort
Dog – Division of 2-5
With the black and white template, your students can choose what color and fur pattern of their dog. Even without coloring, you will get a white dog.
Plus, instead of the usual way to place the ears, they can place it like this too.
Key Features
- 1-Page Dog Craft
- 6 Unique Printables – 9 pages of worksheets
- How Many Group?
- How Many In Each Group?
- Mazes 2, 3, 4, 5
- Math Search
- Code Breaker
- Word Problems Mystery Puzzle
Elephant – Even & Odd
This Elephant craft can be printed colored with just black ink making it a time saver!
Key Features
- 8 Even and Odd worksheets – 4 activities
- Identify Even And Odd By Groups Of Two
- Write Equations Of Even Numbers
- Even And Odd Mazes
- Identify Even And Odd Numbers Using Place Value
Find the Elephant Craft at Etsy.
Find the Elephant Craft at TPT.
Frog – Fraction
To keep cutting simple, I decided against webbed forelegs. And to make it cute, I give it a big smile.
Key Features
- 1-Page Frog Craft
- 7 Printables
- Cut And Sort Halves, Thirds, And Fourths
- Identifying Equal Parts
- Partitioning Shapes Into Equal Parts
- Describe The Whole
- Naming Equal Shares
- Match The Equal Shares
- One-half, One-third, And One-fourth
Goat – Geometry
I actually colored the goat differently than I first envisioned for the colored version, but it still works out!
Initially, I did consider creating a goat from common shapes to tie into the math skills. However, I ultimately decided to make it cute and cartoony instead. This is so that this goat craft can be used as a craft topper for any other worksheets.
Key Features
- 1-Page Goat Craft
- 7 Printables
- Goat Shapes Craft
- Sort The 2d Shapes
- Sort The 3d Shapes
- Trace And Name 2d Shape
- Trace And Name 3d Shape
- Draw The 2d Shapes
- What Two Shapes Make This?
Horse – Hundred More Than/Less Than
I colored the horse craft with specific details like a diamond on its face and “white socks” to give it a unique touch. Your students can also color their horse in any way they like!
Key Features
- 1-Page Horse Craft
- 5 Printables
- 100 More/100 Less Place Value
- Mentally Find 100 More And 100 Less
- 100 More/100 Less Maze
- 100 More/100 Less Mystery Word
- Cut & Paste – True & False
Iguana – Interpreting Data
To make pasting onto the worksheet a breeze, I included a stick with the craft. Funnily enough, I didn’t realize I’d forgotten to color the blush until days later!
Key Features
- 1-Page Iguana Craft
- 6 Printables
- Count And Create A Picture Graph
- Count And Draw A Bar Graph
- Iguanas’ Favorite Food Picture Graph
- Iguanas’ Colors Picture Graph
- Iguanas’ Colors Bar Graph
- Iguana’s Activities In A Day Bar Graph
Find the Iguana Craft at Etsy.
Jellyfish – Jump on a number line
While I took the jellyfish from 3D Jellyfish craft, I edited a little for the tentacles to make it easier to cut.
You can place the tentacles at the same height or different height to form a different design.
Key Features
- 1-Page Jellyfish Craft
- 10 Worksheets
- Break Apart To Add & Subtract (A) Up To 100
- Break Apart To Add & Subtract (B) Up To 100
- Add And Subtract Up To 100
- Missing Minuend And Subtrahend Up To 100
- Word Problems Up To 100
- Break Apart To Add & Subtract (A) Up To 1000
- Break Apart To Add & Subtract (B) Up To 1000
- Add And Subtract Up To 1000
- Missing Minuend And Subtrahend Up To 1000
- Word Problems Up To 1000
Find the Jellyfish Craft at Etsy.
Find the Jellyfish Craft at TPT.
Koala – Keep Numbers Balanced
When I was creating different designs for the Koala craft, I actually asked one of my students to choose her favorite. She picked the koala without a mouth, just black eyes.
However, I soon realized that my other design seemed more cohesive with the rest of the animal crafts in the series.
But, out of respect for my student’s opinion – and who knows, maybe kids today really do prefer that style – I decided to include both design templates for you to choose from.
Key Features
- Two 2-Pages Koala Craft
- 10 Worksheets
- Cut & Balance The Addition Expression
- Cut & Balance The Addition & Subtraction Expression
- Balance The Addition Equation Within 40 Maze
- Balance The Addition Equation Within 100 Maze
- Balance The Scales 1 – Addition & Subtraction
- Balance The Scales 2 – Addition & Subtraction Mixed
- True Or False Equation Within 40
- True Or False Equation Within 100
- Match The Expressions Within 40
- Match The Expressions Within 100
Llama – Length (Metric Measurement)
While I know it will look cuter with fluffy fur, it will be hard for young kids to cut them out nicely. So instead I kept to clean lines.
You may need to guide students on how to paste the legs, and ensure the front and back legs are paste at equal heights.
Key Features
- 1-Page Llama Craft
- 4 Unique Printables – 8 Worksheets
- Estimating Length
- Measuring In Centimeter
- Measure With A Broken Ruler
- Length Word Problems
Monkey – Money
When I’m designing, I usually create more than three versions before settling on the one I’m most satisfied with.
For this one, I compared elements like nose placement, eye size, and eye type to get it just right.
After I finished the happy monkey design, I realized teachers were also looking for grumpy monkeys!
To avoid any copyright issues, I didn’t mention that in the title.
But yes, you do get two different design templates for this craft!
Key Features
- Two 1-Page Monkey Crafts
- 7 Money Worksheets
- 5 Unique Printables
- Compare Money
- Exchange Money
- Money Word Problems Mystery Puzzle
- Make Your Own Monkey Toy
- Cut And Order
Find the Monkey Craft at Etsy.
Narwhal – Number Patterns
This Narwhal craft can be printed with just black ink, saving you time!
Key Features
- 14 number patterns worksheet – 5 Unique Activities
- Chart Skip Counting
- Skip Count By 2s, 5s & 10s, 100s
- Number Patterns
- Crossword – Pattern Chart
- Mystery Pictures – 2s, 5s, And 10s
Find the Narwhal Craft at Etsy.
Find the Narwhal Craft at TPT.
Octopus – Order Numbers
Even though cutting out eight arms would require more time, I made sure they were easy for young learners to cut when I designed the octopus craft.
I also learnt that Octopus do not have tentacles, they are called arms!
Key Features
- 1-Page Octopus Craft
- 4 ordering three digit numbers worksheets
- Ordering 3-digit Numbers
- Octopus Fun Fact
- Roll The Dice & Order
- Picture Puzzle
Find the Octopus Craft at Etsy.
Find the Octopus Craft at TPT.
Peacock – Place Value of Hundreds, Tens, Ones
I spent a good amount of time carefully angling the feathers, and I even researched real peacock feathers to make the design as accurate as possible.
To include the peacock’s crest, I made it part of the main feather design, as it would be too thin for students to cut out otherwise.
Key Features
- 1-Page Peacock Craft
- 6 Worksheets
- Write Expanded Form
- Write Standard Form
- Identify Value Of Digits
- Write Standard Form Code Breaker
- Unit Form Math Search
- Understand Base Ten Blocks
Find the Peacock Craft at Etsy.
Find the Peacock Craft at TPT.
Quoll – Compare Quantity
I didn’t know about this animal until I researched for animals that start with Q. I chose this because I think this animal is relatable and cute.
At first I plan to make different size and shape spots.
But in the end, all but 1 spot was circles.
Can you spot it?
Do you think it is odd and I should just make it a circle?
DM me and let me know!
Key Features
- 1-Page Quoll Craft
- 5 Unique Printables – 6 Compare Numbers Worksheets
- Greatest And Smallest Numbers
- More Than/Less Than
- Comparing Numbers With Expanded Form
- Comparing 3-digit Numbers
- Comparing Sort
Rhinoceros – Repeated Addition
This is another craft that can be printed with just black ink to achieve a “colored” look! You have the option to tilt the rhinoceros’s head or keep it straight.
Interestingly, I didn’t plan for it to look like a baby, but it somehow ended up looking like a baby rhinoceros to me!
Key Features
- 1-Page Rhinoceros Craft
- 5 Worksheets
- Cut And Paste The Repeated Addition
- Repeated Addition & Equations
- Repeated Addition & Equations 2
- 2 Repeated Addition Equations
- Shade Arrays & Write Repeated Equation
Find the Rhinoceros Craft at Etsy.
Find the Rhinoceros Craft at TPT.
Sheep – Subtraction Within 1000
To keep the sheep easy to cut, I couldn’t design it like a usual clipart with fluffy fur all over.
So, to give it that fluffy look, I designed the head fur to be fluffy but made sure it was part of the body to avoid extra cutting.
Another design challenge I faced with this sheep was the head placement. My first attempt is actually the white sheep you see on the cover. I kept going back and forth, wondering if I should stick with it or move the head up a little. The longer I looked at that initial result, the more “off” it felt.
So, in the end, I decided to change it.
Oh, and I also added a black-colored template! I suddenly remembered the “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep” nursery rhyme.
It turned out a bit too dark, making it hard to see the details from afar.
But if I made it a shade lighter, it would look more gray than black, so I decided to stick with the darker version.
Key Features
- 8 subtraction with and without worksheet – 4 Unique Activities
- Maze
- Fun Fact / Math Riddle
- Mystery Puzzle
- Math Search
Tortoise – Telling Time to 5 Minutes
Since I created a sea turtle before, I decided to create a tortoise instead.
Did you know the key difference between the two animals lies in their limbs: sea turtles have streamlined flippers for ocean life, while tortoises possess sturdy, club-like legs designed for terrestrial movement.
Key Features
- 1-Page Tortoise Craft
- 4 Printables
- Cut And Order A.M. And P.M.
- Telling Time To The 5 Minutes
- Write The Time
- Draw The Time
Find the Tortoise Craft at Etsy.
Find the Tortoise Craft at TPT.
Urchin – Estimate Units of Metric Measurement for Length
Initially, I considered designing the porcupine’s thorns as a single piece, but I worried it might be too challenging for young learners to cut.
So, I opted for individual triangle thorns instead, making them much easier for students to snip out.
While this approach does mean more cutting and assembly time, it offers a great bonus: students get the freedom to arrange the thorns however they like!
I’ve also included extra thorns in case some get lost, or if your students want to add more or create an overlapping effect.
Key Features
- 1-Page Urchin Crafts
- 4 Unique Printables
- Cut & Order Based On Height
- Choose The Correct Units Of Measure
- Match The Units
- Math Search
Find the Urchin Craft at Etsy.
Vulture – Math Vocabulary
This was the very first resource I created in this series.
When I designed this vulture craft, I referenced many photos of different vulture species.
But I quickly realized that the artistic representation often clashes with a realistic vulture’s look.
I found myself in a dilemma: Should I stick to how vultures are usually depicted in cartoons—pink skin, white ruff, black feathers, yellow beak, and claws?
Or should I aim for a more realistic cartoon so kids could actually identify a vulture if they saw one?
Ultimately, I decided to leave that decision to the educators.
That’s why I created two colored versions of the templates for you to choose from.
Key Features
- 5 Activities – Number Word Form To 1000 (10 worksheets in total)
- Write The Words
- Missing Vowels
- Missing Letters
- Word Search
- Anchor Chart
Find the Vulture Craft at Etsy.
Find the Vulture Craft at TPT.
Whale – Word Problems
I designed two different spout designs, one easier to cut and another more “splashy”.
Initially, I designed the whale’s mouth to be slightly tilted up and connected to its body.
Later, I enlarged the smile to make it more obvious.
Key Features
- 1-Page Humpback Whale Crafts
- 22 Multiplication Worksheets
- 6 Unique Printables – 22 Worksheets
- Word Problem Sort
- Guided Word Problem
- Understand Comparison Bar Model 1
- Understand Comparison Bar Model 2
- Take From Word Problems
- 2-step Word Problems
X-ray Fish – Multiplication x2 to 5
I designed the fish with the skeleton part of the body for easier cutting, removing the need to cut out tiny sections.
This resource includes differentiated worksheets, giving you a total of 11 Multiplication Worksheets.
Key Features
- 1-Page X-Ray Fish Crafts
- 11 Multiplication Worksheets
- 5 Unique Printables
- Mazes 2 – 5
- Code Breaker
- Math Search
- Array, Repeated Addition & Equation
- Mystery Puzzle
Find the X-ray Fish Craft at Etsy.
Find the X-ray Fish Craft at TPT.
Yak – Days of the Week and Months of the Year
For the yak’s body, I debated between a sitting position, like the cow craft, or a standing one, similar to the goat.
Ultimately, because the yak already looks quite a bit like the cow, I chose the standing position to give it a distinct look.
Key Features
- 1-Page Yak Craft
- 4 Printables
- Match The Time
- Numbers On The Calendar
- Days & Months Sequence
- Cut And Spell The Time Of The Year
Zebra – Add & Subtract Across Zero
To add a pop of color to this black and white animal, I designed it with its mouth open to show its pink tongue.
Key Features
- 1-Page Zebra Craft
- 4 Printables – subtracting across zeros with regrouping within 1000
- Maze
- Zebra Fun Fact
- Word Problems Mystery Puzzle
- Math Search
Final Thoughts
I hope this arithmetic safari has sparked your imagination and filled you with exciting possibilities for your 2nd-grade classroom.
From alligators tackling addition to zebras mastering subtraction across zero, these 26 crafts offer a diverse and engaging way to reinforce key math skills.
Imagine the satisfaction on your students’ faces as they proudly display their handmade creations, each representing a step forward in their mathematical journey.
So, go ahead! Dive into these animal-themed activities, whether you choose to explore the individual crafts on Etsy or TPT or grab the complete Alphabet Bundle from the TPT store.
Get ready to witness the magic as your students eagerly embrace “math time” and unleash their inner math whizzes with these wild and wonderful learning companions.
Don’t forget to tag me on instagram @learningwithmasterxuan if you show off your students’ work!
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