With a paper bag, glue, construction paper, crayons and buttons, kids can make a puppet representing their Chinese Zodiac animal. Allow kids to be creative by giving them access to ribbon and yarn to make rooster and rat tails. Cotton balls can help complete a rabbit puppet. When the kids have completed their puppet, they can share with the other children one fact they either learned about their zodiac animal or a story of the Chinese folklore associated with the animal.
Masks give kids an opportunity to not only be creative in designing their project, but also to perform a play or short skit telling a story from Chinese Zodiac lore. You need to supply kids with tongue depressors for the mask's handle and paper plates for the face. Kids can also use glitter, pieces of felt or other fabric and pipe cleaners to complete their masks.
Kids can create mobiles that include all 12 zodiac animals or the animals that represent their family members' birth years. This project allows kids to learn about more than one animal. You will need to provide kids with hangers and string. The animals themselves can be cut from construction paper or cardboard and decorated by the kids.
Experiment with wearable art. Provide each student with a plain white shirt and kid-safe paint. Whether in a classroom or at home it is best to place a sheet of plastic on the floor to catch any spills. Kids can draw their zodiac animals with the paint and include a list of words associated with the personality traits and skills their animals represent in Chinese culture on the back of the shirt.