Create an Imaginary Animal

This activity is associated with the family program, Camp Croods at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

Activity Description

Evidence of imagination in ancient human life can be seen in the Hall of Human Origins virtual tour. The Lion-Man figurine shows a half human and half lion artifact that was created about 35,000 years ago. Anthropologists think this provides evidence that ancient humans were using their imagination to create new and unique art never seen or thought of before! In "The Croods: A New Age," there were many unique imaginary animals that also mixed features from different types of animals. For this activity, you will create your own imaginative animal inspired by both the artifact and the animals from the movie.

What You Need

• Your imagination!
• Paper
• Pencil
• Crayons or other coloring materials

Directions

1. Gather your supplies. For this activity, you will need paper, a pencil, crayons or other coloring materials, and your imagination.

2. Make a list of features or characteristics your animal will have. On a piece of paper, you will be making two different lists: one with animal features and one with different animals. Your first list will be of animal features. Think about the following questions to help create your list:

• Think about the size you want your animal to be. 
• How will your animal move? Will it fly, swim, jump, or run? 
• Think about how or what it will eat. Will it be a fierce predator or will it mainly eat plants? 
• How might your animal protect itself or keep itself safe? Will it have a protective body covering, like a shell, or will it be able to camouflage with its surroundings? Make your list of your desired features for your new animal, and circle the features that are the most important. 

Create a table like this to help you organize your ideas.

3. Make a list of animals that have those specific features or characteristics. Reread through your list of animal features you just created. Think about animals that have some of these features, and then write down those animals.

4. Choose two animals that best represent the features or characteristics your new animal will have. The artifact in the museum and the animals in the movie were created with two animals in mind. Sometimes those animals had things in common; sometimes they were very different animals. When the animals were imagined together as one new and unique animal, that animal shared features of both the different animals. Choose two animals that, if they came together as one animal, would best represent the features you want your new animal to have.

5. Create your animal! Draw your new animal. Be sure to include all of the key features or characteristics from the original two animals in your new animal. What will you call your new animal, and what unique or special new features will it have as a result of being a combination of two different animals?

Take It a Step Further

• Create a model or 3-dimensional representation of your new animal. 
• Write a story starring your new animal.
• Share your new animal with your family.
• Share your new animals with us at the museum! Be sure to let us know all about the unique features of your new animal. You can send a picture of your new animal to nmnh-familyprograms@si.edu. 

Explore More 

• Learn about different types of figurines made by ancient human artists.
• Join Dr. Briana Pobiner for a recorded virtual tour of the Hall of Human Origins! Use the link provided and scroll down to view 3 videos for the virtual tour of this hall.
• Want to explore the Hall of Human Origins on your own? Click the Time Portal to enter the exhibit and continue your exploration by dragging your cursor around and clicking on the arrows. Zoom in to make even closer observations. 
• To learn more about ancient humans, the science behind how we learn about the lives of ancient humans, and about the Hall of Human Origins, you can visit this website: Human Origins: What Does It Mean to Be Human?