More Animal Signs!
Make colorful animal signs for a backyard trail using cardboard, paint, and markers. Label species and footprints to create a fun nature scavenger hunt.
About this activity
Make colorful animal signs for a backyard trail using cardboard, paint, and markers. Label species and footprints to create a fun nature scavenger hunt.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Choose a flat workspace outside or on a table and cover it with newspaper or scrap paper to keep it clean
- 2
Step 2
Cut the cardboard into sign shapes like rectangles or animals using safety scissors and ask an adult for help if you need it
- 3
Step 3
Draw a simple outline of an animal and its matching footprint on each cardboard sign with your pencil
- 4
Step 4
Paint the background of each sign with any bright color you like
- 5
Step 5
Let the painted backgrounds dry completely before you touch them
- 6
Step 6
Paint the animal shape and its footprint on each sign using a color that shows up on the background
- 7
Step 7
Let the painted animals and footprints dry fully so the paint does not smear
- 8
Step 8
Write the species name in big letters on each sign using a marker
- 9
Step 9
Write the word "Footprint" next to the footprint drawing on each sign with a marker
- 10
Step 10
Outline the animal and footprint with a dark marker so they are easy to see from far away
- 11
Step 11
Tape or glue a wooden craft stick to the back of each sign to make a stake for the ground
- 12
Step 12
Place the signs along your backyard trail spacing them out so friends can follow them easily
- 13
Step 13
Share a photo of your finished nature trail and signs on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do I make More Animal Signs for a backyard trail?
To make colorful animal signs for a backyard trail, cut cardboard into sign shapes and paint backgrounds. Once dry, sketch species names, a simple picture, and matching footprints using markers or paint. Add a short fact or clue beneath each label. Protect signs with clear packing tape or laminating sheets, attach them to stakes or string, and place them along the trail. Create a scavenger-hunt checklist so kids can tick off each animal they find.
What materials do I need for More Animal Signs?
You’ll need cardboard (old boxes work), tempera or acrylic paints, paintbrushes, waterproof markers, pencils and erasers, scissors or a craft knife (adult use only), ruler, clear packing tape or self-seal laminating sheets, wooden dowels/skewers or string for mounting, glue or a hot glue gun (adult use), reference photos or a field guide, and newspaper or a drop cloth to protect surfaces while painting.
What ages is the More Animal Signs activity suitable for?
This activity suits ages roughly 3–12 with adult support and adaptations. Ages 3–5 enjoy painting simple signs and stamping footprints with supervision for scissors and paint. Ages 6–9 can design, label species, and mount signs with some independence. Ages 10–12 can draw accurate footprints, write clues, or map the scavenger route. Adjust complexity and tool access to each child’s fine-motor skills and supervise cutting or hot-glue use.
What are some fun variations for the More Animal Signs trail?
Try themed routes like nocturnal animals or local birds, add footprint rubbings with clay, or attach 3D elements such as faux nests. Make bilingual labels, include quick facts or QR codes that play sounds, or set up team challenges and timed hunts. For longer-lasting signs, weatherproof with outdoor sealer or packing tape. These variations increase replay value, curiosity, and learning across different age groups.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can I use if I can't find wooden craft sticks or specific paints?
If you don't have wooden craft sticks use sturdy popsicle sticks, bamboo skewers, or folded cardboard tabs taped to the back as stakes, and if you lack acrylic paints use washable tempera, poster paint, or colored markers/crayons to color the backgrounds and animals.
My paint keeps smearing when I touch the signs—how can I stop that?
To prevent smearing as described in steps 5 and 6, let each painted layer dry longer, apply thinner coats, or gently speed-dry with a low-heat hair dryer before outlining with a dark marker in step 11.
How can I adapt this activity for different age groups?
For younger kids have an adult pre-cut the cardboard shapes and let them use stickers or chunky crayons for the animal and footprint, while older kids can carefully cut detailed shapes, paint realistic footprints, write species facts with the species name, and securely glue or tape stronger stakes as in step 10.
What are some ways to extend or personalize the nature trail signs?
Make the signs more interactive by gluing on real leaves or yarn for texture, using glow-in-the-dark or metallic paint for accents, laminating or sealing them for weatherproofing, and adding a short species fact or QR code next to the big species name before placing them along your trail in step 12.