the idea: have students create their own mythical creatures by combining two or more animals

I was taught how to make this kind of puppet by my friend, Amy Beth.  You fold the paper in half like a hot dog, fold the hot dog in half, and then fold the sides down like a banana.  (Trust me, that makes sense when you have a piece of paper in your hands).

In my class last Tuesday I asked the kids to make up their own mythical creatures by combining two or more creatures that already existed.  We ended up with cat-unicorns, grisly-serpents, and, of course, the panda-bird.  I decided to create a panda-something and asked the kids what they thought I should do.

Originally, I was told to make a panda-dragon, but then one of the kids wanted to make that.  I believe a panda-unicorn was also suggested.  In the end, however, I ended up with the panda-bird.

Which, of course, has huge fangs and a blue tongue because all it ever eats are blue lollipops.