If you would prefer to not have to cut out all the animals or don’t want the kids to do it here is an option. I created a Google Drawings of the 6 animals. Each pile has 6 of each animal they can manipulate by dragging onto their “paper”.
I haven’t used this yet, but one area I will need to remind students is when they make their “word” they will have to stack their animals in reverse order. Last letter first, so when it is decoded the first letter is on top. I am planning on having them do the activity guide on the computer as well by using the fill button to shade boxes.
https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1S5hcemj6wU-2rz1CNtIWZFEhEBTW_1mG9DTXJth4i3k/edit?usp=sharing