Free Preschool Crafts

Paper plate bird

Let kids explore their creativity and create an entire flock of birds using paper plates, pipe cleaners, cardstock scraps and paper punches. I saw this idea in Woman’s World magazine.

What You Need: 1 sturdy, colored paper plate (we used dessert size);  1 or 2 pipe cleaners; cardstock scraps; paper punches; googly eye; glue and/or tape.

How to Make It: Cut paper plate in half and then cut one of the halves into three triangles. Use scissors to make “fringe” for tailfeathers and wing. Tape pipe cleaners (however long you’d like your bird’s legs and neck to be) as shown. Bend them if you want, for crooked neck or legs. Tape paper plate triangle to top of neck and add beak cut from cardstock. Glue on plastic eye. Cut feet and tape to legs. Punch out shapes and glue to body.

Marble art

Let preschoolers go wild with paint and create cool designs.

What You Need: Shallow cardboard box; paper; nontoxic tempera paint in various colors; marbles.

How to Make It: Put a piece of paper in a shallow box. Put dollops of paint in there, too, with 4 or 5 marbles. Shake!

Paper plate lion

Dessert-size paper plates are the perfect size to make masks for little preschool faces. Don’t limit kids to lions; set out a variety of supplies (yarn, paint, etc.) and let their creativity go wild.

What You Need: dessert-size paper plate; yellow crepe paper; black marker; 3 orange pipe cleaners; transparent tape; scissors.

How to Make It: First adult must cut out triangles for eyes and nose and cut pipe cleaners in half. Cut crepe paper into eight strips about 5 inches long. Tape to back (curved size) of paper plate. Draw around eye holes with black marker. Tape three pipe cleaners to each side for whiskers.

Ice painting

This painting project works for even the littlest artists. Kids love the chill and texture of the ice, and it’s fun to see the colors fill out as the ice melts.

What You Need: Paint with Water coloring book page; rectangular baking dish; ice cubes or chunks; tape.

How to Make It: Tape coloring book page to the bottom of the pan so it doesn’t shift around. Give child a cup of ice cubes or place a few in the pan. Let child push or shake ice around and watch what happens.

Apple tree

Great for a Johnny Appleseed unit, or just to celebrate nature, this apple tree project combines food with fun! (Remember, though, popcorn can be a choking hazard to the littlest kids.)

What You Need:  1 sheet blue construction paper; brown and green poster paint; paintbrush; popped popcorn; glue.

How to Make It: Children paint tree trunk and leaves and then glue on popcorn for blossoms!