I’ve selected some winter animal crafts that I adore the most and they are just right for those snowy afternoons when the kids can’t sit still, or for the teacher’s activities that will occupy the little hands.
All of these are very easy crafts for kids that need materials you most likely have at home, and you know what the best part is? They’re actually cute enough that you won’t mind displaying them!
These winter crafts for kids are not only engaging but also incorporate a bit of animal and habitat information learning. On top of that they are perfect as home or classroom décor during the winter season.
1. Paper Plate Polar Bear
Difficulty Level: Super easy (perfect for preschoolers!)
I would certainly place this craft among the most popular and favorite ones that are made during winter by kids in my house. It is incredibly cute, fast, and without any mess.
Materials Needed:
- 1 paper plate
- White construction paper (for ears)
- Cotton balls
- Glue stick
- Black marker
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Cut two circles from white construction paper. These will be the polar bear’s ears.
- Make the ears: Glue the two white circles to the back top edge of the paper plate so they peek out.
- Glue cotton balls around the entire rim of the paper plate, creating a fluffy border.
- Using a black marker, draw two oval eyes, a rounded nose, and a simple smiling mouth in the center of the plate.
- Allow all the glue to dry completely before displaying your cute polar bear craft.
Mom tip: The whole process won’t take more than about 15 minutes. Teachers, this is an ideal activity for the entire class as paper plates are very cheap when bought in bulk!
2. Cupcake Liner Walrus
Difficulty Level: Easy to Medium
Materials Needed:
- Brown cupcake liners (2)
- Brown or tan construction paper
- Gray construction paper or cardstock (optional for ice/rock)
- Googly eyes
- Brown or orange yarn (for whiskers)
- White paper or white pipe cleaner (for tusks)
- Glue
- Scissors
- Black marker
Instructions:
- Flatten one brown cupcake liner and glue it onto the construction paper to create the walrus’s body.
- Cut the second cupcake liner in half and glue each half to the sides of the body for flippers.
- Cut a circle from brown construction paper and glue it slightly overlapping the top of the body to form the head.
- Make tusks by cutting two small white triangles (or using pipe cleaner pieces) and glue them pointing down from the head.
- Attach googly eyes above the tusks.
- Cut short yarn pieces and glue 3–4 on each side of the nose area to create whiskers.
- Draw a small smile and nostrils with a black marker.
- (Optional) Cut a gray “rock” or ice shape and glue the walrus on top for extra scenery.
3. Toilet Paper Roll Reindeer
Difficulty Level: Easy to medium
Save those cardboard tubes before you throw them away; they are going to be needed for this craft! This is one of the simple winter crafts for kids that are suitable for elementary-aged children.
Materials Needed:
- Toilet paper roll (or paper towel roll cut in half)
- Brown paint or brown construction paper
- Red pom-pom (for the nose)
- Googly eyes
- Brown pipe cleaners (2)
- Glue or hot glue gun (adult use)
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Colour the toilet paper roll brown, or wrap it up in brown construction paper and glue it.
- Cut two pipe cleaners in half. Twist them to create antler shapes.
- Poke small holes at the top of the roll and insert the pipe cleaner antlers (or hot glue them on – adults only).
- Stick on googly eyes.
- Put near the bottom a red pom-pom for Rudolph’s nose and glue it!
- Optional: Put a small bell or ribbon around the neck.
Mom tip: My kids love playing with these afterward. They become little characters in their imaginative play, so it’s a craft that keeps on giving!
4. Coffee Filter Snowy Owl
Difficulty Level: Medium (but so worth it!)
This is the one I probably like the most because the result is REALLY pretty. It’s one of those winter crafts for kids that is harder to notice than it actually is.
Materials Needed:
- Coffee filters (2-3 per owl)
- White paper plate or cardstock circle
- Brown and black markers or watercolors
- Yellow construction paper
- Black construction paper
- Glue
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Let kids color the coffee filters with brown and black spots or stripes (these become the feathers). If watercolors are used, let them dry.
- Cut a paper plate in half for the owl’s body.
- Accordion-fold or scrunch the coffee filters and glue them onto the plate to make textured, feathery layers.
- Make a yellow triangle for the beak and glue it to the center.
- Two large white circles and two smaller black circles will be needed for the eyes. Stack and glue them.
- Add tiny coffee filter fragments as ear tufts at the top.
Teacher note: It takes about 30 to 40 minutes for this activity, so it is suitable for a longer craft session. The coffee filter technique teaches kids about texture and layering
5. Pom-Pom Penguin
Difficulty Level: Easy
Isn’t it time we acknowledge how adorable penguins are? This is one of the most fun easy winter crafts for kids and requires minimal supervision.
Materials Needed:
- Black and white pom-poms (or cotton balls painted black)
- Black and white construction paper
- Orange construction paper
- Googly eyes
- Glue
- Scissors
Instructions:
- From the black construction paper, an oval-shaped body has to be cut; using the white paper, a smaller oval is cut for the belly. The white oval gets glued on the black one.
- 2. At the top, a big black pom-pom is glued for the head.
- 3. The pom-pom head gets googly eyes.
- 4. A small orange triangle is cut for the beak and glued on
- Cut two small black wings and two orange feet. Glue them on.
- Optional: Add a small winter hat or scarf cut from colored paper!
Mom tip: This craft is fantastic for working on fine motor skills.
6. Cotton Ball Seal Pup
Difficulty Level: Super easy
Well, I couldn’t resist adding one more lovely Arctic animal! Seals are not always the most popular among the animals but they are very cute.
Materials Needed:
- Gray or white construction paper
- Cotton balls
- Black marker
- Glue
- Googly eyes (optional)
Instructions:
- A very simple seal is drawn on the paper (big oval body with flippers and a tail).
- Children are allowed to glue cotton balls all over the seal’s body.
- Add googly eyes or draw them with a marker.
- Draw a nose and whiskers.
- Optional: Add a blue construction paper background for the ocean or ice!
Teacher note: This is perfect for the youngest learners – toddlers love the sensory experience of pulling apart and gluing cotton balls!
7. Paper Bag Polar Bear Puppet
Difficulty Level: Easy
If you want animal crafts for kids that are also toys, puppet-making is the most proper activity!
Materials Needed:
- White paper lunch bag
- White construction paper
- Black construction paper
- Glue stick
- Scissors
- Markers
Instructions:
- Keep the paper bag folded such that the flap represents the mouth area.
- A white circle should be cut for the face and glued to the flap of the bag.
- Two small circles should be cut for the ears and they should be glued on the top.
- Cut a black oval nose and glue it to the flap where the mouth bends.
- Draw or glue on black eyes above the nose.
- Also, add paws made of white paper to the front of the bag.
- On the underside of the flap, a mouth is drawn in such a way that it is visible when the puppet’s mouth opens!
Mom tip: After craft time, put on a puppet show! My kids came up with a whole Arctic adventure with their puppets.
Bonus Tips for Successful Winter Crafting
For Moms:
- Prepare a craft area with a washable tablecloth or newspaper. Your future self will be grateful to your present self!
- Do a “materials check” before announcing craft time. Nothing worse than discovering you’re out of glue mid-project.
- Take photos! These little masterpieces grow up fast, and you’ll love looking back at their creativity.
For Teachers:
- Prep stations with materials already divided up to save time.
- Have a completed sample to show kids what they’re working toward.
- Play soft winter or nature music in the background – it creates such a nice crafting atmosphere!
- Send crafts home the same day if possible, or they multiply in your classroom like rabbits.
Why These Winter Kids Crafts Work
They’re budget-friendly, mostly mess-free (mostly!), and best of all, they celebrate the magic of winter and the amazing animals that call the Arctic home.
They are also excellent for developing skills like cutting, gluing, direction following, and recognizing colors. And all this while kids think they are just playing!
Ready for more cozy creativity? Explore these easy snowman crafts, winter crafts for preschool and elementary kids, more fun winter crafts for elementary kids, snowflake crafts, winter paper bag crafts, recycled and cardboard winter crafts, and a collection of winter pipe cleaner crafts.
