15 Summer Animal Crafts for Kids: Learning Through Art

Hello fellow crafty people! Are you searching for something to keep tiny hands busy while school is out? Or perhaps you would like to have some animal magic inside your home? Well, these summer crafts for kids will have them instantly building their own private zoo.

Each craft is designed to help develop different skills in children. Toilet paper roll owl is for recycling ideas and then the perfect creation for the small crafters would be a handprint butterfly. These kids animal crafts have more to offer than just fun – they are mini lessons in disguise!

1. Toilet Paper Roll Owl

Materials:

• Empty toilet paper roll
• Construction paper (brown, white, yellow, and other colors of your choice)
• Googly eyes (optional) or white paper circles
• Scissors
• Glue
• Markers

Instructions:

1. Cover the toilet paper roll with brown construction paper.
2. Cut two large circles from white paper for the eyes, or use googly eyes if available.
3. Cut a small triangle from yellow paper for the beak.
4. Cut two small ear tufts from brown paper and glue them to the top of the roll.
5. Cut two wing shapes from brown or patterned paper and attach them to the sides.
6. Glue on the eyes and beak.
7. Use markers to add details like feathers or patterns.

Fun Fact:

Owls can actually rotate their heads 270 degrees, or three-fourths of a full circle! So amazing that they search for their prey from wherever, without even moving their bodies. Owls have in their necks special blood vessels that will assist to guard them against injury when they rotate.

2. Handprint Butterfly

Materials:

• Colored construction paper
• Paint in various colors
• Paintbrush
• Black marker
• Pipe cleaners
• Glue
• Scissors

Instructions:

1. Have your child place both hands side by side with thumbs touching on a piece of construction paper.
2. Trace around both hands to create the butterfly wings.
3. Cut out the handprint shape.
4. Let your child decorate the wings with paint in patterns or solid colors.
5. Once dry, fold a pipe cleaner in half and twist it at the top to create antennae.
6. Glue the pipe cleaner between the thumbprints.
7. Draw a face on the pipe cleaner “head” with markers.

Fun Fact:

Butterflies taste with their feet! Their legs have special receptors that help detect egg-laying plants just by landing on the leaf. When a butterfly lands on a plant, it can immediately tell if its caterpillars would be able to eat that plant.

3. Egg Carton Caterpillar

Materials:

• Egg carton (preferably cardboard)
• Scissors
• Paint in various colors
• Paintbrush
• Pipe cleaners
• Googly eyes
• Glue

Instructions:

1. Cut the egg carton lengthwise to create two rows of cups.
2. Cut one row to the desired length for your caterpillar (4-6 cups works well).
3. Poke two small holes in the front cup for antennae.
4. Paint each segment in bright colors and let dry.
5. Thread pipe cleaners through the holes to create antennae and bend the ends.
6. Glue googly eyes onto the front segment.
7. Optional: Add small painted dots or patterns to the segments, and cut out legs from black construction paper.

Fun Fact:

Some caterpillars may have about 4,000 or more muscles in their bodies! These help them move in their characteristic wave-like motion and finally undergo complete transformation during metamorphosis into butterflies or moths.

4. Paper Bag Elephant

Materials:

• Small paper lunch bag
• Gray construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Black marker
• Googly eyes (optional)

Instructions:

1. Fill the bottom third of the paper bag with crumpled newspaper or other paper for weight.
2. Fold the top of the bag down to create the elephant’s head.
3. Cut two large ear shapes from gray construction paper.
4. Cut a long trunk shape from gray paper.
5. Glue the ears to the sides of the bag and the trunk to the front.
6. Add googly eyes or draw eyes with a marker.
7. Use the marker to add details like wrinkles on the trunk.

Fun Fact:

Mirrors Remind Elephants of Their Own Self! They are among the creatures that possess self-awareness, along with man, apes, and dolphins. Their gazes have been spotted inspecting themselves through mirrors and at parts of their bodies they are usually unable to see.

5. Sock Snake

Materials:

• Old sock (colorful patterns work best)
• Fabric scraps
• Buttons or googly eyes
• Red felt or fabric
• Stuffing or old newspaper
• Needle and thread (for adults to use)
• Fabric glue
• Scissors

Instructions:

1. Fill the sock with stuffing or crumpled newspaper.
2. Have an adult sew the open end closed.
3. Use fabric glue to attach buttons or googly eyes near the toe of the sock.
4. Cut a small forked tongue shape from red felt or fabric.
5. Glue the tongue to the “mouth” area of the snake.
6. Optional: Glue small fabric scraps along the snake’s back to create scales or patterns.

Fun Fact:

Snakes don’t have eyelids! Instead, they have a clear scale called a “brille” or spectacle that protects each eye. This is why snakes never seem to blink. When snakes shed their skin, they also shed the protective eye covering, giving them clearer vision after each shed.

6. Pom-Pom Bumblebee

Materials:

• Yellow and black pom-poms (or yellow pom-poms that you can add black stripes to)
• White paper or felt
• Black pipe cleaners
• Glue
• Scissors
• Googly eyes

Instructions:

1. Glue a yellow pom-pom and a black pom-pom together (or use a yellow pom-pom and draw black stripes with a marker).
2. Cut small wing shapes from white paper or felt.
3. Glue the wings to the top of the bee.
4. Cut two small pieces of pipe cleaner for antennae.
5. Curl the ends of the pipe cleaners and glue them to the head.
6. Attach googly eyes to the front pom-pom.

Fun Fact:

Bees recognize faces! The incredible thing is that they remember and recognize individual human faces, much like how they can recognize different flowers to collect nectar, using the same pattern recognition abilities.

7. Clothespin Crocodile

Materials:

• Wooden clothespins
• Green paint
• Paintbrush
• White paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Googly eyes
• Green construction paper (optional)

Instructions:

1. Paint the clothespin green and allow it to dry completely.
2. Cut small triangles from white paper for teeth.
3. Open the clothespin and glue the teeth inside both edges.
4. Glue googly eyes on top of the clothespin.
5. Optional: Cut a zigzag pattern from green construction paper for the back of the crocodile and glue it along the top of the clothespin.
6. Draw nostrils with a marker at the tip of the clothespin.

Fun Fact:

Crocodiles don’t literally cry when they eat! The phrase “crocodile tears” meaning fake or insincere tears has its origin in an ancient belief that the crocodilian weep while devouring their prey. Although they do have glands that secrete a fluid somewhat like tears, it would actually be to keep their eyes clean and moist, and not because they feel sad about their meal.

8. Pinecone Hedgehog

Materials:

• Pinecone
• Clay or playdough
• Googly eyes
• Black pipe cleaner
• Scissors
• Glue
• Brown or black paint (optional)

Instructions:

1. Make sure the pinecone is clean and dry.
2. Form a small ball of clay or playdough for the hedgehog’s head.
3. Attach the clay ball to the narrower end of the pinecone.
4. Add googly eyes to the clay head.
5. Cut a small piece of pipe cleaner and shape it into a nose.
6. Press the nose into the clay.
7. Optional: Paint the tips of the pinecone scales to add more color or definition.

Fun Fact:

Hedgehog babies are called hoglets! Their spines are soft at birth and encased in a fluid-filled membrane, which acts as a cushion to protect the mother during birth.

9. Paper Plate Lion

Materials:

• Paper plate
• Yellow and orange construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Brown or black marker
• Yellow or orange paint (optional)
• Paintbrush (if using paint)

Instructions:

1. If desired, paint the paper plate yellow or orange and allow it to dry completely.
2. Cut strips of yellow and orange construction paper about 1 inch wide and 3-4 inches long to create the lion’s mane.
3. Glue these strips around the edge of the paper plate, overlapping them slightly.
4. Use the marker to draw the lion’s face in the center of the plate—two eyes, a nose, and a mouth.
5. Cut two small triangular ears from construction paper and glue them to the top of the plate.

Fun Fact:

A lion’s roar can be heard from up to five miles away! These incredible roars are utilized to communicate with other pride members and to warn outsiders from entering the territory. Male lions usually have the loudest roar, helping protect their territory and family.

10. Foam Cup Polar Bear

Materials:

• White foam cup
• White construction paper
• Black construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Cotton balls (optional)

Instructions:

1. Turn the foam cup upside down.
2. Cut two small circles from black construction paper for the eyes and a larger circle for the nose.
3. Cut two rounded triangles from white construction paper for the ears.
4. Glue the eyes and nose onto the cup to create the face.
5. Glue the ears to the top of the cup.
6. Optional: Glue cotton balls around the base of the cup to create the appearance of snow.
7. Optional: Cut small black circles for paw prints and glue them around your polar bear.

Fun Fact:

Polar bear fur is not white at all! Each hair is tubular and clear and hollow, like a tiny fiber optic tube. The hollow hairs scatter and reflect visible light to make the bear appear white. Below their fur, polar bears have black skin.

11. Toilet Paper Roll Giraffe

Materials:

• Toilet paper roll
• Yellow construction paper
• Brown construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Googly eyes
• Markers

Instructions:

1. Cover the toilet paper roll with yellow construction paper.
2. Cut small, irregular brown shapes from brown construction paper and glue them onto the yellow paper to create the giraffe’s pattern.
3. Cut two small ovals from yellow paper for the ears and glue them to the top of the roll.
4. Cut a long, thin rectangle from yellow paper, fringe the top, and roll it to create the neck. Attach it to the top of the roll.
5. Cut a small oval for the head and glue it to the top of the neck.
6. Add googly eyes and use markers to draw a nose and mouth on the head.
7. Cut two small brown tufts for the ossicones (horn-like structures) and glue them to the top of the head.

Fun Fact:

Giraffes sleep for only five to thirty minutes a day! They take regular short naps lasting just a few minutes. They are vulnerable when lying down; evolution has taken its course, and this species needs very little sleep and can sleep standing.

12. Yarn Wrapped Fish

Materials:

• Cardboard
• Yarn in various colors
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Googly eyes
• Glue

Instructions:

1. Draw a simple fish shape on cardboard and cut it out.
2. Make a small cut at the edge of the cardboard and insert the end of the yarn.
3. Wrap the yarn around the cardboard fish, covering it completely. Change colors as desired.
4. When the fish is covered, cut the yarn and secure the end with glue.
5. Glue a googly eye onto the fish.
6. Optional: Cut small pieces of colorful yarn for fins and glue them to the sides of the fish.

Fun Fact:

Some fish can change their gender! Clownfish, for example, live in groups with a strict hierarchy. The largest fish is always female, and the second largest is male. If the female dies, the male will actually change gender to become female, and the next largest fish in the group will become the new male.

13. Pasta Penguin

Materials:

• Black construction paper
• White construction paper
• Orange construction paper
• Bow tie pasta
• Glue
• Scissors
• Googly eyes (optional)
• Black marker

Instructions:

1. Cut an oval shape from black construction paper for the penguin’s body.
2. Cut a smaller oval from white paper for the belly and glue it onto the black oval.
3. Cut a small circle from black paper for the head and glue it to the top of the body.
4. Glue bow tie pasta to the sides of the body to create wings.
5. Cut a small triangle from orange paper for the beak and two small ovals for the feet.
6. Glue the beak to the face and the feet to the bottom of the body.
7. Add googly eyes or draw eyes with a marker.

Fun Fact:

During the cold Antarctic winter, male emperor penguins incubate their eggs for two months. They do not eat anything during this time and might even lose up to 45% of their weight. They rest the egg on their feet and use a special brood pouch to keep it warm in temperatures as low as -40°F!

14. Handprint Spider

Materials:

• Black construction paper
• White or colored paper
• Paint (black or color of your choice)
• Paintbrush
• Scissors
• Glue
• Googly eyes or white paper circles
• Marker

Instructions:

1. Have your child place their hand on paper with fingers spread apart and trace around it.
2. Cut out the handprint.
3. Use this as a template to cut a second identical handprint.
4. Glue the two handprints together with the palm parts overlapping and the fingers pointing in opposite directions to create eight legs.
5. Cut a circle from paper for the spider’s body and glue it over the overlapping palms.
6. Add googly eyes or cut small white circles and glue them to the body.
7. Use a marker to add details like a mouth or fangs if desired.

Fun Fact:

Spider silk is five times the strength of steel of the same thickness! A pencil-thick strand of silk would have the strength to stop a Boeing 747 aircraft in flight. For years, scientists have been trying to replicate this incredible material but still fall short in its perfect combination of strength, elasticity, and lightness.

15. Cotton Ball Lamb

Materials:

• White cotton balls
• Black construction paper
• White construction paper (optional)
• Scissors
• Glue
• Googly eyes (optional)
• Black marker

Instructions:

1. Cut an oval or cloud-like shape from white construction paper for the lamb’s body.
2. Make sure to apply glue to the body shape and attach cotton balls all over it to achieve a furry woolly look.
3. Take a small oval or circle cut out from the black construction paper for the head of the lamb, and glue this to one end of the body covered in cotton.
4. Cut out four long and thin rectangles from black construction paper which are actually the legs of the lamb, and glue them under the body.
5. Add two small half-oval ears to the top sides of the head.
6. Glue on googly eyes, or draw eyes using a marker.
7. Optional: Use a black marker to draw a little smile or nose on the lamb’s face.

Fun Fact:

Studies, particularly one from the University of Cambridge, have indeed shown that sheep can recognize and remember up to 50 of their fellow sheep and even humans. They are capable of remembering the faces for more than two years, which is quite an impressive feat.

Tips for Successful Animal Crafting

1. Plan ahead: Having everything laid out before the crafting process contributes to a better flow.
2. Cover your space: Newspapers, plastic tablecloths, or an actual craft mat will help protect your surfaces.
3. Age considerations: Select a project that fits your child’s abilities.
4. Focus on the process: The end product is usually not perfect. Remember that kids find their joy in the process of making.
5. Extend the learning: These crafts can prompt conversations about animals, their habitats, and conservation.
6. Display with pride: Create a spot where all of your child’s creations can be displayed. This acts as a reinforcement for their sense of accomplishment.
7. Take pictures: Document these creative moments—they grow up so fast, and you’ll treasure these memories.

Animal crafts are not just fun for kids; they help with their fine motor skills, teach them about the world around them, allow them to follow instructions, and help to fuel their creativity. Best of all, they create times of bonding and happiness you and your little ones will treasure.

So gather your materials and good spirits, and let’s start crafting all the wild things!