DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Paper Plate Elephant Craft

This adorable elephant craft uses a printable template and a paper plate to make a project suitable for a jungle animals, mammals, or letter E theme or just for fun.

If you cut out holes instead of using the template eyes, you can convert your elephant craft to a elephant mask.  Attach a paint stir stick or tongue depressor to allow your child to hold it up to their face.

Materials:

• grey paint and paintbrush
   
• paper plate
   
• something to color with (or color printer)
   
• scissors,
   
• glue,
   
• paper,
   
• printer.
   
• OPTIONAL:  You can substitute large wiggly eyes for the template eyes.
   
• OPTIONAL FOR MASK:  Paint Stir Stick , thin strip of wood or Tongue Depressor .

Instructions:

• Paint the bottom of the paper plate grey.
   
• Print out the template of choice.
   
• Colour (where appropriate) and cut out the template pieces.  Most of the pieces are simple enough shapes for young children to cut out, but if needed, an adult can help with some of the harder pieces (the hair).
   
• Glue the pieces to the plate to make a elephant face:
   
  • Glue trunk on the bottom of the face.
     
  • Glue the tusks on either side of the trunk.
     
  • Glue the ears onto either side of the head
     
  • Glue the hair onto the center top of the head.
     
  • Glue the eyes onto the face above the trunk and under the hair (or cut out holes for eyes in a mask).
     
  • Glue the eyebrows above the eyes.
  
  

• OPTIONAL:  If making a mask, use masking tape or duct tape to attach a thin strip of wood, a Tongue Depressor or a Paint Stir Stick (often free at paint supply and home repair stores -- no more than $1 -- we get dad to pick one up now and then when he's at home depot admiring the tools *grin*)

 

Template 1:    (color)   or   (B&W)

Template 2:    (color)   or   (B&W)

 

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