DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Paper Plate Lemur Craft

contributed by Leanne Guenther

This adorable lemur craft uses a paper plate to make a project suitable for an animals theme, Madagascar theme, a letter L theme or just for fun.

In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of creating a Lemur's head using a simple paper plate craft. Lemurs are fascinating creatures known for their distinct facial features, including their captivating eyes -- they're one of the only mammals with blue irises, but their eyes also come in a wide variety of other colors too. Get ready to embark on a creative journey and bring a Lemur's head to life!

Materials:

• Paper plate
• Scissors
• Glue or adhesive tape
• Construction paper
• Marker (black)

Instructions:

• Prepare the Paper Plate:
  • Take a paper plate and flip it over so that the backside is facing up. This will be the base of our Lemur's head.
• Cut Out Eye Patches:
  • Use the scissors to carefully cut out two eye patches from the black construction paper. These patches will be placed on the Lemur's face to create its distinct eye markings.
• Attach the Eye Patches:
  • Apply glue or adhesive tape on the backside of the eye patches.
  • Position the eye patches on the front of the paper plate, near the upper half.
  • Press them firmly onto the plate to secure them in place.
• Create the Eyeballs (Irises):
  • Cut out two small circles from construction paper - irises can be brown, amber (orange), yellow, blue or green.
  • Use the markers or construction paper to create a small black dot in the center of each circle to represent the Lemur's pupils.
• Attach the Eyeballs:
  • Apply a small amount of glue on the backside of the eyeballs.
  • Place them onto the eye patches, aligning the pupils in the desired direction.
  • Press them gently to stick them to the plate.
• Craft the Ears:
  • Cut out two triangle ear shapes from the black construction paper.
  • You can make the ears long and pointed to resemble a Lemur's ears, or choose your own creative design.
  • Optional: Add smaller triangles in a different color as ear middles
• Attach the Ears:
  • Apply glue to the bottom edges of the ears.
  • Position them on the top edges of the paper plate, near the sides.
  • Press them down gently to secure them in place.
• Design the Muzzle:
  • Cut out an oval shape from the brown or yellow construction paper to create the Lemur's muzzle.
  • Customize the size and shape based on your preference.
• Attach the Muzzle:
  • Apply glue to the backside of the muzzle.
  • Place it on the lower portion of the paper plate, between the eye patches.
  • Press it firmly to ensure it adheres to the plate.
• Add Nostrils and Mouth:
  • Use a black marker to draw small nostrils on the muzzle.
  • Draw a curved line beneath the muzzle to represent the Lemur's mouth.
• Decorate and Personalize:
  • Get creative with the decoration! You can add additional features like eyebrows, fur patterns, or any other details you like using markers, crayons, or construction paper.

Lemurs have fascinating eyes that are unique to their species. Their large, round eyes with striking eye patches give them excellent night vision and help them navigate their surroundings.

This craft allows you to create a Lemur's head with attention to their specific facial characteristics, especially their captivating eyes. Enjoy your craft and let your Lemur's head bring a touch of the wild into your creativity!

Lemur iris colors can vary depending on the species. Here are some of the iris colors observed in different lemur species:

1. Brown: Many lemur species, such as the Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta) and Red-bellied Lemur (Eulemur rubriventer), have brown irises.
2. Amber: Some lemurs, like the Coquerel's Sifaka (Propithecus coquereli) and the Indri (Indri indri), have amber-colored irises.
3. Blue: Certain lemur species, such as the Blue-eyed Black Lemur (Eulemur flavifrons), possess striking blue irises, making them especially captivating.
4. Yellow: The Verreaux's Sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) is known for its yellow irises, which contribute to its unique appearance.
5. Green: The Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis), although technically not a lemur but a lemuriform primate, has been observed to have greenish-yellow irises.

It's important to note that iris color can also vary within a species, and individual lemurs within a population may have slight variations in their eye colors.

Print friendly version of these instructions