Fun Paper Plate Lion Craft for Kids

Are you ready to dive into the world of crafting with your little ones, focusing on a beloved and majestic creature: the lion? What better way to spark imagination than by embarking on a journey to create your very own paper plate lion?

Crafting not only ignites artistic expression but also fosters essential developmental skills in children, from fine motor skills to problem-solving. With just a few simple materials and a sprinkle of imagination, we’ll guide you through the steps to create a lion craft that will bring joy and pride to your home.

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So, gather your eager little preschoolers, roll up your sleeves, and let’s unleash our inner roar as we embark on this delightful crafting adventure together!

Supplies Needed for Your Paper Plate Lion

Before we dive into the step-by-step instructions for creating this adorable lion craft, let’s take a look at the supplies you’ll need for your lion craft. Feel free to change out any colors or materials to make your lion unique and special!

Here are the supplies you will need for your lion craft:

How to Make a Lion Craft With a Paper Plate

Crafting a lion from a paper plate is the perfect activity for the classroom or a fun playdate with friends. Follow these simple steps to create your own majestic king of the jungle!

Step 1: Paint the Paper Plate, aka Lion Head

To start off, take your paper plate and paint it completely yellow. You can use any shade of yellow you like, from bright to soft pastel. This will be the base of your lion’s head!

You could also use crayons or markers to color in the lion’s head, depending on your preference and what crafting materials you have at home or in the classroom!

Step 2: Cut Out the Lions Hair

Once the yellow paint is dry, it’s time to give your lion some hair. Using the brown construction paper, cut small rectangles to create the lion’s mane. For a more colorful lion, you can also use other colors, like orange or red.

Next, using glue, attach the hair to the back of the plate. Make sure to leave some space in between each piece of hair!

lion hair made out of construction paper

Step 3: Cut Out the Eyes

Grab more coloring construction paper to use behind the lion’s eyes! I used a brown color, but feel free to let your child choose any color they want. The best part about this paper craft is that it’s not only fun but also educational as kids learn about different animals and their features.

Once you have two circles cut out, use glue or double-sided tape to stick them to your lion’s face. Then, stick two googly eyes on the two circles of construction paper! Now your lion has eyes!

Step 4: Finish the Lion’s Face

Lastly, it’s time to finish your lion’s face! Cut out whiskers, eyebrows, and a nose from construction paper, or let your child draw them in with a marker or crayon.

Is anything missing from your lion project? If so, now would be the time to add it. Maybe your preschooler wants to give their lion rosy cheeks or decorate it in glitter!

Step 5: Finished Lion Craft

Now, take a step back and admire your child’s lion project! Not only is it a cute piece of art, but they also learned about – the lion- and used their fine motor skills to create it.

Hang it up on the fridge or display it on a shelf to show off your little one’s creativity.

More paper plate crafts:

Extension Ideas for This Lion Craft

The fun doesn’t have to be over! Here are a few ways you can take this lion craft to the next level and make it truly unique for your kiddo or student.

Create a whole jungle scene by making more animals like elephants, giraffes, and monkeys out of paper plates.
Use different textures like tissue paper or fabric to add depth and detail to your crafts.
Incorporate learning by talking about the sounds lions love making or where they live.
Talk about the different parts of the lion, from the lion’s mane to the lion’s tail.
Create a puppet show with your children using their lion or other animals they’ve made.

Let’s read about lions!

Let’s keep the fun going with these fun reads! There are so many benefits to reading aloud to kids. It’s even been found that reading books to preschoolers can help build their empathy, aiding in social-emotional development.

Good reads all about lions:

All Things Lions for Kids – Filled with facts, photos, and fun!
The Nature Kids Guide to Lions – For kids who love lions!
Explore My World– All about lions in the wild!

Lion Paper Plate Craft – Summary

The most important part of this lion activity is to have fun and let your child’s imagination run wild! Encourage them to be creative and make their lion project unique. This craft is not only a great way to keep your little one or class entertained, but it also serves as a fun and educational activity.

So next time you’re looking for an animal craft to do with your preschooler or kindergarten class, try making a paper lion together!

Make sure to save this for later and follow us on Pinterest for more fun activities!

Related crafts:

Fun Paper Plate Lion Craft for Kids

Supplies Needed for Your Paper Plate Lion

How to Make a Lion Craft With a Paper Plate