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50 Easy Animal Crafts for Kids
Grab your pipe cleaners, craft sticks, paper plates, and paint and get ready for a list full of animal craft ideas. Are you a teacher entering an animal unit, reading a book about animals, or a parent heading to the zoo or farm with your kids? Crafts are a great way to introduce those little (or big!) outdoor creatures.
Below you will find a list full of great ideas for a wide variety of animals and animal types. You’ll be able to find zoo crafts, farm animal crafts, arctic animal crafts, forest animal crafts, and pet crafts all listed below.
Zoo Crafts for Kids
These adorable zoo animal crafts for kids cover a wide range of the wildest animals! From peacocks to lions, you should be able to find something that will fit in with what you are teaching and learning.
Pom Pom Hand Giraffe
Centered around one of everyones’ favorite zoo animals, this giraffe craft is easy peasy. If you have some pom poms already on hand, you probably have everything you need!

Photo Credit: Glued to my Crafts Blog
Paper Plate Giraffe
Paper plates are an easy craft supply to come by and this craft is easy to complete. This one uses tissue paper to fill in the giraffe instead of paint or markers!

Photo Credit: Glued to My Crafts
Fingerprint Giraffe
This is similar to the pom pom giraffe above, but it uses your fingerprints instead of pom poms for the spots! It also comes with a free printable template for the giraffe cut out.

Photo Credit: OurKidThings
Paper Plate Panda
This paper plate craft comes with a free printable template. Cut the pieces out and you are ready to go!

Photo Credit: SimpleEveryDayMom
Fork Painting Lion
This easy craft uses a fork instead of a paint brush! It adds a nice texture to the lion’s mane.

Photo Credit: TheChirpingMoms
Coffee Filter Peacocks
This fun project uses a very cheap craft supply: coffee filters! Kids of all ages will love this colorful animal craft.

Photo Credit: Gluedtomycrafts
Paper Plate Tiger
Paper plates, construction paper, and tissue paper are all you need for this simple zoo animal craft.

Photo Credit: Gluedtomycrafts
Newspaper Elephant
This easy craft is a great way to use up your extra newspaper instead of tossing it out!

Photo Credit: BuggyandBuddy
Newspaper Koala
Another easy newspaper craft! If you have some big googly eyes around, you can use those instead of drawing and making your own.

Photo Credit: GluedtomyCrafts
Paint Splatter Lions
Nearly everyone’s favorite zoo animal, this lion craft will get the creative juices flowing. While you don’t actually splatter paint in this craft, it sure looks like it!

Photo Credit: GluedtomyCrafts
Farm Animal Crafts for Kids
Farm animals are popular with young children, because there are so many fun rhymes and songs that go along with them! Belt out one of those animal rhymes with your group and finish off with one of these crafts!
Handprint Duck
This craft uses your handprint and a free printable template to make this adorable duck.

Photo Credit: SimpleEveryDayMom
Easy Sheep Craft
If you don’t have paint around or don’t want to make a mess out of paint, use cotton balls for the wool!

Photo Credit: CraftsonSea
Muddy Pigs
This craft is perfect for sensory play and working on some fine motor skills.
These Little Piggies
This personalized piggy craft may get their feet messy, but it’s one parents will love to keep around forever.

Photo Credit: Sight and Sound Reading
Spinning Chicken
This spinning chicken craft gives preschoolers some time to work on fine motor skills with some scissor practice!

Photo Credit: BooksandGiggles
Horse Headband
This easy peasy construction paper craft gives children some help with their pretend play! If you switch the colors and ears around, you could make any farm animal you want.

Photo Credit: SimpleEveryDayMom
Hatching Chick Craftivity
This hatching chick craft is so much fun! Crafts like this, ones that come with a built in activity, will keep children entertained even after the crafty part is done.

Photo Credit: KidsSoup
Twirly Pig
Paper plates are an easy supply to gather, and this pig will make a great bedroom or classroom decoration!

Photo Credit: KidsCraftRoom
Paper Plate Cow
This paper plate cow is so easy and adorable! Add some googly eyes if you like! Did you know cows are one of the most popular animal crafts for kids?

Photo Credit: HomeschoolPreschoolNet
Arctic Animal Crafts
Arctic animals are some of the most interesting animals on the planet! How on earth do they survive in those temperatures? If you are working on uncovering that answer with your students or children, finish off the lesson with one of these crafts.
Fork Paint Polar Bear
Forks are a great tool for painting if you are working on animals! The fork gives the paint a feathery and furry looking texture — perfect for all of your animal crafts!

Photo Credit: GluedtomyCrafts
Paint Splat Penguin
No worries, children do not actually need to splatter paint with this craft. Like the paint splatter lions above, you simply apply some paint to one side of the construction paper and fold it for a mirror effect. No splatter paint mess here!

Photo Credit: GluedtomyCrafts
Paper Plate Penguin
Penguins are amazing animals! They are so interesting and complex, but their crafts do not have to be! If you are looking for a simple and cheap polar animal craft, this penguin one is perfect.

Photo Credit: OurPotLuckFamily
Polar Bear Paper Plate
For this all you need are paper plates, cotton balls, and the free template for the facial features! Easy peasy.

Photo Credit: LittleBinsforLittleHands
Handprint Polar Bear
This polar bear craft is simple and personalized. Construction paper, white paint, and a marker are all you will need for this. This one is perfect for even the youngest of age groups.

Photo Credit: GrandKidsMakeLifeGrand
Ocean Animal Crafts for Kids
Ocean animals make easy art projects! There are also so many different ocean animals to choose from. You can create something popular like a sea turtle or shark or something a little more unique like the puffer fish!
Paper Plate Sea Turtle
This paper plate craft has an easy supply list, but the painting of the shell lets you get as creative as you want! You don’t even have to limit yourself to green and brown paint. Get as colorful and creative as you wish.

Photo Credit: IHeartCraftyThings
Coffee Filter Animals
This is a fun way to use up an oversupply of coffee filters and introduce many different ocean animals.

Photo Credit: ALittlePinchofPerfect
Paper Chain Jellyfish
Most of us have made paper chains as a Santa countdown before, but not a jellyfish! This craft is so easy and children will love hanging it up.

Photo Credit: CraftsbyRia
Melted Crayon Sea Turtle
Have some broken crayons? Use them for this craft!

Photo Credit: Iheartartsandcrafts
Jellyfish Suncatcher
Grab some tissue paper and make this beautiful underwater creature!
Cupcake Liner Octopus
This cupcake liner octopus is so cute and creative. Fruit loops are used for the suction cups on their tentacles!
Paper Plate Tropical Fish
With this fish, you can get as colorful and creative as you wish.

Photo Credit: GluedtomyCrafts
Easy Sea Turtle
Construction paper crafts are easy peasy and easy to gather materials for. This sea turtle is simple and a great time for everyone.

Photo Credit: PocketofPreschool
Shark Hat
Looking to act out or play as ocean animals? This shark hat would be perfect.
Paper Plate Seahorse
Sea horses are some of the tiniest sea creatures, but they should not be forgotten!

Photo Credit: GluedtomyCrafts
Fork Paint Puffer Fish
Forks work as a great tool to create texture with paint. It can look furry, but also can pass as the spikes on a puffer fish!

Photo Credit: CraftyMorning
Handprint Crabs
This crab craft is almost as simple as it gets. Grab some paint and make this easy, personalized craft.
Paper Plate Stingray
Use whatever color paint you want with this paper plate stingray.

Photo Credit: ThePinterestedParent
Forest Animal Crafts for Kids
There are so many different animals in wooded areas! Forest animals can mean giant creatures like brown bears or elusive jungle animals like the python or leopard. No matter what outdoor area you are learning about, you should be able to find an animal that fits well below!
Paper Chain Python
This easy paper chain python is great for fine motor skills.

Photo Credit: TheCraftTrain
Paper Plate Snake
This twirly paper plate snake is perfect for classroom decorations. Use whatever color you wish! Snakes are almost every color of the rainbow.

Photo Credit: ArtyCraftyKids
Paper Plate Sloth
This craft only uses a small piece of a paper plate, but you could make multiple sloths from one plate!

Photo Credit: OurKidsThings
Paper Plate Fox
This paper plate fox is so simple. Grab some googly eyes and a paper plate and you are all set.

Photo Credit: CraftyMorning
Leopard Printable
Print out the shape of this leopard and get creative with the spots!

Photo Credit: LearnCreateLove
Brown Bear Puppet
Puppets are perfect for pretend play! This one is adorable and uses a pom pom as the nose!

Photo Credit: CoffeeCupsandCrayons
Paint Splat Bear
Everyone’s brown bear will look at little bit different with this craft. Just like in real life!

Photo Credit: GluedtomyCrafts
Paper Bag Moose
This paper bag moose makes a great puppet.
Paper Plate Owl Craft
Hang this adorable owl on a door knob or key hook!

Photo Credit: FrugalFunforBoys
Painted Baby Owls
These baby owls will be a favorite! Who doesn’t love baby animals?

Photo Credit: IHeartCraftyThings
Rabbit Finger Puppets
This rabbit finger puppet is so much fun and looks more complicated than it is!

Photo Credit: IHeartCraftyThings
Pet Crafts for Kids
These pet-themed crafts are perfect to commemorate your favorite household animals!
Toilet Paper Roll Dog
Everyone’s favorite animal made from a toilet paper roll!

Photo Credit: FrugalFunforBoys
Paper Bag Puppy Puppet
Paper bags are a great supply if you are looking to make puppets for a show or play!

Photo Credit: WooJr
Balloon Puppies
Everyone will have fun taking these balloon puppies for an afternoon walk.

Photo Credit: TheCraftTrain
Chalk Art Cat
Chalk may be a little messy, but kids of all ages will love this fun activity.

Photo Credit: GluedtomyCrafts
Easy Cat Paper Plate Craft
This craft uses two different sized paper plates for a full-bodied cat!

Photo Credit: FabWorkingMomLife
I hope you found lots of fun animal crafts for kids in this collection of ideas.
Before you go, here are a couple posts you’ll enjoy:
30 Short Animal Poems for Kids
50 Best Nursery Rhymes Books for Kids