Construction Paper Crafts

Simple Construction Paper Crafts

Construction paper crafts are some of the easiest crafts you can do. In many cases, all you need is some construction paper, scissors, and glue. It's always a good idea to create a craft box with all the necessary supplies, but don't forget to add a few other items, such as ribbon, buttons, sequins, glitter, paint, markers, etc. You never know what direction your crafts might go! Many of the following construction paper crafts are easy enough for small children to do, although you may have to help them with any cutting or gluing that is needed.

Paper Turkeys

If Thanksgiving is around the corner, help kids celebrate by creating a paper turkey.

1. Pass out construction paper in fall colors.
2. Have kids trace their hands on one sheet of paper.
3. Help them draw faces on their turkeys. (The face will be on the thumb.)
4. Ask them to add some legs and some feet.
5. Instruct them to color each of the feathers (finger shapes) a different fall color.
6. They can draw additional feathers on the side of the turkey, or they can glue feathers if you like.

Paper Placemats

Create themed placemats using construction paper. Kids can draw their own pictures, copy pictures that you have given them, or create a placemat focused around a particular season, such as a Christmas tree, Pilgrim's hat, Valentine's heart, Easter egg, etc. Once they've decorated their construction paper with their design, use a laminating machine to cover the paper, creating a placemat.

Paper Family Tree

Depending upon the age of the children who are making this craft, you may need to do some preliminary work for them. To create a construction paper family tree, do the following:

1. Pass out three pieces of construction paper to each child. One piece should be green; the other should be brown. The last piece will form the background, so almost any contrasting color will work.
2. Have children draw the tree trunk and limbs on the brown piece of paper. They should then cut this out. (For very young children, you might have to draw and cut out the trees.)
3. Now, have children cut out leaves from the green construction paper. The leaves should be large enough for names to be drawn inside of each of them.
4. Next, children should glue the tree and the leaves onto the remaining piece of paper, and then add the names of their family to the tree. To show a pattern of genealogy, children can put the oldest member of the family on the trunk of the tree and work their way up with the other names on the leaves of the tree.

Alligator Book

For this craft, you'll need to cut out alligators from green construction paper. To add the pages of the book, use white construction paper or printer paper also cut into the shape of an alligator. Read children an alligator themed story, such as Alligator Boy or I'd Really Like to Eat. Then ask children to illustrate their alligator book with images from the story you just read to them.

Enjoy Being Creative!

Just about any of these crafts can be modified to work in your classroom or with your children at home. While you may need to help smaller children with cutting or pasting, allow them to color and decorate each project on their own. Older children might enjoy adding other decorations, such as feathers, eyes, buttons, glitter, and any extra embellishments that you have available.