Easy Elephant Craft for Kids (Fine Motor Activity)

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This completely adorable easy elephant craft can be enjoyed by kids of any age. Not only is it fun to make, but it’s also the perfect way to practice fine motor skills in a creative way. You’re going to love using washi tape for this one!

Making this sweet elephant craft is so much fun that you’re going to want to make even more zoo animals to be his friend. Try this paper giraffe craft, this zebra craft or another zoo craft from this collection.

Paper Plate Animal Crafts Collection for Kids

Fun Facts About Elephants

Elephants are the world’s largest land animal.
You can tell the various species apart by the shape of their ears.
Their trunks are multi-functional and can do things like act as a snorkel when swimming, hold (and spray) liters of water, and even pick up a peanut and shell it.
There are lots of species of elephants, including African elephants and Asian elephants.
Elephants spend most of their day eating.
It’s true that an elephant never forgets.

For more interesting facts about elephants, check out this article by National Georgraphic Kids.

Save this adorable elephant craft for later. Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board…

An image showing an easy elephant craft for kids, perfect as an animal craft and fine motor activity.

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How to make a Easy Elephant Craft

Making this elephant craft takes just a few steps. We stuck to traditional elephant colors (grays), but you can feel free to use whatever colors are your favorites. This tutorial is just a starting point. Add your imagination and really make it your own.

SUPPLIES FROM THE BAG

Construction paper
Washi tapes in gray tones
Googly eyes
Scissors
Glue stick
Pencil
Markers or crayons
Elephant craft template

Kids craft ideas are no good if they only sit exist on the internet but are never actually made by kids. We want to make crafting with your kids something that you do regularly and enjoy together. So, we’re removing some of the roadblocks, like too much prep time, lots of mess and hefty pricetags.

Fill your bag using our master list of craft supplies, and you’ll be ready to make any of the fun and simple crafts you see here. We stick to this list so that you can get right to the good stuff. Grab these items and fill your bag so that you’re ready to craft some memories at a moment’s notice whenever the opportunity strikes.

Step-by-Step Craft Instructions:

Step 1: Use the Elephant Craft Template

Download the elephant craft template.
You can print it directly onto gray construction paper or onto regular printer paper and use it as a template.
Cut out all of the parts for your cute elephant craft.

An image showing an easy elephant craft for kids, perfect as an animal craft and fine motor activity. Step 1

Step 2: Prep Your Craft

Choose a color of construction paper for the background of your artwork.
Draw a circle, approximatley 5″ across, in the center of your page using your pencil. Don’t press to hard so that the circle isn’t really seen later. *We use our cut out elephant ears as a guide.

Step 3: Create the Elephant Face

Use your washi tape to create strips criss crossing to cover the circle.
Keep applying washi tape until the circle is covered. *We used several patterns of gray washi tape.
If you’re crafting with young kids who have difficulty tearing the tape in equal pieces, just tear pieces randomly and keep placing them inside the circle until it’s mostly covered.

Step 4: Add the Ears and Trunk

Now that the face of your elephant is formed with the washi tape, add the ears using your washi tape. Don’t glue down the entire ear so that you can give it some movement later.
Fold down about 1/2 inch at the top of the trunk.
Place glue on the tab and then put it in place in the center of the elephant’s head. Press firmly so that the glue takes hold.

An image showing an easy elephant craft for kids, perfect as an animal craft and fine motor activity. step 4

Step 5: Finish Off the Face

Add some googly eyes to your elephant’s face. *If you don’t want to use googly eyes, use these printable paper eyes instead.
Optional: You can also choose to cut small pink circles and glue them in place for the elephant’s cheeks.

An image showing an easy elephant craft for kids, perfect as an animal craft and fine motor activity. step 5

Step 6: Draw on Some Details

Use your markers or crayons to draw some details onto your cute elephant craft.
Then use your marker or pencil to curl the elephant’s ears and the elephant’s trunk.

An image showing an easy elephant craft for kids, perfect as an animal craft and fine motor activity. step 6

What if I Don’t Have Washi Tape?

If you’re short on washi tape, you can still make this craft. Instead of the washi tape, tear pieces of paper or use tissue paper squares to fill the circle for the elephant’s head instead. Then continue on with 4 through 6 as written.