Polar Bear Craft
One of my favorite memories from when my children were little is a special visit to the zoo in Providence, RI. At the time, they had a polar bear enclosure with a brand new baby polar bear. It was so sweet to see him interacting with his mama. And then we went below so that we could see the bears swimming in the water. My then toddler son was standing right against the glass watching it swim around when the baby polar bear came right up to the glass. I think that he thought my little boy looked like a yummy snack. And, of course, this camera obsessed mom caught it on film. And just like we enjoyed our polar bear interactions on that lovely summer day, I know that you will enjoy this polar bear craft in all of its cuteness. Enjoy!
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SUPPLIES FROM THE BAG
- 4 Large popsicle sticks
- Elmer’s glue
- Paper plate
- White paint
- White yarn
- Clothespin
- Medium pompom
- Scraps of white construction paper
- Black Sharpie marker
- Scissors
- 2 medium googly eyes
Let me fill you in on a little secret…crafting with your kids DOES NOT need to be just another chore in your day. It CAN actually be enjoyable! And I have some ideas for that. So, let me help. Enter your email, and I will send you the goods!
Step 1: Glue
- Place 3 popsicle sticks side by side
- Put glue on the fourth popsicle stick and lay it diagonally across the other three sticks
- Allow the glue to dry. *You may want to do this step the day before and let it dry overnight.
Step 2: Paint
- Once the glue has dried, place the popsicle stick form on the paper plate
- Pinch the pompom with the clothespin to form a “paint brush”
- Squirt little paint on the plate
- Then paint the front of the popsicle sticks and allow the paint to dry
Step 3: Wrap the Yarn
- Tie the end of the white yarn around the middle of the popsicle sticks and trim the end
- Wrap the yarn around the belly of your polar bear to make him “fluffy”
- When your polar bear is as fat as you want him/her, tie off the end in the back and trim away the excess
Wrapping yarn around something is a great way for kids to learn to coordinate their hands together (bilateral coordination) more efficiently. It doesn’t require precision, like using scissors does. So, it is a way to practice bilateral coordination in a funner way without the frustration. For more ways to practice this foundational skill, check out THIS POST or THIS POST.
Step 4: Add the details
- Cut 4 small circles for the paws. You can use a nickle to trace for the correct size.
- Draw the pads onto the bottom of the paws with the Sharpie marker.
- Cut two ears and draw in the middle of the ear with the black Sharpie
- Glue these pieces in place, as well as the googly eyes
- Use the Sharpie again to draw the nose and mouth onto your polar bear
- Allow the glue to dry
Step 5: Optional
- Give your polar bear some personality by adding other details
One you have made this polar bear craft, the polar bear activities do not need to end there. Use the characters that you have created to tell a story or make up a game. Pair them with the paper bag village and have them engage in imaginative open ended play. The crafting is just the beginning of hours of fun that these winter crafts have to give.
Save this craft for later! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board…
