If your classroom is in need of supplies, don’t worry. This list of simple paper roll crafts only requires a few basic materials.

Plus, you can get parents to donate the toilet paper rolls. Win!

10 Fun and Easy Valentine’s Day Toilet Paper Roll Crafts for Kids

Toilet paper rolls aren’t just for the trash. They can be transformed into fun and creative Valentine’s Day crafts!

With some imagination, these everyday items can become adorable craft projects that add a personal touch to your Valentine’s Day lesson plans.

10 Valentine's Day Toilet Paper Roll Crafts for Kids

Take a few supplies and make these adorable Valentine's Day toilet paper roll crafts with your students!

Photo Credit: www.easypeasyandfun.com

Valentines Day Windsock Toilet Paper Roll Craft by Easy Peasy and Fun

This is the perfect craft since February is often known as a pretty blustery month. This cute little toilet paper roll windsock is just the thing for a windy day.

Make It

Photo Credit: www.redtedart.com

Toilet Roll Love Bugs by Red Ted Art

Love bugs are such a fun craft because they can look like just about anything. All of these cute little bugs are made from toilet paper rolls!

Make It

Photo Credit: www.mommymadethat.com

Toilet Paper Roll Heart Butterfly by Mommy Made That

The pretty heart on this butterfly craft makes it perfect for Valentine’s Day. The printable template makes creating a lovely butterfly so easy!

Make It

Photo Credit: www.ourkidthings.com

Cardboard Roll Love Monster Craft by Our Kid Things

These love monsters are so cute that it’s monstrous. This is another fun craft that lets creativity run wild!

Make It

Photo Credit: kidscraftroom.com

3D Cardboard Tube Heart Art by Kids Craft Room

Here is a fun project that is perfect for classrooms. Kids can make a lot of cardboard hearts from toilet paper tubes and then glue those to a piece of paper to create 3D artwork.

Make It

Photo Credit: mommyevolution.com

Toilet Paper Roll Heart Painting by Mommy Evolution

Another excellent use for toilet paper roll hearts is as stamps. Kids can make a beautiful Valentine's Day card by stamping hearts with their toilet paper rolls.

Make It

Photo Credit: uniquegifter.com

Easy DIY Valentine Advent Calendar by Unique Gifter

Save up those toilet paper rolls for this craft. Making a countdown calendar for Valentine’s Day with little gifts for each day is such a fun way to get kids excited for February!

Make It

Photo Credit: momwifebusylife.com

Love Bug Toilet Paper Roll Craft by Mom Wife Busy Life

Here’s another cute little love bug made from a toilet paper roll. This one is perfect for small hands, since you can wrap the entire roll to make the love bug.

Make It

Photo Credit: www.thebestideasforkids.com

Toilet Paper Roll Bracelets by The Best Ideas for Kids

If you prefer a friendly take on Valentine's Day, this is a great friendship craft. Your students can whip these up in no time and exchange them with friends!

Make It

Photo Credit: www.messylittlemonster.com

Easy Penguin Craft for Preschoolers by Messy Little Monster

This sweet little Valentine’s penguin just wants to spread a little love. Print the template, grab a toilet paper roll, and get crafting with your class!

Make It

If you decide to make any of these toilet paper roll crafts for Valentine’s Day, I’d love to know which ones your students liked the best!

Take a look at these other kids’ crafts you can make with toilet paper rolls!

The post 10 Cute Valentine’s Day Toilet Paper Roll Crafts for Kids appeared first on Look! We're Learning!.

Preschoolers get so excited whenever it’s time to talk about something that moves. (Maybe because they move so much themselves?)

When I was young, I grew up in a very small town with a train track. Hearing the sound of the train was a pretty common occurrence.

When I was a teenager, my father even turned our entire backyard into a model railroad layout. Honestly, that was a bit too far, but I digress.

I still love trains. And I thought this fun toy train paper roll craft would make a simple and fun transportation activity to share with all of you!

Keep reading to see how to make one with your students.

And for more fun with transportation, take a look at our Revving Racecar Scissor Skills Printables!

What You’ll Need to Make the Easy Paper Roll Train Craft

To make this toilet paper roll train craft, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are used below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

• Colored craft paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Craft glue
• Toothpicks
• Toilet paper roll
• Printer (with ink)
• Printer paper
• A copy of the Toy Train Paper Roll Craft Printable Template

Once you’ve printed the paper template, use a pencil to trace the individual pieces onto colored craft paper. Then cut each piece out.

If you’re working with very young children, you may want to do this step yourself before you begin the activity.

After you’ve cut out all the pieces, you’re ready to go!

How to Make a Train Paper Roll Craft for Kids

Glue the body of the train around the empty paper roll to form the train chassis.

Use the end of the scissors to poke holes through the paper roll.

You’ll need a total of four holes – one for each train wheel. (This step should be done by an adult.)

Now it’s time to make the train “wheels”.

Glue the small circles onto the larger circles to form the wheels.

Attach a toothpick to the end of one wheel using craft glue.

Insert a toothpick through the hole on one end of the paper roll and push it through to the hole on the other side.

Attach the second wheel to the open end of the toothpick.

Do the same on the other side to form the second set of wheels.

Now, make two fold lines in the train “top” piece.

Glue the four smaller rectangles on each end – two on each side. These are the train “windows”.

Finally, you’ll make the funnel.

Fold the smaller cylindrical piece into a tube and secure the end with craft glue. Fold the top funnel piece into a circle and glue the ends together.

Glue the two pieces together to form the funnel.

All that’s left now is to glue the cabin and the funnel onto the train!

Such a cute train craft to make with little ones!

Looking for more activities about things that go? Try these transportation theme activities for early learners!

The post Easy Paper Roll Train Craft for Kids appeared first on Look! We're Learning!.

As fall settles in and the days get shorter, we start to hear a hoot every so often.

Of course, we never see exactly where the owls are living, but they definitely make their presence heard.

If you’re doing a fall or nocturnal animal theme with your students this time of year, this easy paper bag owl craft is a must-try!

This is an easy (and fun!) project that even little ones can make.

And you can save a lot of craft time by prepping the project in advance.

Read on to get the printable template and the full instructions.

Be sure to check out our list of beautiful children’s books about owls too!

Easy Paper Bag Owl Craft for Kids

What I love about this fall craft is that you can make a LOT of them at once. So if you’re working with a class, this is a perfect craft to try.

To make this simple paper bag owl craft, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are listed below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

• Printer (with ink)
• Printer paper
• Scissors (Note: If you are allowing students to cut out the template pieces themselves, use child-safe scissors)
• Paper bag
• Construction paper
• Craft glue
• Pencils
• Washable markers
• Printable Owl Craft Template

You can really use any combination of construction paper colors. Browns, reds, and oranges are good for a fall theme, but real owls also come in black and white!

Choose a piece of construction paper for the owl’s body. Trim it to fit the paper bag.

After you’ve printed the craft template, use a pencil to trace the pieces onto colored paper.

Cut out the template pieces and you’re ready to get started!

If you’re making with craft with little ones, you can cut out the pieces in advance and make the project faster for them to finish.

How to Make a Paper Bag Owl

Begin by gluing the face onto the owl’s head.

Then add the eyes on each side and the beak in the center.

Glue the trimmed piece of construction paper onto the long part of the paper bag (under the flap). This will be the owl’s body.

Glue the owl’s head onto the paper bag flap.

Finally, add the wings and feet by gluing the wings onto each side of the paper bag and the feet onto the bottom edge.

Your paper bag owl is all done!

You can make an entire owl family by using different colors or by changing the faces a bit.

Try some of these other owl-themed activities with early learners!

The post Easy Paper Bag Owl Craft for Kids appeared first on Look! We're Learning!.

This easy toilet paper racecar craft is perfect!

It’s simple, only requires a few supplies, and just plain cute too.

One of the books I grew up with was Richard Scarry’s What Do People Do All Day?. I’m sure many of you remember that one too.

What always caught my eye was all the cars and trucks that moved through the town every day. (I think Sergeant Murphy was directing traffic in one of the scenes.)

Transportation is still a great theme for early learners, which makes this racecar craft a perfect project to make with preschoolers and kindergartners!

Read on to get the full instructions and printable template to make it with your students.

And, for more about transportation, check out our printable Racecar Scissor Skills Printables too!

Easy Toilet Paper Roll Racecar Craft

When you’re ready to make this craft, let your students choose what color they’d like. Any craft or construction paper works for this project.

To make this easy paper roll racecar, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are listed below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

• Colored craft paper
• Cardstock
• Empty toilet paper roll
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Craft glue
• Washable markers
• Printer (with ink)
• A copy of the Toilet Paper Roll Racecar Craft Template

After you’ve downloaded the Toilet Paper Roll Racecar Craft Template, print it out on cardstock paper. Use scissors to cut out the template pieces. (You may need to print two to have enough stripes to decorate your car.)

Trace each of the template pieces onto the colored paper. Cut them out and you’re ready to get started.

If you’re working with multiple students, you may want to do this step in advance. Then the kids can get started right away.

How to Make a Toilet Paper Roll Race Car

First, wrap the colored craft paper around the empty toilet paper roll. Use scissors to cut off the excess paper.

Secure the ends with glue.

Trace the rectangle from the template onto the toilet paper roll.

Cut the rectangle shape out on three sides, leaving the edge closest to the front in place. (This step is best done by an adult.)

Reach into the toilet paper to push the cut sides up. This forms the “windshield” of the car.

Cover the windshield with a piece of light blue craft paper. Glue it in place.

Trace the stripes onto craft paper and glue them onto the sides of the car.

Make the rear wing by tracing the wing template and shorter stripes onto craft paper. Glue the stripes onto the wing and attach to the back of the car.

Trace (or draw) the number template and glue it to the side.

Glue the wheels on and you’re done!

You might choose to have your class make an entire fleet of cars!

See how many different colors your students can use!

Try some of these other simple transportation crafts for kids to make!

The post Easy Toilet Paper Racecar Craft for Kids appeared first on Look! We're Learning!.

I always love this topic, because it’s so cool for kids to see how animals grow to become adults – just like they’re doing.

If you’re looking for a hands-on way to reinforce this concept, this paper plate butterfly life cycle craft is perfect!

With this easy science craft for kids, you can practice fine motor skills, get some artistic practice, and learn a science lesson. Win!

Read on to get the full project instructions and to pick up the printable template you’ll need to make this craft.

Need more ways to teach this to your class? Don’t miss our printable Butterfly Life Cycle Sequencing Activity!

Easy Paper Plate Butterfly Life Cycle Craft

To make this easy butterfly life cycle craft, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are used below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

• Printer (with ink)
• Printer paper
• Child-safe scissors
• Construction paper
• Washable markers
• Pencil
• Craft glue
• Paper plate
• Printable Butterfly Life Cycle Craft Template

To get started, print out the Butterfly Craft Template, which includes the pieces you’ll need to make this project.

Use scissors to cut out the pieces. Then lay them on construction paper and use a pencil to trace each outline.

Cut out those pieces and you’re ready to get to work!

If you’re doing this with several children, you can prepare the body pieces beforehand. Then students can simply assemble the craft on their own.

How to Make the Paper Plate Life Cycle Craft

This butterfly life cycle craft project features four stages: egg, chrysalis, caterpillar, butterfly.

Start by assembling the egg stage.

Glue the leaves onto the branch piece. Then glue the three “eggs” on top.

Now, move on to the chrysalis. Glue the chrysalis pod onto the lower branch, then attach the rounded corner on the left side.

If you like, you can use a marker to add ribbed lines along the right side.

Now it’s time to assemble the caterpillar!

Start by gluing the antennae and legs onto the body pieces.

Then use glue to attach the body pieces together and form the caterpillar.

Add a happy face with a marker.

We can finally make the butterfly!

Glue the wing sections onto the wing template. Then glue the body section in the center of the wing template.

Add a happy face to the butterfly.

Once you’ve assembled all four life cycle stages, it’s time to place them in the right order.

Start by cutting out a piece of construction paper to fit inside the paper plate.

This is a good point to talk with students and ask:

• Which stage is the first in the butterfly life cycle?
• After that, which stage comes next?

Proceed through the entire cycle and, once students have identified the correct order, have them glue the stages onto the plate.

And we’re done!

It’s a craft, a science project, and a fine motor skill strengthener – all in one!

Get the printable project instructions below.

Paper Plate Butterfly Life Cycle Craft for Kids

Print

Learn about how butterflies grow from egg to adult with this fun paper plate butterfly life cycle craft!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Active Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

• Printer paper
• Construction paper
• Washable markers
• Pencil
• Craft glue
• Paper plate

Tools

• Printer (with ink)
• Child-safe scissors

Instructions

1. Start by printing out the Printable Butterfly Life Cycle Craft Template.
2. Cut out the template pieces.
3. Trace the pieces onto construction paper.
4. Cut out the construction paper pieces.
5. Assemble the egg stage: Glue the leaves onto the first branch piece. Add the eggs on the leaf.
6. Assemble the chrysalis stage: Glue the chrysalis pod onto the second branch piece. Add the rounded section to the left side.
7. Assemble the caterpillar stage: Glue the antennae and legs onto the body circles. Glue the body circles together to form the caterpillar. Use a marker to draw a happy face.
8. Assemble the butterfly stage: Glue the wing sections onto the wing template. Glue the body section in the center of the wing template. Use a marker to draw a happy face.
9. Cut out a piece of construction paper to fit the center of the paper plate. Glue it down.
10. Add the life cycle stages to the paper plate in the following order: butterfly at the top, then egg stage on the right side, caterpillar on the bottom, and chrysalis on the left side.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Epson EcoTank ET-3760 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer
• 
  SunWorks Construction Paper, 100 Sheets
• 
  Fiskars Kids Scissors Softgrip Blunt-tip

Try some of these other spring craft projects for kids!

The post Paper Plate Butterfly Life Cycle Craft for Kids appeared first on Look! We're Learning!.

Frogs are a fun early learning theme for preschool and kindergarten. So if you’re looking for a simple frog art project, this coffee filter frog craft is a perfect fit!

You’ll only need a few crafting supplies to make this.

And there’s a free printable template you can grab too!

Read on to get the full project details.

Want to learn more about frogs? Take a look at our simple frog unit for more ways to teach early learners about these amphibians!

Easy Coffee Filter Frog Craft for Kids

To make this easy frog craft, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are listed below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

• Printer (with ink)
• Printer paper
• Child-safe scissors
• Crayons or colored pencils
• White basket coffee filter
• Construction paper
• Glue stick
• Washable markers
• Printable Coffee Filter Frog Craft Template (available in blackline and color)

After you print the craft template, choose either the blackline or color version to use.

If you want your students to color the frog pieces for themselves, use the blackline version and hand out crayons or colored pencils.

If you’re short on time or working with very young children, the color version saves you a step.

How to Make a Simple Frog Craft for Kids

Once you’ve cut out your template pieces, it’s time to get started!

Color the white basket coffee filter green.

Lay the filter in the center of the piece of construction paper, but don’t glue it down yet.

Place the frog feet on either side underneath the bottom edge of the coffee filter. Glue them down.

Then place the frog legs on either side underneath the side of the coffee filter. Glue them down.

You want them to appear behind the frog’s body (the coffee filter).

Once you have the feet and legs glued in place, lay the coffee filter on top of both and glue it down.

Glue the eyes onto the top edge of the filter.

Now – just use a marker to add a big smile and you’re done!

You can also add a few cattails or lily pads, if you like.

Watch me make this coffee filter frog craft in the video below!

Get a printable copy of the coffee filter frog craft instructions below!

Easy Coffee Filter Frog Craft for Kids

Print

Make this easy coffee filter frog craft with early learners as part of a spring or pond unit!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Active Time 15 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

• Printer paper
• Crayons or colored pencils
• White basket coffee filter
• Construction paper
• Glue stick
• Washable markers
• Printable Coffee Filter Frog Craft Template (available in blackline and color)

Tools

• Printer (with ink)
• Child-safe scissors

Instructions

1. Begin by printing the Coffee Filter Frog Craft Template (available in blackline or color).
2. If using the blackline version, have students color in the pieces with crayons or colored pencils.
3. Use child-safe scissors to cut out the template pieces.
4. Color the coffee filter green and lay it onto the center of a piece of construction paper. (Do not glue it down yet.)
5. Place the frog feet pieces underneath the bottom edge of the coffee filter. Glue them in place.
6. Place the frog legs on either side underneath the side edges of the coffee filter. Glue them in place.
7. Lay the coffee filter on top of the feet and legs and glue it down to form the frog's body.
8. Place the frog's eyes on the top edge of the coffee filter. Glue them in place.
9. Use a marker to draw a big smile on the frog's face.
10. Add any other decorations to the background with markers or crayons.

Notes

• Let students add their own ideas to this craft by using different colors or adding unique facial expressions.

• If you're making this craft as a class project for parent night, add a speech bubble for kids to fill in with their own lines they might have the frog say.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Epson EcoTank ET-3760 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer
• 
  Fiskars Kids Scissors Softgrip Blunt-tip
• 
  Melitta 600 Coffee Filters, Basket, Pack of 600, White

Try some of these other spring animal crafts!

The post Easy Coffee Filter Frog Craft for Kids appeared first on Look! We're Learning!.

Before we know it, we’ll be seeing birds migrate back. And it won’t be long after that before we hear the chirps of baby birds.

Which is why I wanted to share this simple spring animal craft – a toilet paper roll chick craft for kids to make!

This is a super easy spring kids’ craft that only takes a few supplies you already have.

Always a plus in my book.

It would make an excellent addition to a spring unit or a farm unit (in either spring or fall) as well!

Read on to get the instructions and the free printable craft template.

Need more fun early learning ideas for spring? Take a look at our printable Farm Dot Shape Mats too!

Easy Toilet Paper Roll Chick Craft for Kids

To make this toilet paper roll chick craft, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are listed below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

• Empty toilet paper roll
• Colored craft paper
• Craft glue
• Child-safe scissors
• Washable markers (optional)
• Wiggly eyes (optional)
• Printable Toilet Paper Roll Chick Template (color)
• Printable Toilet Paper Roll Chick Template (black/white)
• Printer (with ink)
• Printer paper

Once you’ve printed out the color or the black/white chick craft template, use scissors to cut out each piece.

You’ll notice that there are eyes included on the template. So you can cut those out and simply glue them on the finished chick.

Or you can use wiggly eyes instead.

How to Make a Toilet Paper Roll Chick Craft

Now that you have all of the craft template pieces cut out, you can trace them onto craft paper. Then cut them out and you’re ready to get started!

Begin by gluing the beak and chest pieces onto the center of the body piece.

You’ll want to glue the chest on first, then add the beak so that it overlaps.

Fold each of the wing’s flat edges up. They’ll be used to attach the wings onto each side of the chick’s body.

Wrap the body piece around the empty toilet paper roll and secure it with glue in the back.

Then glue the flat wing edges against each side of the body so that one wing is on the left and the other on the right.

We’re almost done!

Attach the “comb” (the crest at the top) by gluing it inside the top of the toilet paper roll.

Then add the wiggly eyes! Or you can add the eye template pieces if you cut those out instead.

Ta-da! We’re finished!

If you decide to use the black and white version of the template, kids can color each piece before they put the chick together.

This is a perfect spring craft for parents’ night! Your class can make an entire brood of chicks!

See the printable instructions for this toilet paper roll chick craft below.

Easy Toilet Paper Roll Chick Craft for Kids

Print

Make up this simple toilet paper roll chick craft for a spring or farm animal craft with young learners!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Active Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

• Toilet paper roll
• Empty toilet paper roll
• Colored craft paper
• Craft glue
• Washable markers (optional)
• Wiggly eyes (optional)
• Printable Toilet Paper Roll Chick Template (color)
• Printable Toilet Paper Roll Chick Template (black/white)
• Printer paper

Tools

• Child-safe scissors
• Printer (with ink)

Instructions

1. Print out each the color chick craft template or the black and white chick craft template.
2. Cut out each template piece using scissors. (If you are using the black and white template, you may want to color the pieces before cutting them out.)
3. Trace each template piece onto colored craft paper and cut them out.
4. Glue the chest onto the center of the body piece.
5. Glue the beak so that it directly overlaps the chest.
6. Wrap the body piece around the empty toilet paper roll and glue the edges down in the back.
7. Fold the flat edge of each wing piece at a right angle.
8. Attach each wing to the left and right side of the body by gluing the folded edges to the body.
9. Glue the crest inside the top of the paper roll.
10. Add wiggly eyes or glue the eye templates onto the face.

Try some of these other spring craft projects for kids!

The post Easy Toilet Paper Roll Chick Craft for Kids appeared first on Look! We're Learning!.

I’m not the biggest fan of insects.

And I live in the South, where every spring and summer is basically an insect family reunion, so those months are a little bit of a struggle for me.

But I do like ladybugs. They’re so adorable that I’ll even pick them up to show the kids.

So I wanted to share a super cute (and easy!) toilet paper roll ladybug craft that will be perfect for a spring or insect unit with early learners!

This project only requires a few crafting supplies that you likely already have.

And it’s so cute too!

Keep reading to get the full instructions and the printable template.

And, for more spring learning ideas in early grades, take a look at our All About Flowers Early Elementary Unit!

Easy Toilet Paper Roll Ladybug Craft for Kids

This simple ladybug is a great spring craft for kids to make.

You can walk students through each step and let them add their own ideas as they go along.

They’d be perfect for a spring class display or for parent night!

To make this spring craft, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are used below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

• Empty toilet paper roll
• Printer (with ink)
• Printer paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Construction paper
• Plastic wire – or – brass paper fastener
• Wiggly eyes
• Glue stick
• Printable ladybug template (Blackline or color)

Once you’ve printed the template, you can get started by tracing the pieces onto construction paper.

If you plan to cut the pieces out yourself, regular scissors will do. But if you want your students to complete that step, be sure to use child-safe scissors.

A note: If you use the blackline template, you can have your students color the pieces in too!

How to Make a Paper Roll Ladybug

Now we’re ready to get started.

Begin by wrapping the black body piece around the empty toilet roll.

Use glue to secure the ends.

Take a sharpened pencil or the point of a pair of scissors and make a small hole about 1/3 of the way from the top of the toilet roll.

This step should only be completed by an adult.

You may want to prepare the rolls to this step in advance before you have the kids get involved.

Cut a piece of plastic wire and bend it into a narrow semi-circle. You’ll use this to attach the bug’s “wings”.

Lay the two wing pieces on top of each other so that the points of the wings overlap.

Press the open ends of the wire together to close the loop.

Then poke both ends through the overlapping wings.

Use glue to attach the ladybug’s spots to both of the wings.

Now it’s time to attach the wings!

Press the closed wire loop through the hole in the toilet roll. The wings should appear on top.

Use glue to attach the antenna inside the front edge of the toilet roll.

You’ll want them to appear towards the front.

All that’s left to do now is to add the face!

The templates include paper eyes, so you can have students use those. Or you can stick a pair of wiggly eyes on instead.

Then cut out a small smile.

Glue it on and we’re all done!

Ta-da! Let students make their bugs fly by moving the wings out and in.

See the printable toilet paper roll ladybug craft project instructions below!

Easy Toilet Paper Roll Ladybug Craft for Kids

Print

Make up a quick spring animal craft with this fun toilet paper roll ladybug craft! The wings actually move!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Active Time 15 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

• Empty toilet paper roll
• Construction paper
• Printer paper
• Wiggly eyes
• Plastic wire

Tools

• Printer
• Scissors
• Glue stick

Instructions

1. Start by printing the Blackline Ladybug Craft Template or the Color Ladybug Craft Template. (If you use the blackline version, have students color the pieces before proceeding.)
2. Trace the template pieces onto construction paper and cut them out.
3. Wrap the body piece around the empty toilet paper roll. Use glue to secure the ends.
4. Use a sharp point to poke a hole in the top 1/3 of the toilet paper roll. (Only adults should complete this step.)
5. Cut a piece of plastic wire and bend it into a narrow semicircle.
6. Overlap the ladybug's wings and poke a small hole through both of them.
7. Press the open ends of the wire together and push the closed ends through the hole in both wings.
8. Glue the ladybug's spots onto each of the wings.
9. Press the closed end of the wire (with the wings) through the hole in the paper roll. The wings should appear on the front.
10. Glue the antenna onto the inside front edge of the paper roll.
11. Add wiggly eyes.
12. Cut out a small smile and glue it under the eyes.

Notes

Make an entire family of ladybugs! Try letting students choose different colors or make different facial expressions.

Try some of these other spring animal crafts for kids too!

The post Easy Toilet Paper Roll Ladybug Craft for Kids appeared first on Look! We're Learning!.

And one of the easiest things we can do now is to recycle materials we no longer need. Every time we reuse something, we save it from the landfill for a bit longer.

And that’s always a good thing.

Today I’m sharing over 25 easy recycled craft ideas for kids to make!

These are fantastic for in-class projects or parents who want to make crafts with their kids at home!

And they all make use of materials that can be reused, so they’re a wonderful introduction to the idea of recycling and repurposing too.

Read on to see the full list.

And be sure to take a look at our Coffee Filter Earth Craft if you’re looking for more Earth Day ideas!

What You Need to Try These Easy Recycled Craft Ideas for Kids

Most of these crafts use materials you likely already have, such as paper towel and tissue paper rolls.

Here are some other recycled materials that are good for making recycled crafts:

• Empty plastic bottles
• Cardboard (whole or scrap)
• Compact discs
• Shoeboxes

In most cases, as long as the recycled material is clean, you can use it as a base for a craft project.

How to Use Recycled Craft Ideas with Students

Many of these recycled crafts feature animals, so they’d make a great project for a science unit such as zoo animals, the forest, or winter.

You can also use any of these as a craft project for an Earth Day or a recycling unit. Invite your students to save recyclables from home and bring them in to participate!

Recycled Crafts Books for Kids

Would you like even more ways to make use of recycled materials with young learners?

Here are a few books with plenty of kids’ crafts that use recyclables too! (Affiliate links are listed below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

• Cardboard Creations: Open-Ended Exploration with Recycled Materials
• Fun and Easy Crafting with Recycled Materials: 60 Cool Projects that Reimagine Paper Rolls, Egg Cartons, Jars and More
• Low-Mess Crafts for Kids: 72 Projects to Create Your Own Magical Worlds
• Cardboard Creations for Kids: 50 Fun and Inventive Crafts Using Recycled Materials

Get a look at the full list of easy recycled crafts below!

Over 25 Easy Recycled Craft Ideas for Kids to Make

Try some of these easy recycled craft ideas for kids to make! There are crafts here that work for all seasons and for kids of all ages!

1

Easy Toilet Paper Roll Ladybug Craft for Kids

Make up a quick spring animal craft with this fun toilet paper roll ladybug craft! The wings actually move!

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2

Watercolor & Recycled Newspaper Flower Craft

Photo Credit: whereimaginationgrows.com

Gather up pieces of newspaper and watercolor paints to create these paper flowers!

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3

DIY Recycled Plastic Bottle Poppy Craft

Photo Credit: www.muminthemadhouse.com

Turn bottles into flowers with this plastic bottle poppy craft!

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4

Earth Day Recyclable Necklace Craft

Photo Credit: littlebinsforlittlehands.com

This earth-themed necklace craft is perfect for Earth Day!

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5

Kids Craft: Recycled Tin Can Windsocks

Photo Credit: www.happinessishomemade.net

Hang these recycled tin can windsocks on the front porch!

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6

Recycled Bubble Wrap Tree Craft

Photo Credit: raisinglittlesuperheroes.com

Use the bubble wrap from your packages to make this tree craft!

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7

Easy Fall Snow Globe Craft for Kids

Have an old baby food jar lying around? Turn it into a fall snow globe!

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8

Moving Windmill Recycled Craft

Photo Credit: emmaowl.com

Use plastic cups to make these windmills that actually turn!

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9

Easy Paper Bag Fox Craft for Kids

Make a paper bag fox (and forest friends)!

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10

Recycled Cardboard Rainbow Craft

Photo Credit: www.stillplayingschool.com

Use old cardboard to make a recycled rainbow!

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11

Easy Paper Roll Rocket Craft for Kids

Make a set of rockets out of paper towel rolls!

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12

Recycled CD Flamingo Kids Craft

Photo Credit: www.iheartartsncrafts.com

Use an old CD to create a flamingo with kids!

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13

Easy Toilet Paper Roll Snowman Craft for Kids

Empty paper rolls make perfect winter snowmen (and snowwomen)!

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14

Recycled Apple Craft

Photo Credit: www.notimeforflashcards.com

Make a simple apple craft with cardboard and paint!

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15

Easy Toilet Paper Roll Fox Craft for Kids

Make an adorable fox out of an empty toilet paper roll!

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16

Weaving for Kids- a Recycled Plastic Bottle Craft

Photo Credit: www.kitchentableclassroom.com

Ever heard of t-shirt yarn? Cut up a few old shirts to make this yarn-woven craft!

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17

Easy Toilet Paper Roll Owl Craft for Kids

Use old toilet paper rolls to make a family of cute owls!

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18

Colorful Butterfly Craft

Photo Credit: theresjustonemommy.com

Magazine pages make perfect butterfly wings in this recycled craft!

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19

Easy Lion Toilet Paper Roll Craft for Kids

This toilet paper roll lion craft is so cute for a zoo unit!

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20

Farm Shoebox Diorama Craft

Head down to the farm with this easy shoebox farm diorama!

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21

Engineering 201: DIY Recycled Suspension Bridge

Photo Credit: leftbraincraftbrain.com

Take spare cardboard and turn it into a STEM activity with this recycled suspension bridge project!

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22

Easy Toilet Roll Butterfly Craft for Kids

Colorful coffee filters and empty paper rolls are all you need for these cute butterflies!

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23

Easy Toilet Paper Roll Chick Craft for Kids

Make up this simple toilet paper roll chick craft for a spring or farm animal craft with young learners!

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24

Bumble Bee Craft for Kids Using Recycled Materials

Photo Credit: buggyandbuddy.com

Make adorable bumblebees with just a few recycled materials!

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25

Super Cute Printable Farm Paper Bag Puppets

Make a set of barnyard animals from brown paper bags!

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26

Beach Shoebox Diorama Craft

Take a trip to the beach with this easy recycled shoebox beach diorama craft!

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Try these simple craft ideas for kids too!

The post Over 25 Easy Recycled Craft Ideas for Kids to Make appeared first on Look! We're Learning!.

They’re all around us, so it’s fun to show students the circle in the clock on the wall or the square in the window.

Transportation is another of my favorite themes for preschool.

Which makes this easy shape train craft a perfect way to teach both at the same time!

If you’re looking for a simple, hands-on way to talk about shapes or transportation, this is it!

It’s simple enough for young learners to complete on their own.

But it also provides a good way to talk about real world math with students, even in preschool.

Get the full instructions and the printable template below!

Need more ways to talk about shapes in early grades? Take a look at our hands-on Shape Sorting Mats!

Easy Shape Train Craft for Kids

This simple shape craft is a perfect low-prep activity for a shape or transportation unit with preschoolers or kindergarteners.

Once you’ve cut out the template pieces, students can assemble the craft with just a few directions.

To make this easy shape train craft, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

• Printer (with ink)
• Printer paper
• Scissors (if you plan for students to cut out the pieces themselves, use child-safe scissors)
• Construction paper
• Glue stick
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Printable Train Craft Template

Get started by printing the craft template.

Then use a pencil to trace the shape pieces onto colored construction paper and cut them out.

I find it best to use different colors for each piece. That way, it’s easy to point out each geometric shape without confusing the students.

The finished project includes three rectangles, one triangle, two squares, and two circles.

How to Make a Shape Train Math Craft

Now it’s time to assemble our train!

Use a piece of construction paper as your background.

Start by gluing the large rectangle down towards the right edge of the paper.

Glue the triangle on the left side of the rectangle. The two pieces should touch.

Make sure students rotate the triangle so that the longest edge is facing up and out. This will be the front of the train.

Complete the body by adding the thinner rectangle vertically along the right side of the large rectangle.

Place it so that it covers the right edge of the large rectangle. This will form the back of the train.

The two circles go in the bottom center of the train, forming the wheels.

An easy way to direct students is to have them glue the circles on the bottom of the large rectangle only.

Add the final small rectangle by gluing it onto the top of the thin vertical rectangle.

Add the two squares (windows) by gluing them towards the top of the center rectangle.

If you like, you can have students draw perpendicular lines to form windowpanes.

And we’re all finished!

These would make an excellent class project for parents’ night!

Let the students try different colors of paper and add their own touches afterwards: a plume of smoke coming from the smokestack, a conductor in the window, tracks under the train – whatever they can think of!

See the full project directions below!

Easy Shape Train Craft for Kids

Print

This simple shape train craft is a perfect way to teach early learners about geometry and transportation. Plus, they'll get some fine motor skills practice too!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Active Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

• Construction paper
• Pencil
• Printer paper

Tools

• Printer
• Ruler
• Child-safe scissors
• Glue stick

Instructions

1. Print the shape train craft template.
2. Cut out the template pieces and then use a pencil to trace each shape onto colored construction paper.
3. Cut out the paper pieces.
4. Glue the large rectangle down onto a piece of white construction paper.
5. Glue the triangle onto the front of the rectangle, forming the front of the train.
6. Glue the thin rectangle vertically along the back edge of the large rectangle, forming the back of the train.
7. Glue the small thin rectangle horiztonally along the top edge of the thin rectangle.
8. Glue the two circles onto the bottom of the large rectangle, forming the wheels.
9. Glue the two squares onto the top section of the large rectangle, forming the windows.

Notes

• Encourage your students to add details, such as: tracks under the train, smoke coming from the smokestack, a railroad crossing sign, or a conductor in the window.
• Have students use different colors for each train and make a group of trains for a class display.
• Talk about each shape before adding it to the picture. Ask students: "What shape is this?" or "How many sides does this shape have?"
• For shapes that are similar, such as the rectangles, talk about how each one is different. Ask: "How is this rectangle different from that rectangle?" Encourage students to examine the differences in height, width, and orientation.
• If you need to save time, print the template pieces and cut out shapes ahead of time. Then students can simply assemble the craft as you provide instructions.

Take a look at these other shapes activities for early learners!

The post Easy Shape Train Craft for Kids appeared first on Look! We're Learning!.