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Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Turtle Craft

March 16, 2017 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

We’re still using our coffee filters to make coffee filter crafts for kids! This week, we’re making a really easy (and cute) coffee filter turtle craft!

This easy craft is part of a science and ELA lesson we’ve been working on about animal collective nouns. As you can tell, we’re learning about groups of turtles and it turns out that a group of turtles has some pretty nifty names. Read on to see how we learned about turtles and made this fun craft!

If you like this project, try our Bouncing Coffee Filter Basketball Craft or our Spring Coffee Filter Flower Craft as well!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Turtle Craft

We’ve been learning about animal collective nouns for the past few weeks. Many animals have their own unique collective nouns for groups, so we might refer to a “pride” of lions or a “murder” of crows.

Did you know that a group of turtles can actually be referred to four different ways? They can be called a “bale” of turtles, a “nest” of turtles, a “dole” of turtles, or (my personal favorite) a “turn” of turtles. Try saying a “turn of turtles” three times fast. 🙂

So – we decided to make our own turn of turtles using coffee filters!

To make this craft, you’ll need a few items. (Affiliate links provided here for convenience. For more, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Two white basket coffee filters (More if you want to make more turtles)
Colored pencils
Crayons
Construction paper
Glue stick
Child-safe scissors

Start by coloring both coffee filters light green. I used yellow-green here.

Then draw rough rectangles on the filters with a brown colored pencil.

And then color them in!

I used a glue stick to trace around the outer edge of the filter. That way, when I glued it to the construction paper the middle remained raised. That gives the turtle shell a tiny 3D effect.

Draw a turtle head and four feet. Add some eyes and a smile to the face.

Finally, cut the turtle out around the shell. Be careful not to cut the feet or head off!

Aw….they love each other! And that’s it! Our “turn” of coffee filter turtles is complete!

Don’t miss these other coffee filter crafts for kids!

Plus, see other easy craft ideas on my Simple Crafts for Kids Pinterest board!

Check out more fun creative collective noun ideas below!

Paper Plate Pod of Whales Craft – Let Them Be Small
Colony of Rabbits Craft – Play Learn Everyday
Handprint Paper Plate Pride of Lions Masks – Kids Craft Room
Sleuth of Bears Paper Plate Craft – Clare’s Little Tots
Swarm of Bees Pipe Cleaner Craft – Thimble and Twig

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Basketball Craft

March 1, 2017 by Selena Robinson 4 Comments

Last summer, we went out of town and stayed at a cottage for a weekend. It was amazing.

(If you’re wondering what on earth this has to do with coffee filter crafts, stay with me. It’s related.)

The cottage was filled with all kinds of comforts and appliances, just like you’d have at home. At home, though, we use a French press for our coffee, so I haven’t used a drip coffeemaker in years. Naturally, I assumed I’d need to bring coffee filters.

I got to the cottage and they already had coffee filters there. Awesome! But then I had 150 coffee filters and no drip coffeemaker at home to use them.

Fast forward to this past winter. We went to spend the weekend at a different cottage, which also had a coffeemaker. Naturally, I assumed that there would be coffee filters provided….there were not.

I had to run down to the local Dollar General and buy yet ANOTHER 150 pack of coffee filters. Which means that when I got home, I had nearly 300 coffee filters and no coffeemaker to use them with.

So a new crafting project series was born: Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids! Since it’s March and college basketball is a huge deal in our family, I thought we’d kick off the series with this simple coffee filter basketball craft. It even “bounces”!

Read on to see how to make this easy craft with your kids!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Basketball Craft

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

To start, simply flatten out the coffee filter with your hands.

Then use an orange crayon to color the entire filter.

Next, use a black crayon to draw the basketball lines on the filter.

I kept it simple with just four lines: two intersecting mid-section lines and half-curves at the top and bottom. (If you need to see a picture of a basketball to get an idea, pick up our free basketball skip counting flashcards for inspiration.)

Add one center black line running horizontally across the lines you just made. Now, glue the “basketball” onto a piece of colored construction paper. Place it on the right to have bouncing in from the left or on the left to have it bouncing it from the right.

A word of caution here: Do NOT use liquid glue. It will bleed through the coffee filter and discolor it. In fact, in the picture above, I’ve actually placed a second coffee filter “basketball” over the first after finding this out for myself. Always, always, always use a glue stick with coffee filter crafts. Lesson learned.

Finally, add your bouncing “lines” with a black crayon and you’re done!

This is a perfect craft for preschoolers, because it only needs a few supplies, it’s simple, and it’s done in just a few minutes!

By the way, if you’re having a party to watch the NCAA Tournament this year, this is a fantastic way for kids to get involved!

Did you enjoy this easy coffee filter basketball craft? Check out these ideas while you’re here!

And grab some easy craft ideas for children on my Simple Crafts for Kids Pinterest board!

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Farm Shoebox Diorama Craft

March 17, 2016 by Selena Robinson 7 Comments

A while back, we made a Beach Shoebox Diorama and the kids had so much with it that I thought we should make another one. So for this linkup with the Early Elementary Blogging Team, we decided to make a simple and fun Farm Shoebox Diorama Craft!

If you’re looking for a low-prep, easy craft that will keep your kids entertained, this is it! Roo, my most active child by a mile, actually sat in one spot and played quietly with the diorama after we finished. Talk about miracles!

Read on to see how to make this craft with your kids!

If you love this activity, don’t miss our other farm learning ideas, including our list of Kids’ Books about Farms and our printable Farm Animal Flashcards!

Farm Shoebox Diorama Craft

To make this craft, you’ll need the following:

An empty shoebox (a child’s size shoebox is perfect)
A copy of our free Farm Shoebox Diorama Printable Pack
Printer (with ink)
Printer paper
Play sand
Scissors
Glue
Markers

Our Farm Shoebox Diorama Printable Pack has a background and farm props such as a barn, a tractor, and some farm animals. But you can also have your child draw his or her own farm pictures if you want to add a bit more art to the project.

After we cut out all of the pictures, Roo got to work on the background. We just used a blue marker for the sky, then he glued the farm scenery onto the bottom of the shoebox.

Then it was time to add the props! You simply fold each prop on the dashed line, then unfold it slightly to make them stand up!

Roo placed everything where he thought it should go.

Then we poured in about a cup of play sand. (Note: Resting the shoebox in the lid is a HUGE help when it comes to clean up.)

And we’re done!

If you look at Roo’s face, it’s basically saying “Hurry up and take the picture so I can play with it, Mom!” 🙂 And that’s what he did. He sat there for over an hour playing with his farm set.