Zoo animal paper plate crafts are a fun, affordable way to bring learning and creativity together. With just a stack of plates, some basic supplies, and a little imagination, you can turn an ordinary afternoon into a memorable preschool arts and crafts session.
Paper plates are one of the best low-prep materials you can keep on hand—they’re inexpensive, easy to cut and paint, and sturdy enough for little hands to work with. My 4-year-old loves it when I pull out the craft supplies, and paper plates are always the first thing she grabs.
These crafts fit seamlessly into a zoo unit study, a rainy-day activity, or even a classroom theme week. Instead of just a long list of links, you’ll find ideas here grouped by learning focus. Each section includes simple teaching notes so you can connect the craft to literacy, fine motor skills, science, or play.
Why zoo animal crafts?
• Perfect for preschool arts and crafts at home or school • Low-prep: just paper plates and basic supplies • Fits into zoo units, rainy days, or theme weeks • Includes teaching notes for literacy, fine motor, science, and play
Zoo Animal Paper Plate Crafts
From lions and tigers to penguins and monkeys, these paper plate projects bring the zoo right to your table. Each idea is simple enough for preschoolers yet engaging enough to keep a whole class busy.
You’ll find them grouped by learning focus so you can choose what fits best—whether that’s fine motor practice, storytime tie-ins, or dramatic play. Pick a favorite animal and get started, or plan a whole week of zoo-themed fun.
Easy Start Zoo Crafts (Low Prep, Big Impact)
Sometimes you just need a project you can set up in minutes. These paper plate lions, elephants, and zebras require only basic supplies—markers, glue, yarn, or construction paper scraps. You might need to paint a plate or cut a few pieces ahead of time, but nothing that takes more than a few minutes.
Teaching Notes: These simple animal crafts are a chance to explore colors and textures while reinforcing basic animal recognition. Discuss what makes each animal unique—stripes versus spots, trunks versus tails—while little hands cut, glue, and decorate.
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Paper Plate Koala Preschool Craft
This paper plate koala is a sweet way to introduce kids to animals from Australia while building fine motor skills. Preschoolers can practice cutting and gluing as they assemble the koala’s ears and nose, then use crayons or paint to add their own details. It’s an easy project to pair with a zoo unit or a book like Koala Lou during storytime.
This paper plate tiger craft is a bold and colorful project that preschoolers will love. Painting the plate orange and adding black stripes helps kids explore patterns, while cutting and gluing the ears and nose builds fine motor strength. It’s a great craft to pair with a jungle or zoo theme and works well alongside books like The Tiger Who Came to Tea.
This paper plate zebra craft is a playful way for kids to explore patterns and contrast. Preschoolers can practice fine motor skills as they cut and glue black stripes onto the plate, then finish it off with ears and a mane. It’s a simple project to connect with lessons on animal habitats or to use during a zoo theme when talking about how each zebra’s stripes are unique.
Zoo animal crafts are more than just cute keepsakes—they’re also a chance to strengthen little hands. These projects involve cutting, gluing, and painting patterns, which all help build the fine motor control kids need for writing later on.
From dabbing giraffe spots with a sponge to adding zebra stripes one by one, each craft keeps preschoolers engaged while practicing hand–eye coordination in a fun, low-pressure way.
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Giraffe Craft for Preschool
This paper plate giraffe craft is a fun way for kids to explore patterns using paint and a sponge brush. Dabbing on the giraffe’s spots gives preschoolers a chance to practice control while creating a textured effect that feels different from regular coloring. It’s a low-prep project you can tie into lessons about animal habitats or use to brighten up a zoo-themed bulletin board.
This paper plate elephant craft is a fun way to explore shapes while working on fine motor skills. Preschoolers can cut and glue large ears and a trunk onto the plate, then decorate with crayons, paint, or markers. It’s a simple project that pairs nicely with books like Elmer or as part of a zoo unit when talking about animals with unique features.
This paper plate hippo craft is simple enough for preschoolers to make with just a bit of cutting and gluing. Kids can practice scissor skills as they cut out the hippo’s features and then bring it to life with crayons, markers, or paint. It’s a great addition to a zoo theme and can spark conversations about how hippos live in water and on land.
This paper plate polar bear twirler doubles as a craft and a toy, making it extra engaging for preschoolers. Kids can practice scissor skills while cutting along the spiral, then decorate the bear’s face before hanging it up. As the twirler spins, it’s a fun way to spark conversations about polar animals and how they survive in cold habitats.
This paper plate parrot craft is bright and colorful, perfect for exploring patterns and colors with preschoolers. Kids can practice cutting and gluing feathers, then add details to bring their parrot to life. It’s an easy way to introduce jungle animals or tie into storytime with books that feature tropical birds.
This paper plate lion craft is full of color and texture, making it perfect for little hands. Kids can cut and glue strips of paper around the plate to create a bright, fluffy mane, then finish it off with a painted face. It’s a fun way to practice scissor skills while learning about zoo animals, and it makes a cheerful addition to a classroom display.
This paper plate penguin craft is simple enough for preschoolers but still packed with learning opportunities. Kids can paint, cut, and glue to create their penguin, practicing fine motor skills along the way. It’s a great project to pair with lessons on polar habitats or books about penguins, helping children connect art with science.
This paper plate peacock craft is a colorful way for preschoolers to explore patterns and symmetry. Kids can cut, paint, and glue bright feathers onto the plate, practicing fine motor skills as they go. It’s a fun project to connect with lessons on animal habitats or to spark conversations about why peacocks use their feathers to show off.
When crafts turn into costumes, kids light up. These paper plate masks are perfect for dramatic play, story retelling, or circle time games. As kids create lions, tigers, and bears, they also explore animal sounds, practice expressive movement, and step into simple role play.
It’s a creative way to support language development, social skills, and self-expression—all through play.
Paper Plate And Handprint Lion Masks
This handprint paper plate lion mask is a fun mix of craft and pretend play. Kids trace and cut their handprints to make the lion’s mane, building fine motor skills and a sense of ownership in the process. Once finished, the mask is perfect for roaring through circle time or acting out favorite zoo stories.
This paper plate lion mask uses yarn to create a full, textured mane that kids will love. Preschoolers can paint the plate, glue on the features, and thread or place the yarn for a fun fine motor challenge. Once it’s dry, the mask is great for roaring through circle time, acting out zoo stories, or adding to a dramatic play center.
This paper plate tiger mask is a bold and easy craft that gets kids moving and pretending. With simple shapes to cut and glue, preschoolers can practice fine motor skills while creating their own wearable tiger. It’s the perfect addition to a dramatic play area or a circle time game where everyone takes turns showing off their best tiger roar.
These simple paper plate animal masks—like the bluebird and bear shown—are perfect for quick setup and big pretend play fun. Kids can paint, cut, and glue their own masks using basic supplies, then bring the animals to life during circle time or story retelling. With bold colors and easy shapes, they’re great for building confidence, creativity, and fine motor skills.
This jaguar paper plate mask is a creative way to introduce kids to rainforest animals through hands-on art. Preschoolers can paint the plate, add spots with a sponge or brush, and glue on simple facial features. It’s a fun project for exploring animal patterns, practicing fine motor skills, and diving into imaginative play during a jungle or zoo theme.
Once the crafts are done, don’t just send them home—let them work for you. Turn a corner of your classroom or homeschool space into a mini “zoo” display using the finished animal plates. Add name labels, fun facts, or habitats to turn it into a learning wall the kids helped build. You can also extend the theme with zoo animal lesson plans, sequencing cards, or counting packs that tie in naturally with the crafts.
Planning a trip to the zoo? Use these projects to introduce the animals beforehand. Can’t go in person? Try a virtual zoo tour and have kids hold up their matching animal as they spot it on screen.
FAQs About Zoo Animal Paper Plate Crafts
What age are paper plate crafts good for?
Paper plate crafts are ideal for preschoolers (ages 3–5) but can be adapted for toddlers with more hands-on help or extended for kindergarteners with added steps like writing, measuring, or more detailed cutting.
How do you prep materials ahead of time for a group?
If you’re crafting with a group, it helps to pre-cut trickier shapes (like ears or tails), portion out supplies into bins or trays, and have drying space ready if painting is involved. You can also make one example ahead of time to guide kids during the activity.
What supplies do I need to keep on hand?
Keep a stash of basic supplies like paper plates, glue sticks, child-safe scissors, crayons, washable paint, googly eyes, construction paper scraps, and tissue paper. Optional add-ons like yarn, pom-poms, and sponge brushes can make simple crafts feel fresh and new.
Paper plate crafts are proof that you don’t need fancy materials to spark big creativity. Whether you’re building fine motor skills, exploring animal sounds, or just filling a rainy afternoon with laughter, these zoo-themed projects offer more than just cute results—they create moments of connection and learning. Save your favorites, prep what you can, and let the kids lead the way.
Tara is the brains behind Homeschool Preschool, where her journey from preschool and public school teacher to homeschooling mom of three fuels her passion for early childhood education. With a blend of expertise and firsthand experience, Tara’s writings offer practical tips and engaging resources to support families in creating meaningful learning adventures at home.
