Elephant Craft with Popsicle Sticks

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Get ready to make an adorable popsicle stick elephant that’s perfect for kids! This easy craft combines creativity and fun, making it a delightful project for any young animal lover.

Whether you’re working with preschoolers, kindergartners, or hosting a kids’ craft party, this elephant popsicle stick craft will bring smiles to everyone involved. Young crafters will love creating their own unique elephants and can add a magnet to display them proudly on the refrigerator or use them as party decor for an animal or circus-themed event.

This craft is perfect for kids of all ages, especially preschoolers and kindergartners. Teachers, parents, and camp counselors will find this an engaging activity for various settings, from classrooms to summer camps. It’s simple enough for young children to handle with minimal supervision, especially if parts are pre-prepared.

Crafting these elephants can also spark creativity, as kids can personalize their designs with unique colors and materials. Plus, the completed elephants make great keepsakes, decorations, or even thoughtful gifts.

When to Make This Elephant Craft

There are endless opportunities to create this elephant preschool craft! Here are a few ideas:

• Summer Camp: A fun and creative way to keep kids entertained and engaged.
• Letter E Craft Idea for Preschool: Help young learners associate the letter E with “elephant” in a hands-on, memorable way.
• Zoo Unit Study in Kindergarten: A great addition to learning about animals and their habitats.
• Circus Theme or Animal Theme: Ideal for a party or classroom activity centered around these fun themes.
• Birthday Party Craft: A unique, take-home activity that doubles as a party favor.

Now that you’re excited to make your own elephant craft for kids, let’s jump into the tutorial! You’ll find step-by-step instructions that are simple to follow, along with a free printable template to make crafting even easier.

Tips and Tricks for the Elephant Craft

• Pre-Glue the Elephant Base: For younger kids, pre-glueing the craft stick base saves time and keeps the project frustration-free.
• Pre-Cut the Pieces: Cut out the felt shapes in advance for smaller children or larger group settings.
• Substitute Materials: Use markers instead of paint for a quicker, less messy option, or replace craft felt with cardstock or foam.
• Add a Personal Touch: Experiment with different colors to create a herd of colorful, unique elephants.

How to Make an Elephant from Craft Sticks

Materials:

• Jumbo Craft Sticks
• Wiggle Eyes
• Dark Grey Craft Felt – Dark Grey
• Black Marker, Black
• Craft Glue or a Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
• Craft Paint – Light Grey, Pink
• Paintbrush
• Sponge Dabber
• Scissors
• Printed Elephant Pattern

Instructions:

To create the elephant, line up five jumbo craft sticks on your work surface. Using scissors, trim additional jumbo craft sticks to the width of the elephant and attach with glue.

TIP: We used a glue gun and glue sticks for this tutorial but, you can use liquid craft glue for this project. Just allow extra time for each step to dry.

Paint the elephant with light grey craft paint. Let dry, and apply a second coat, if necessary.

Download, print, and cut out the elephant patterns.

Trace the outer ear and trunk patterns onto dark grey craft felt.

Cut out the traced patterns with scissors, cutting inside the lines to create a clean finished project. 

Attach two wiggle eyes with glue. Create cheeks by dipping a sponge dabber into pink craft paint and stamping on both sides of the elephant.

Glue the ears to the right and left sides of the elephant and the trunk just under the eyes.

To finish, draw outline around the edge of the ears, and wrinkles down the length of the trunk with a black marker.

All done!

This popsicle stick craft for preschool is a simple yet delightful project that kids and adults will enjoy creating together. Whether you’re teaching the letter E, planning a circus-themed party, or just looking for a fun animal craft idea, this zoo craft for kids is sure to be a hit. Download the free template, gather your supplies, and start crafting your charming elephants today!