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This Paper Plate Penguin Craft for Kids is sure to delight your little one as you play with the penguin! Easy to make, with just basic craft supplies!

When the pandemic began, most of us were wearing our pajamas all day. However, we soon realized that it was affecting our productivity, and people began dressing up even if they were working from home. We’re all for looking good too, but what if we told you we knew someone who wore tuxedos all day – and night? Sounds strange, right? But it isn’t – not if you’re a penguin!

Yes, today we’re talking about this well dressed bird, who can’t fly even though they’re considered birds. But that’s not a problem, because penguins can do many other awesome things – like swim super fast, withstand freezing temperatures in Antarctica!

Unfortunately, not being able to fly isn’t the penguin’s big problem today – it’s climate change. Climate change effects like global warming are hurting us humans too, but the danger to penguins is more imminent. Penguin populations have been decreasing drastically – in fact, there was an incident of mass starvation of over 18,000 penguins in 2017. Studies estimate that at least two thirds of emperor penguin colonies will have significantly reduced by the year 2100.

Since 20th January is National Penguin Awareness Day, we think it’s a good time to educate ourselves about the dangers of climate change, particularly it’s impact on penguins. One fun way to get kids interested in this is by watching movies about penguins, like Surf’s Up, Happy Feet, Mr. Popper’s Penguins or March of the Penguins. However, our absolute favorite penguin movie has got to be Penguins of Madagascar, with those crazy, whacky and yet lovable penguins!

Speaking of whacky penguins, we’ve got the perfect project for you today – an interactive paper plate penguin craft that features a movable penguin. It’s really easy to make and guarantees hours of fun for everyone!

Cute Interactive Paper Plate Penguin Craft for Kids

Supplies required:

• Colorful cardstock paper
• Colorful craft paper
• Paper plate
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Marker pens
• Glue

How to make the Paper Plate Penguin Craft:

1. Download and print the template for the paper plate penguin craft. The template includes the penguin’s body parts, eyes, wings, feet and bill. The template also includes parts of the paper plate background.

2. Cut out the parts of the template and use them to trace the pieces on to card stock or craft papers of appropriate colors. Cut out all the pieces and lay them out.

3. Stick the penguin’s white belly over the black body. 

4. Stick the penguin’s feet and beak in the appropriate places on the penguin’s body.

5. Cut out the parts of the background from the template.

6. Stick the background parts inside the paper plate. Then, glue the trees on the background.

7. Stick the penguin’s eyes on a long strip of card stock, gluing on one end of the strip.

8. Cut a slit on the edge of the plate to push the eye strip. Place the penguin inside the paper plate, and then insert the eyes through the eye socket.

9. You can now move the penguin’s eyes by moving the card stock strip. 

Isn’t it amazing how changing just the position of the eyes completely alters the penguin’s expression? Well, we told you this paper plate penguin craft was going to be a whacky one! If you enjoyed this craft, you’ll also like other easy penguin crafts like a paper penguin bookmark, an Origami penguin or a potato print penguin craft. If you’d like something a little more challenging, check out our clay penguin photo holder, made with air drying clay. This would also make a great gift for a penguin lover!