20+ Penguin Crafts for Preschoolers
If you are looking for cute crafts for winter or a polar region theme, check out this list of 20+ preschool penguin crafts! Many of these penguin crafts are process art projects, too! They make a super fun addition to a preschool winter theme.
Preschool Penguin Crafts
Penguin crafts and activities are always a hit with preschoolers! They are such fun animals to watch and learn about that I always include some penguin activities in my winter lesson plans.
Sometimes, I even add penguin activities as part of our arctic animals preschool theme. I know, I know, penguins don’t actually live in the arctic! But the preschoolers and kids certainly don’t mind!
I still want them to understand that penguins live in a very cold and icy climate, much like their arctic animal friends. So I sometimes call it a “polar animals theme” instead.
Whatever theme you put them in, these penguin crafts are easy for for preschoolers to make and quick for teachers and parents to prep. They use basic craft supplies such as paper plates, cotton balls, toilet paper rolls, construction paper, and paint. An extra bonus of making these penguin crafts is that they work fine motor skills, too!
Whether you’re looking for handprint penguins or footprint penguins, cotton ball penguins or paper plate penguins, you’re sure to find plenty of ideas for kids on this list!
FAQs About Teaching a Penguin Theme
Teaching preschoolers about penguins should be playful and hands-on. Reading books is a great way to introduce young learners to penguins. Follow up books about penguins with some hands-on activities such as sensory bins and small world invitations to play, art and crafts, and free printables.
For a penguin themed circle time for preschoolers, it is a great idea to include books about penguins. Singing penguin themed counting songs is also a great way to incorporate music and math into your circle time.
Another fun activity for a penguin themed circle time is to invite the children to move like penguins. This is a great way for them to work on gross motor skills.
Since penguins live in cold climates, learning about snow, ice, and temperature is a great way to incorporate science into a penguin theme. Allowing preschoolers to experiment with ice is a great way to encourage science exploration and learning. A penguin theme would also be a great time to talk about the Arctic and Antarctica and other animals that live there.
Don’t forget the picture books!
No preschool theme is complete without lots and lots of picture books! Here are some of our favorites that feature those amazing penguins.
20+ Penguin Crafts for Preschoolers
Here are 20+ penguin crafts for preschoolers to make at home or in the classroom! They are perfect for winter themes or learning about polar regions.
Penguin Crafts with Paint
These penguin crafts using paint are a great way for preschoolers to get creative while making a project that fits a winter or polar region theme.
Potato Printing Penguin Cards for Preschoolers
These potato print penguin cards would be perfect for sending thank you notes to friends and family. They are so simple to create and fun to customize!
Paint Splat Penguin Friends
This adorable splat paint penguin craft is perfect for little kids! The best part about this craft is that each penguin will be unique!
Penguin Ice Cube Painting Activity for Kids
I'm not sure there is anything more fun for little kids than painting with ice cubes and penguins! This activity is a great open-ended art project for a penguin theme.
Penguin Mitten Craft
This penguin mitten craft is simple enough for preschoolers and includes a template to make prep super easy for you too.
Handprint Penguin Craft
This quick and easy handprint penguin craft is perfect for your winter lesson plans and activities.
Cardboard Tube Penguin Craft
With a little bit of black and white paint your preschoolers can turn ordinary cardboard tubes into adorable penguins!
Paper and Fork Painted Penguin
Kids will have fun painting with forks to make this cute penguin craft! It's a wonderful craft to include in your winter lesson plans!
Marble-Painted Penguin Craft for Preschoolers
This toddler and preschool penguin craft involves a process art activity that uses marbles to paint the body. Once it’s dry, add the details and hang on the wall.
Penguin Footprint
This adorable penguin footprint craft is easy for Christmas or winter activities. Plus its a wonderful keepsake for parents and grandparents.
Fingerprint Penguin
Preschoolers and toddlers will have fun finger painting to make these cute little penguins! For an added challenge preschoolers can cut the paper into ovals and glue on features.
Paper Penguin Crafts
These paper penguin crafts for simple enough for preschoolers to make and use only basic craft supplies common in most homes and classrooms.
Penguin Cards For Kids
These adorable penguin cards for kids are so easy to make. All you need are some cupcake liners, construction paper and glue!
Paper Plate Penguin Craft For Kids
This paper plate penguin craft is one of the simplest and cutest crafts to for kids to make. It’s a fun and easy craft for winter.
Pop Up Penguins
This pop up penguin craft is lots of fun and easy to make with the printable template. Push the homemade penguins down and they pop right back up and wobble adorably!
Cotton Ball Penguin Craft
This adorable cotton ball penguin craft is easy to make with your preschoolers and kindergartners. There are different penguin templates to choose from and kids will love making this simple winter craft.
Easy Penguin Craft for Preschoolers
Spread a little love with this cute cardboard tube craft! This penguin craft for preschoolers is perfect to make for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day or just to make someone smile!
Penguin Hats
These paper penguin hats are really easy to make with the printable penguin template. This is a cute craft for a winter or polar region theme.
Easy Origami Penguin Craft for Kids
Here is an easy origami penguin craft, with a step by step tutorial to help. These would make adorable kindness crafts for winter.
Torn Paper Penguin Craft
This fantastic penguin craft uses a torn paper technique which is excellent for fine motor work. This is a great craft for a winter theme.
Hatching Penguin Chick Puppets
These hatching paper plate penguin chick puppets are so quick and easy to make and super cute! Toddlers and preschoolers will love to see the penguin chick hatch from its egg again and again!
Paper Plate Penguin Wreath
This is a lovely paper plate penguin wreath for Christmas but just as fun for Winter decorations. It's an ideal craft if you are studying penguins or the polar regions too!
These craft ideas are perfect for your winter themed lesson plans. The adorable penguin crafts for kids are a super easy way to get creative at home or in the classroom. Happy crafting!
I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
