DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Heart Hippo Paper Plate Craft
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This fun paper plate craft uses a (you guessed it!) paper plate and lots of fun heart shapes to make a cute hippo. The hippo is fun for young children. It's great for a Valentine's Day theme or just for fun!
Tip 1: Include the message "Please don't trample my heart. Let's be friends!"
Tip 2: Purchase fancy paper from the scrapbooking store and print the B&W version onto this for an extra fancy hippopotamus.
Tip 3: Cut out holes instead of eyes and scotch tape a straw or popsicle stick to the bottom to make a hippo mask.
Materials:
- paper,
- paper plate,
- glue,
- scissors,
- gray paint,
- something to color with, if you chose the B&W template
Craft Instructions:
- Paint the bottom of the paper plate gray.
- Print out the template of choice. You need both templates to make one hippo.
- Color (if making the black and white craft).
- Cut out the template pieces. (You can use the finished image in the bottom right of the first template to figure out which pieces belong where on the paper plate).
- Glue the pieces on the paper plate:
Glue the mouth of the hippopotamus onto the bottom of the paper plate.
Glue the two heart shaped nostrils above the mouth, on the large nose.
Glue the eyes above the nose and mouth.
Glue the small pink heart onto the larger gray hearts to make the hippo's ears.
Glue the heart shaped ears sticking out the sides of the paper plate.
Glue the bow onto the top of the paper plate between the two ears.
Option for mass-producing - young children: Print out the B&W template. Trace the pieces onto stiff cardboard (back of paper pads works well) or margarine/ice cream container lids. Cut out to make permanent templates. Allow the children to trace these permanent templates onto different colors of construction paper and then glue their special pieces onto the paper plate.
Option for mass-producing - older children: Omit the templates. Let the children cut out heart shapes in various sizes from colored construction paper (show them how to fold paper in half and then cut to make a perfectly symmetrical heart). Let the children create their own animals by putting together hearts of different sizes (you can pre-make a few example animals to give them some inspiration). This allows them to use their creativity!
Craft Templates:
- Close template window when done printing to return to this screen.
- Set page margins to zero if you have trouble fitting the template on one page (FILE, PAGE SETUP or FILE, PRINTER SETUP in most browsers).
Heart Hippo template 1 (color) or (B&W)
Heart Hippo template 2 (color) or (B&W)
Printable version of these instructions
