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Make a cute penguin craft with this free printable penguin template! This penguin activity is a fun way for kids to keep busy during the cold winter season. You can use this adorable paper penguin craft at home, in the classroom, or part of a winter party.

The winter season is the perfect time for winter themed crafts like making a polar bear craft, cute penguins, snowflakes, and so much more! Incorporate winter-themed crafting with your winter unit to bring books to life while working on STEM skills, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination.

Last year, I used this craft at home with my kids when we had a few snow days. The kids were starting to experience cabin fever and had been playing video games a little too long. After playing outside in the snow, I could tell we needed an activity. We watched Happy Feet and then made a dancing penguin using my easy penguin tutorial below! My boys loved making a craft that could move using straws.They actually took the concept of straws moving and came up with their own creative crafts made from cups and straws.

Another reason I love this penguin template, there are several ways you can use it without creating a huge mess! My easy penguin tutorial only uses tape and a glue stick, so there is no big clean up required. You can find the free penguin template printable and the easy penguin craft tutorial below!

Free Penguin Template

Use this free penguin template printable for a fun paper craft with kids of all ages! Create your own paper plate penguin craft, paper bag penguin craft, or add this cute penguin to a winter scene. You could also follow my tutorial to make an easy penguin craft for older kids.

This free printable penguin template opens as PDF files. You will need Adobe PDF Reader to open the download on your computer.

For the best results, I recommend that you download the file to your computer and then print.

This penguin template works best if you print on thick paper like card stock.

Download this cute penguin template by clicking on the purple link below the image.

Free Printable Penguin Template

Easy Penguin Craft for Older Kids

This easy penguin craft is a fun activity for kids of all ages. I’ve used it with my kids who are older (ages 5, 7, and 9). I do think little kids could make this easy penguin with some extra help. The most difficult part is making holes in the paper cup, but the rest of this penguin craft is pretty easy!

My boys loved using the straws to make the penguin move. They have used straws in other activities to create movement and it’s one of their favorite things to do!

Grab your craft supplies and make this simple penguin craft!

LIST OF SUPPLIES

• Printable penguin craft template
• Glue sticks
• Scissors
• 3 Bendable Straws
• Black Paper Cup
• Tape
• Googly eyes (optional)
• Cotton Balls (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Cut the penguin template pieces apart.

Use scissors to put a hole in the center of the bottom of the cup.

Use a hole punch or wooden skewer to put 2 holes about a half inch from the top rim of the cup. The holes should be directly across from each other.

Tape the 3 straws together at the TOP of the bendable straws.

Then trim the straws on the left and right. The middle straw will NOT be trimmed.

Insert the middle straw through middle hole (this will be used to move the penguin head and wings). The side straws will go through the side holes on the cup (these will be the penguin wings).

Glue the eyes and orange beak to the penguin head.

Tape the penguin head to the three straws. Tape the wings to the side straws.

Tape or glue the feet to the bottom of the cup.

Now add the penguin’s belly to the center of the black cup. Optional: Add cotton balls to the white part of the belly.

This easy winter craft is a great penguin paper craft for a winter unit.

Now you have your own penguin!

Fun Activity: Make a bunch of cute paper penguins and let kids put on a puppet show using their movable penguin paper puppets

Ideas for Penguin Activities with Kids

Here are some fun ideas to include with penguin winter crafts for your kids! Below you will find ideas for preschool kids to upper elementary. It’s easy to modify these activities to fit the needs of your kids based on age and interest. When my kids have a high interest in a specific topic we are always able to do more activities and learning surrounding that topic.

Penguin Books for Kids

Here are some great Penguin books for kids! My boys have loved reading about penguins and we’ve gotten several of these books from our local library. You can also easily purchase them from Amazon with the links provided.

Pre-K – K

Tacky the Penguin

Penguins

1st – 3rd

Mr. Popper’s Penguins This is a great book that my kids have loved!

All things Penguins

4th – 5th

The Popper Penguin Rescue

Penguins

Penguin Research

Learn about penguins! There are many ways to learn about penguins like reading books, watch Youtube videos, go visit the penguin exhibit at the local zoo, and read about penguins in blog posts online just to name a few!

Let your kids make a poster with the information they have learned about penguins. Where penguins live, what penguins eat, interesting facts, how tall penguins grow, etc.

My older kids love making Google slides for their projects! Either way this can be a fun activity showing off all the information they have learned.

More Penguin Craft Ideas

Penguin crafts can be a really fun and simple way for kids to be creative in a winter unit. Keep it simple with a penguin cutting and paste craft or use my easy penguin craft tutorial for an advanced craft! Here are some of my favorite ideas for penguin crafts.

Paper Plate Penguin Craft

Use black and orange markers to turn a paper plate into a penguin face.

Paper Bag Penguin

Print out the penguin template and glue the penguin to a small paper bag to create a penguin puppet.

Toilet Paper Roll Penguin

Print the penguin template. Cut out the penguin pieces and glue to a toilet paper roll for an easy penguin craft.

I hope these give you some fun ideas to keep busy this winter!