This craft for kids is a turtle that will help your students learn about the letter T! Turtle crafts will fit right into an Animal theme, under Reptiles. You can use this turtle when you sing the song, “I Had A Little Turtle” (Tiny Tim).
Skills
Types of skills can include math, science, fine motor, dramatic play, social and emotional. Here is how this turtle applies these skills:
Math
Have the child count to increase counting skills as they are crumbling the tissue papers to place on the letter T. You can also have the child identify and/or count the number of shapes they see on the turtle.
Science
If you have other crafts with your child, have them classify the horse along with the other crafts. For example, horses fall under animals, where spiders are classified as insects.
Fine Motor Skills
To increase the child’s cutting skills, have the child use a scissor to cut the turtle’s shell, legs, and tails with adult supervision.
Your child will use their pincer grasp to crumble the tissue papers. If you use googly eyes or sticker eyes, this will also allow them to improve their pincer grasp skills.
Dramatic Play and Social/Emotional
Children can use this turtle as a puppet when singing the song, “I Had A Little Turtle” and identify different emotions and feelings.
Boundaries
Make sure you supervise your child when using scissors and other sharp items.
Materials
You will use green and brown construction paper, googly eyes, green tissue papers, markers, scissors, and glue.
Steps
First, have the child use a circle template and trace the circle onto a green construction paper to represent the turtle’s body. With adult supervision, have the child cut out the circle.
For your next step, draw two skinny long ovals on a brown construction paper, cut it, then fold it in half where the round part meets for the feet.
Draw a small circle on a brown construction paper and cut it out for the head. Using a marker, have the child draw eyes and a mouth on the head and set aside. You can have the child use googly eyes or sticker eyes to put on the face.
Then, have the child glue the head, legs, and tail to turn it into a turtle.
Lastly, using a pencil, make a letter “T” and have the child crumble green tissue papers and glue it on the letter “T”.
Modifications
You can use googly eyes or sticker eyes instead of having the child draw them.
Additionally, you can trace the circle on a white construction paper and have the child paint or color the shell green or your choice of color.
Instead of using tissue papers, you can use yarns to outline the letter “T”. Or you can have the child trace the letter “T” depending on the child’s skills.
Change and decorate your turtle to your liking.
Come out of your shell Mr. Turtle!
This animal craft for kids will make your child’s turtle nicely decorated and keep them entertained and happy. Make sure to come out of your shell!