Australian Crafts and
Activities for Kids

How to Make Australian Crafts Including: Platypus Paper Bag Puppet, Sock Platypus, Kangaroo Crafts, Echidna Craft, Australian Dot Art and Stenciling.

 

Platypus Paper Bag Puppet Craft for Kids

What you will need: Paper lunch bag, construction paper, glue, scissors, and markers to make the eyes.

How to make a paper bag puppet:

1. Print out the platypus pattern and make copies onto construction paper. (Large file or small file) (Printing Problems?)

2. Cut a tail shape from the same color construction paper (not shown).

3. Fold in the bottom corners of the bag as shown in the picture.

4. Cut out the patterns and glue them to the bag as shown in the picture to the left. Glue the bottom beak to the bag underneath the top beak.

How to Print or Copy these instructions.

©2005, Digital by Design, Inc. -*See Copyright Information

DLTK's Growing Together Web site has a Platypus Toilet Paper Roll Craft that preschool age kids will enjoy making to go along with this paper bag craft.

LooLeDo's web site has a very creative platypus figure that is a great craft for school-age children made from an empty water bottle. The bottle is covered with pieces of masking tape to make it look like fur.

 

Puggles the Sock Platypus Craft for Kids

This cute little critter is made from a child's sock and one finger cut from a glove. It takes only minutes to make. Stuff the sock, secure with rubber bands, and glue the tail closed. You can find complete directions for this craft on the Sock Crafts Page.

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"Facts About Platypus" Itty Bitty Printable Book

Did you know that a baby platypus is called a puggle? You and your children will learn all kinds of interesting facts about platypus in this Itty Bitty Book about Platypus.

(The patterns for this book is available to members only.)

 

 

 

 

 

Kangaroo Crafts

See the Kangaroo Crafts Page.

Kangaroo Crafts

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Mama Kangaroo With Joey Craft for Kids

Kangaroo Mom and Joey 3D Craft - (Printing Problems?)

Color the pattern, fold, and tape. This mother kangaroo carries a joey in her pouch. You can place other items such as candy or small gifts in her pouch and use as a party favor. This craft is available to members only. Follow the link to get the the member's only section.

©2005, Digital by Design, Inc. -*See Copyright Information

 

Golf Tee Echidna Craft for Kids

 

Echidnas are spiky little animals that live in Australia that look like a cross between an anteater, porcupine, and a hedgehog. Children will enjoy making a replica of these spiny anteaters and increase their knowledge of Australian animals in the process.

What you will need: Foam eggs, golf tees, brown paint, and toothpicks. You can buy foam egg shapes

How to make an Echidna craft:

1. Cut the top part of four golf tees so that they are about 1 1/2" long. Press the cut tees into the egg to make the Echidna's legs as shown in the picture.

2. Paint the body and legs brown.

3. Break toothpicks in half and stick them in the Echidna's body as shown in the picture. Stick one of the cut off tee in the front of the egg to make the Echidna's pointy snout. Paint it brown and draw on eyes with a permanent marker.

How to Print or Copy these instructions.

©2004, Digital by Design, Inc. -*See Copyright Information

Children can learn more about echidnas on the San Diego Zoo web site.

 

Australian Dot Art

Australian Aboriginals used sticks, Echidna quills, or spikes to paint traditional "dream time stories". Their paintings depicted stories from their lives. They usually used traditional symbols in their paintings such as: fish, turtles, crocodiles, snakes, kangaroos and other animals. They also painted pictures of weapons, boomerangs, and other tools they used.

Make Your Own Dot Art Pictures - Study Aboriginal art and then make your own dot painting by dipping a stick, handle end of a paint brush, or your finger into tempera paint and place dots on your paper to make designs.

Dot Art Paper Weight

What you will need: smooth river rock, acrylic paint (earth tones), and paint brushes.

How to Make Australian Dot Art:

1. Study Australian dot art designs. Decide what type of design and colors you would like to use.

2. Start by painting the lightest background colors. Fill in with the darker colors. Then add dots.

How to Print or Copy these instructions.

Examples of dot paintings on art-rageous.net.
Example 1 of aboriginal dot painting on Art.com
Example 2 of aboriginal dot paint on Art.com
Many samples of student dot art on Aboriginal Art Project web site

©2005, Digital by Design, Inc. -*See Copyright Information

Stenciling

Aboriginal's used common objects such as stencils in their rock art. They used boomerangs, their own hands or other's hands, feet, tools, spears, etc.

Make Your Own Stenciled Pictures - Add food coloring to small spray bottles filled with water. (Wear old clothes because food coloring stains.) Place your hand on a sheet of construction paper, trace around it with a pencil and then cut it out. This is your stencil. Place the "stencil" on another sheet of paper. Use the spray bottle to spray painting around the handprint. When you lift the handprint stencil the hand shape will stand out.

How to Print or Copy these instructions.

You can find out more information about stenciling at Aboriginal Art Online.

©2005, Carolyn Warvel -*See Copyright Information