I recently set up this mask-making activity up for my five-year old and loved seeing how she added details and personality to the animal mask template. This project falls under the Creative Table Project, a series of simple art and science prompts that encourage creative thinking skills and experimentation.
In a nutshell, you set up the materials and then invite your child to create.
How to Make an Animal Mask out of Paper
Supplies
See our full list of recommended supplies for more kid-friendly materials. Note: This list includes affiliate links
Card stock or other heavy paper
Child scissors: blunt, pointed, left-handed
Elastic String or yarn/ribbon
Markers or Crayons: We use Crayola here
The Set-up
There are plenty of ways to set this up.
Older children: If your child is old enough to use a paper punch and cut with scissors, here’s your set-up:
- Fold your paper in half.
- Pre-draw the shape of half of an animal face the paper. Be sure the center of the face is along the folded edge.
- Set the paper up on a table with markers and scissors.
- Invite your child to cut the mask out of the paper and then design and create an animal.
- Punch holes for the elastic, tie the elastic on, and wear!
Younger children: If you have a toddler or preschooler who isn’t ready for scissors yet, try this:
- Fold your paper in half.
- Pre-draw the shape of half of an animal face the paper. Be sure the center of the face is along the folded edge.
- Cut the mask out of the paper
- Place the mask and markers or crayons on the table and invite your child to design and create
- Punch holes for the elastic, tie the elastic on, and wear!
For more easy art prompts and set-ups like this, visit The Creative Table Project.
And if you try this project or invent a creative prompt of your own, join me on Instagram with the hashtags: #tinkerlab and #creativetable
