17 Elephant Crafts Preschool Kids Can Make

Here are 17 elephant crafts preschool kids can make—cute, quick, and surprisingly impressive. If you’ve ever set out supplies and ended up with chaos, this list is for you. Each project looks “wow” on the fridge but stays simple enough for tiny hands.

Most use basic materials you likely have at home or in the classroom, with low mess and easy clean-up.

Let’s help your little makers create big, joyful elephants—without you turning into the cleanup crew.

1. Paper Plate Parade Elephant

A round paper plate becomes a friendly elephant with big floppy ears and a cheerful trunk. The curved edges make a chubby body that looks adorable on a wall or bulletin board.

Materials Needed:

1. Paper plate
2. Construction paper (gray or colored)
3. Glue stick
4. Googly eyes

How to make it:

1. 1. Cut two big ear shapes and a long trunk from construction paper.
2. 2. Glue ears to the back sides of the plate so they stick out.
3. 3. Glue the trunk to the center front and add googly eyes.
4. 4. Draw toenails and a smile with a marker if you like.

2. Sock-Puppet Elephant

Turn a lonely sock into a squishy elephant puppet with flappy ears and a wiggly trunk. It’s perfect for story time and pretend play.

Materials Needed:

1. Clean sock (gray or any color)
2. Felt scraps
3. Glue dots or fabric glue
4. Googly eyes

How to make it:

1. 1. Cut two large ear shapes and a small oval for the trunk tip from felt.
2. 2. Glue ears to the sides of the sock near the toe area (the puppet’s “head”).
3. 3. Glue googly eyes above the trunk area; add the felt oval at the end of the toe for the trunk tip.
4. 4. Slide your hand in and make trumpet sounds!

3. Cup-and-Curl Trunk Elephant

A paper cup becomes the sturdy body, while a curled paper strip makes a fun, bouncy trunk. The 3D shape stands up on its own and looks like it might march off your shelf.

Materials Needed:

1. Paper cup
2. Construction paper
3. Glue stick
4. Marker

How to make it:

1. 1. Cut two ear shapes and four small rectangles for legs from construction paper.
2. 2. Glue legs around the bottom rim of the cup; glue ears to the sides.
3. 3. Cut a long paper strip for the trunk and curl it around a pencil.
4. 4. Glue the trunk near the rim and draw eyes and toenails.

4. Handprint Herd Elephant

Kids trace and cut their own handprints to make elephants—the thumb becomes the trunk! Lined up in a row, they look like a sweet family walking together.

Materials Needed:

1. Construction paper
2. Pencil
3. Safety scissors
4. Glue stick

How to make it:

1. 1. Trace a child’s hand on paper and cut it out.
2. 2. Turn it so the thumb points down and becomes the trunk.
3. 3. Draw an eye and toenails; cut and glue a small ear if you want more detail.
4. 4. Make several and glue them onto a long strip to form a “herd.”

5. Spoon-Back Elephant

Use the back of a plastic or wooden spoon as a shiny elephant head with dramatic paper ears. It’s tiny, sweet, and makes a fun bookmark or puppet.

Materials Needed:

1. Plastic or wooden spoon
2. Construction paper
3. Glue dots
4. Marker

How to make it:

1. 1. Cut two big ear shapes from construction paper.
2. 2. Glue ears to the neck of the spoon so they fan out from the “head.”
3. 3. Draw eyes and a smile on the spoon’s back.
4. 4. Add a short paper trunk below the face if you like.

6. Shape-Collage Elephant

Kids build an elephant using only simple shapes—circles, ovals, and rectangles. It looks graphic and modern, but it’s super easy to assemble.

Materials Needed:

1. Pre-cut paper shapes
2. Glue stick
3. Cardstock background
4. Marker

How to make it:

1. 1. Arrange a big oval (body) and a smaller circle (head) on cardstock.
2. 2. Add rectangles (legs) and a skinny strip (trunk).
3. 3. Glue everything down and draw an eye and tail.
4. 4. Add tiny triangles as tusks or toenails for flair.

7. Bubble-Wrap Paint-Print Elephant

Bubble wrap makes a bumpy, wrinkly elephant texture that looks amazing. The print dries fast and feels magical when kids peel it up.

Materials Needed:

1. Bubble wrap
2. Washable paint
3. Elephant outline on paper
4. Paint roller or sponge

How to make it:

1. 1. Roll paint onto a piece of bubble wrap, bubble side up.
2. 2. Press your paper with the elephant outline onto the paint.
3. 3. Lift to reveal the textured pattern inside the outline.
4. 4. Add an eye and a little heart on the trunk with marker.

8. Toilet Roll Stomp Elephant

A toilet paper roll stands tall as the elephant’s body, with wide ears and a curled trunk. It’s sturdy, cute, and perfect for imaginative play.

Materials Needed:

1. Toilet paper roll
2. Construction paper
3. Glue stick
4. Marker

How to make it:

1. 1. Cover the roll with gray paper.
2. 2. Cut and glue on two big ears and four short paper legs.
3. 3. Add a long paper strip for the trunk and curl the end.
4. 4. Draw eyes and toenails; add a tiny tail on the back.

9. Puffy Paint Pachyderm

Mix glue and shaving cream for a puffy texture that dries squishy and cloud-like. The elephant looks soft and dreamy on paper.

Materials Needed:

1. Shaving cream
2. White glue
3. Food coloring or gray paint
4. Cardstock

How to make it:

1. 1. Mix equal parts shaving cream and glue; tint with a little color.
2. 2. Spoon or paint the mixture inside a simple elephant outline.
3. 3. Use a cotton swab to smooth the trunk and ears.
4. 4. Let dry; add a googly eye if you like.

10. Leaf-Ear Elephant

Real leaves make beautiful, organic elephant ears with lovely veins. It’s a quick nature craft that feels fresh and calming.

Materials Needed:

1. Two large leaves
2. Construction paper
3. Glue stick
4. Marker

How to make it:

1. 1. Cut a simple elephant head and trunk from paper.
2. 2. Glue the head to a background sheet.
3. 3. Add one leaf on each side as the ears.
4. 4. Draw an eye and a tiny smile.

11. Striped Envelope Elephant

An old envelope becomes an elephant body with a pocket for secret notes. Add stripes or patterns for a bold, graphic look.

Materials Needed:

1. Small envelope
2. Construction paper scraps
3. Glue stick
4. Marker

How to make it:

1. 1. Seal the envelope and turn it sideways.
2. 2. Glue on paper ears, legs, and a trunk to the envelope body.
3. 3. Draw stripes, spots, or patterns across the body.
4. 4. Add an eye and slip a tiny “hello” note inside.

12. Yarn-Tail Silhouette Elephant

A solid elephant silhouette looks sleek, while a fluffy yarn tail adds a playful touch. It’s quick, classy, and frame-worthy.

Materials Needed:

1. Black or gray cardstock
2. Yarn
3. Glue
4. Scissors

How to make it:

1. 1. Cut a simple elephant silhouette from cardstock.
2. 2. Glue it to a contrasting background.
3. 3. Cut a short piece of yarn and fray one end.
4. 4. Glue the yarn as the elephant’s tail.

13. Egg Carton Baby Elephant

An egg carton cup makes a round baby elephant head with a tiny trunk and ears. The bumpy texture looks adorable painted.

Materials Needed:

1. Egg carton cup
2. Paint and brush
3. Construction paper
4. Glue

How to make it:

1. 1. Cut one egg carton cup and paint it gray or any fun color.
2. 2. Cut two small paper ears and a short trunk.
3. 3. Glue the ears to the sides and the trunk to the front.
4. 4. Add eyes with paint or marker.

14. Finger-Puppet Elephants

Tiny paper rings become finger puppets with cute little trunks. Kids can make a whole circus in minutes.

Materials Needed:

1. Cardstock
2. Markers
3. Glue or tape
4. Scissors

How to make it:

1. 1. Cut a strip of cardstock and tape it into a ring to fit a finger.
2. 2. Cut a small oval head and a short curved trunk.
3. 3. Glue the head and trunk onto the ring.
4. 4. Draw eyes and ears; make more for friends.

15. Dot-Sticker Patchwork Elephant

Use round dot stickers to create a joyful, patchwork elephant inspired by storybook style. It’s mess-free and very satisfying.

Materials Needed:

1. Elephant outline page
2. Colorful dot stickers
3. Marker
4. Cardstock

How to make it:

1. 1. Print or draw a simple elephant outline on cardstock.
2. 2. Fill the elephant body with colorful dot stickers.
3. 3. Add an eye and outline details with marker.
4. 4. Frame or hang as a cheerful poster.

16. Foam Bowl Bath Elephant

A small foam bowl flips into a tubby elephant with a swoopy trunk. It stands up, making it great for pretend “bath time” play.

Materials Needed:

1. Foam or paper bowl
2. Craft foam sheets
3. Glue
4. Googly eyes

How to make it:

1. 1. Turn the bowl upside down for the body.
2. 2. Cut foam ears, legs, and a long trunk.
3. 3. Glue pieces to the bowl; add googly eyes.
4. 4. Draw little water splashes on the trunk with marker.

17. Spiral-Trunk Hanging Elephant

A spiral-cut trunk hangs and twirls in the air, bringing the elephant to life. It looks fancy, but it’s just one smart scissor trick.

Materials Needed:

1. Construction paper
2. Marker
3. String or tape loop
4. Scissors

How to make it:

1. 1. Draw a simple elephant head on paper and add big ears.
2. 2. From the center bottom, cut a spiral circle to become the trunk.
3. 3. Gently pull the spiral down so it dangles.
4. 4. Tape a loop to the top and hang it where air can make it spin.