In this activity, we will have fun, use your creativity, and practice cutting and gluing to make this cool popsicle stick penguin! You can use this as a puppet to play with or as a fun doll to play with in the winter!
Supplies:
Popsicle Sticks (either black and white popsicle sticks OR plain popsicle sticks)
White and Black paint
Orange pom poms for the penguin’s feet (or any colour you want!)
2 pom poms that are any colour you want, for the earmuffs
Googley eyes
Liquid glue
A glue stick
Black construction paper
Scissors
An orange foam shape
A pipecleaner
A placemat
2 paintbrushes
Before you begin your activity, let’s remember to have a placemat or newspaper to keep your space clean because you might get messy during this craft!
Step 1: For the first step, you will need your liquid glue and some popsicle sticks! I used 5 popsicle sticks, but you can use more or fewer popsicle sticks, it is completely up to you! If you want your penguin to be big, use more than 5 popsicle sticks! The least amount of popsicle sticks you could use to make the penguin would be 3 popsicle sticks! You can also cut your popsicle sticks if you want to make your penguin shorter! You will need help from an adult to cut the popsicle stick! When you are ready, line up your popsicle sticks together and put the liquid glue on one side of the popsicle sticks that you will use to make your penguin.
Step 2: For this next step, you will need to bring your black construction paper next to the popsicle sticks! Once you have put glue on all of your popsicle sticks, turn them over and glue them onto the edge of a piece of black construction paper.
Step 3: Now, you will need to have your black paint and a paintbrush with your popsicle sticks! Use black paint to cover all of the popsicle sticks. You can even paint the sides of the popsicle sticks if you want! You don’t have to worry about getting the construction paper messy because you will be cutting the construction paper!
Step 4: You will need to paint some more popsicle sticks for your penguin, so have 2 more popsicle sticks ready! For the arms, you will either need two small popsicle sticks, or you can cut a popsicle stick in half! You will need help from an adult to cut the popsicle stick! Paint the popsicle sticks black for the arms!
Step 5: Have some white paint ready, and another paintbrush ready for this step! You will also need either one big popsicle stick that you cut in half or two small popsicle sticks to make the tummy for the penguin. Using your white paint and paintbrush, paint the penguin’s tummy white! Make sure that you let the paint dry on all of the popsicle sticks before moving on to the next step! Remember that the more paint you use, the longer it will take to dry! You can place the popsicle sticks for your penguin on the side to dry!
Step 6: While the paint is drying, you can start making the earmuffs! For this step, you will need a pipe cleaner and scissors! You will need to cut a pipe cleaner to be the size that you want for your earmuffs. It can be as long or as short as you want, it’s your choice! I chose to make mine the same size as my finger.
Step 7: Grab some more liquid glue and your 2 pom poms for this step! Once you are happy with the size of your earmuffs, use 2 poms and glue them to the left and the right side of the pipe cleaner. Place it to the side and wait for the glue to dry! It should take about 10 minutes.
Step 8: Now, you can grab your penguin body that is all dry! Before you start to make the penguin, you have to cut the construction paper around the popsicle sticks. Use your scissors to cut along the edge as close to the popsicle sticks as possible. If you need help cutting, make sure to ask an adult for help!
Step 9: Now, you can make your penguin! You will need your penguin body, white popsicle sticks, and liquid glue! Start by gluing the white popsicle sticks in the middle of the black popsicle sticks, and on the bottom of the black popsicle sticks. If you use 5 popsicle sticks like me, I put them on the 2nd and 3rd popsicle sticks that make my penguin!
Step 10: You can also add some flippers (that’s what a penguin’s arms are called) for the penguin! Grab your small black popsicle sticks and bring them to your penguin. Glue one arm in the middle of the penguin right above its tummy, and do the same thing for the next arm! I glued mine diagonally onto the penguin so that it looks more like a penguin.
Step 11: Next, you will need the earmuffs you made for your penguin! Glue them at the top of the penguin’s head onto the right and left sides of the penguin’s head.
Step 12: The penguin still needs a face! You will need your liquid glue, 2 googley eyes, and an orange foam triangle. Glue the googley eyes underneath the penguin’s earmuffs in the middle of the popsicle sticks. You can also glue on an orange triangle foam shape in the middle underneath the penguin’s eyes to complete the penguin’s face! You could also paint on a beak for the penguin!
Step 13: For the final step, you will need liquid glue and 2 orange pom poms for the penguin’s feet! You can choose another colour if you want, it is completely up to you, use your creativity! I glued my feet on the left and right side at the bottom of the penguin. Let your penguin dry for ten minutes before you start to play with it!
~Made by Katie M.