Dragonflies are amazing creatures. With thousands of species and many colors, these water nymphs are remarkable insects that evolved from living in water to flying around.
We have listed eleven crafts that children with varying skills can do. These crafts can be used in different ways and are very colorful. Children will be excited to make and play with these crafts.
Great Dragonfly Crafts for Preschoolers
These adorable dragonfly crafts have cute little wings ready to take off. They are simple to make, but younger children may need extra assistance from adults when cutting and putting together the small parts.
Make several of these and use them for counting. This craft will also help in improving the children’s three-finger grasp as they squeeze the clips. They will also learn to cut and place the tape in its proper position. Use different colors to teach children colors and color patterns.
Use clean and dry clothespins for this activity. Cut the washi tape just enough to cover the clothespin. Stick this on the flat side of the clothespin. Do the same thing for the other side.
Next, cut two pairs of wings from the chosen fabric. Make sure that one pair is slightly longer than the other. Use cloth tape to attach this to the clothespin. Press the clothespin and carefully attach the wings inside.
Lastly, add two googly eyes to complete the dragonfly clothespin.
For this activity, you will need:
- Wooden clothespins
- Washi tape
- Fabric
- Cloth tape
- Googly eyes
- Scissors
For more information on this activity, go to DIYInspired.com.
The dragonfly craft made from pipe cleaners and beads can come in different colors for children to enjoy. They are simple to make, mostly twisting and folding pipe cleaners, but they require precision. An adult may assist children in making these.
Make several of these dragonflies to help children learn about colors. Let children identify the colors and group them. Use this craft to teach children the body parts of the dragonfly.
Start with folding the first pipe cleaner in half. Insert the ten pony beads on the folded end, freeing the two pointy ends. The part with the beads is the body, and the pointy end is the head.
Next, make a circle with the second pipe cleaner. Twist the ends on the circle to secure. Fold the circle in half and insert the body. Twist one side of the circle to form a wing. Do the same to the other side.
Repeat the process with the third pipe cleaner but make the wings slightly smaller than the first. Refer to the pictures and videos for this process.
Once the wings are finished, insert the eleventh pony bead on the pointy ends. Take both ends and twist them to form a coil. Add the googly eyes to complete the dragonfly craft.
For this activity, you will need:
- Three pipe cleaners
- Eleven plastic pony beads
- Googly eyes
- Craft tape
- Scissors
For more information on this activity, go to OneLittleProject.com.
Recycle the spoons included in your takeout meals. Turn them into bugs with colorful wings. This craft is easy for young children but may require assistance in tying the pipe cleaners and cellophane.
Teach the movements associated with dragonflies, such as flying, hovering, turning, and resting. Use these in a game to practice the movements.
Have each child hold one dragonfly craft. Say, “The little dragonfly is flying!” Model what flying looks like. Repeat with the other movements. Make it more challenging by adding additional concepts. Say, “The little dragonfly is flying over the green chair!”
To make the dragonfly, start by painting the spoon with the preferred colors. Allow the paint to dry.
Next, cut a square shape from the cellophane for the wings. Gather the middle part and secure it with the pipe cleaner. See the pictures on the site for reference. Next, attach the pipe cleaner with wings to the spoon by twisting it around the handle.
Lastly, attach the eyes with glue. Now the dragonfly is ready to fly!
For this activity, you will need:
- Colored cellophane
- Wooden spoons
- Paint
- Paintbrush
- Smock
- Pipe cleaners
- Googly eyes
- Glue
For more information on this activity, go to LaughingKidsLearn.com.
This craft is perfect for teaching children scientific facts about these amazing bugs. Let children know that there are different colors of dragonflies. Their colors sometimes vary with patterns on their bodies or wings.
Download and print the dragonfly template from the site. Choose to either print the template on the chosen colored paper or use the template to trace it on the colored paper.
Cut the pieces, such as the wings and the colored paper strip, for the body. Fold the strip of paper by making a zigzag. Fold until the line.
Punch a hole where a circle is indicated. These holes are where the straw will pass through. Refer to the pictures on site for this step.
Use glue to make a rounded head. Take the end of the unfolded strip of paper and glue it onto the line. Let it dry.
Next, carefully insert the paper straw through the holes, ensuring the paper will not tear. Glue the eyes on the head and add the wings.
If possible, show different pictures of dragonflies. Let children note the different colors and markings on their bodies and wings. Use those ideas to customize their dragonflies.
For this activity, you will need:
- Printed dragonfly template
- Scissors
- Glue
- Colored paper
- Paper straw
- Paper punch
- Googly eyes
For more information on this activity, go to IHeartCraftyThings.com.
Explore a different way of adding paint to crafts using an object not created for painting. The special tool to use for this project is a cotton swab. This craft may be time-consuming, but the results are worth it.
Children will enjoy adding dots of colors, creating patterns, and unique designs on their dragonflies while improving their eye-hand coordination and concentration.
Download and print the free dragonfly template from the site. Cut it out and set it aside.
Arrange the different paint colors. Use a palette to add a small amount of paint to each indent, or use small containers. Provide one cotton swab for each color. Inform children that the swabs cannot be used interchangeably.
Have the children dip the tip of the swab onto the paint and make a dot on the wing. Cover the wing edges with colored dots before proceeding to the middle part. Continue until all the wings are covered in colorful dots.
Next, use a paintbrush to paint the body of the dragonfly. Additional designs, such as lines or more dots, may be added to the body. Allow this to dry completely before using.
For this activity, you will need:
- Printed dragonfly template
- Paint
- Cotton swab
- Scissors
- Glue
For more information on this activity, go to ProjectsWithKids.com.
The colored tissue paper is a very thin type of paper that is somewhat transparent. Recycle those tissue papers from gifts to make this dragonfly craft.
Make the wings by cutting a teardrop shape from the colored tissue paper. Cut four big wings and four smaller ones from four different colors. Cut a body, stripes, and antennas from a different color of tissue paper.
There is no template for this craft, but it is easy to follow. Refer to the pictures on site for a more accurate visual explanation of the shapes.
Once all the pieces are cut and ready. Apply a thin coat of glue using a paintbrush on a cardstock. Carefully add the big wings and the smaller wings on top. Position them well so that they are aligned.
Add the body on top of the wings. Next, glue the googly eyes, stripes on the body, and antennas on the head.
Make the wings crumply like a newly emerged dragonfly as an option, and use this colorful craft with the book “Are You a Dragonfly?” by Judy Allen. This book talks about the dragonfly’s life cycle in an engaging way for young learners.
For this activity, you will need:
- Colored tissue papers
- Scissors
- Glue
- Paintbrush
- Googly eyes
- White cardstock
For more information on this activity, go to CraftyMorning.com.
This colorful dragonfly craft is easy to make, even for young children. Recycle those paper towel rolls that will end up in the landfill to make this craft.
Help children develop hand coordination and patience while wrapping the paper roll with yarn.
Here are some of the ways to use this craft. Hang them on the walls and ceiling for children to count.
Use it to teach concepts such as letters and numbers.
Give children pieces of paper with letters or numbers. Once they can identify them, place them inside the roll. Tell them that they are feeding the dragonfly.
Use this as an alternative to the mystery box during circle time.
Use it as a baton for morning exercises. Let children use this to improve their arm and modeling movements, such as lifting the dragonfly with both hands or holding the dragonfly with outstretched arms and twisting the body on the left.
To make this craft, cut a small slit on each side of the paper towel roll. Insert the end of the yarn into one of the silts and begin wrapping around the paper roll until it is completely covered. Tuck the end of the yarn on the other slit.
Cut out two pairs of wings from the foam craft and attach them with glue dots. Use glue dots also to attach the googly eyes.
For this activity, you will need:
- Paper towel rolls
- Yarn
- Glue dots
- Googly eyes
- Scissors
- Foam craft sheets
For more information on this activity, go to OurKidThings.com.
These pipe cleaner dragonflies are easy to make and can be completed in no time. Children will enjoy adding colorful buttons to the bug’s body. These are great to hang as decorations on Christmas trees or when wrapping gifts.
Use this craft to teach color patterns. Create several pairs of these, having one pair identical for the matching activity. Use different types of buttons to teach size, shape, and other unique characteristics.
Apply color on the craft stick with a paintbrush. Allow the paint to dry.
Next, make the wings using pipe cleaners. Fold the pipe cleaner to make a double loop. Secure the wings by wrapping them with the remaining pipe cleaner. Cut off the excess. Make two wings for this craft.
Next, use a hot glue gun to attach the pompoms to the craft stick. Attach the wings and eyes. Lastly, add the buttons lined up from the end of the craft stick up to the head.
For this activity, you will need:
- Craft sticks
- Paint
- Paintbrush
- Pipe cleaners
- Pompoms
- Googly eyes
- Hot glue gun
For more information on this activity, go to FrugalFun4Boys.com.
Nature-inspired activities are always welcome in teaching children. It helps children become creative by being exposed to the possibilities of making ordinary materials into wonderful crafts.
Children will improve their fine motor skills through painting. They will learn to observe and focus on details as they choose their materials.
Make this craft after a nature walk. Allow children to gather maple seeds and twigs. Inform them that they need to choose a good seed, unbroken and without decaying parts.
Clean and sanitize these materials and ensure they are dry before using them. Let the children paint the seeds using a paintbrush. Lay them on a piece of paper or tray to make them easier to paint.
Once the paint dries, glue two seeds together using a hot glue gun to make two sets of wings. Add a twig in the middle. This part will become the body. Add antennas by gluing two thin twigs on each side of the wings. Refer to the pictures on site for this step.
For this activity, you will need:
- Maple seeds
- Twigs
- Paint
- Paintbrush
- Hot glue gun
For more information on this activity, go to ChurchStreetDesigns.com.
Suncatchers are a hit among young children. They love to see them as the sunlight reflects on the colors. Make dragonfly suncatchers that can be attached to widows.
Help children improve their cutting skills as they cut the cellophane and black paper. Allow them to stick their finished project where the sun can shine through.
Download and print the free dragonfly template on the site. Cut out the pieces. Let an adult cut out the middle part of the wings using a craft knife.
Roll out the contact paper and secure the sides with washi tape or sticky tape to keep it in place while the children stick their dragonflies.
Next, let the children cut pieces of colored cellophane that will fit inside the wings. Allow them to stick these in the clear part of the wing. Fill all the wings with different colors.
Once finished, cut out the dragonflies and let the children stick these on the windows.
For this activity, you will need:
- Printed dragonfly template
- Contact paper
- Black paper
- Cellophane
- Scissors
- Craft knife
- Washi tape or sticky tape
For more information on this activity, go to CraftsOnSea.co.uk.
The details on this dragonfly craft are stunning. Create this craft with children and let them enjoy it during pretend play or use it to tell stories.
Start with washing the milk jugs. Make sure they are clean and dry for this activity. Cut out two pairs of wings using a craft knife or scissors. Cut the legs as well. Refer to the pictures on the site for this step.
Clean up sharp edges by trimming them. Run your fingers on them to ensure that there are parts that will cause snagging or scratching when children use these during playtime.
Cut a rectangle for the body from the milk jug. Decide on the size of the dragonfly since there is no template for this craft.
Next, use different colors of markers to add stripes to the rectangle. Use the same markers to add colors to the wings. Use a dropper to add alcohol to the rectangle and wings. The colors will bleed and look dyed.
Experiment with the amount of alcohol that will drip to achieve the desired look. Once satisfied with the colors, let it dry. Use the black marker to add veins on the wings and to color the legs.
Assemble the dragonfly using a hot glue gun to make the rectangle a tube. Roll and attach both ends. Glue the wings and legs, and add the googly eyes.
For this activity, you will need:
- Large milk plastic jugs
- Markers
- Craft knife or scissors
- Rubbing alcohol
- Dropper
- Glue gun
- Googly eyes
For more information on this activity, go to KidsCraftRoom.com.
Conclusion
This list offers eleven crafts that can be considered for classroom and home use. Make them go with lessons on dragonflies or to pass the time. Allow children to explore different ideas about this insect.
Let children learn their features, life cycle, food, and habitat. Engage children in this interesting topic by using crafts as tools for learning.
We hope you like our list. Thank you for reading!
Other crafts and resources for preschoolers:
