10 Great Jungle Crafts for Preschoolers Activities

| Last Updated: April 26, 2023

Welcome, jungle adventurers! Are you ready to take your little ones on a wild journey through the jungle? 

In this article, we’ll explore 10 fantastic jungle crafts for preschoolers that will help them develop their creativity, fine motor skills, and imagination. So, gather your materials, and let’s get crafting!

Great Preschooler Jungle Craft Activities

Creativity | Fine Motor Skills | Following Directions

1. Footprint Monkey and Fingerprint Palm Tree

Monkeys are some of the most beloved animals in the jungle, and with good reason. They’re known for being intelligent, social, and endlessly entertaining. And now, with this adorable footprint monkey craft, your little ones can bring a bit of the jungle right into your home. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Kid’s paint (brown, tan, and green)
  • Paintbrush
  • Construction paper
  • Optional: googly eyes, wipes

Start by painting the bottom of the foot with brown paint and make a footprint on a sheet of construction paper. Then, make a thumbprint ear on each side of the heel and paint a tail. Wait for it to dry before using tan paint to make the monkey’s tummy and face. Finally, use white paint and fingerprints to make the eyes, and draw or paint facial features. You can add googly eyes for extra personality.

This monkey craft is not only fun, but it also helps your child develop their fine motor skills and artistic abilities. So, why not grab some paint and paper and get started on this wild and wonderful adventure today?

If you want to learn more about this resource, don’t forget to visit funhandprintartblog.com.

Fine Motor Skills | Sensory Development | Creativity

2. Crumpled Newspaper Elephant

Photo credit: Buggyandbuddy.com

Up next, we have a cool craft that will have your little ones crumpling and wrinkling newspaper like never before – the Crumpled Newspaper Elephant! This elephant art project is perfect for a jungle-themed unit or to accompany children’s books about elephants. 

It’s a fun sensory experience that kids will love and the result is a wrinkled masterpiece that looks just like elephant skin. Here are the materials and instructions to make this crumpled newspaper elephant:

  • Newspaper
  • Scissors
  • Flour
  • Water
  • Paintbrush
  • Construction paper (white, gray, and/or light blue)
  • Black marker
  • Glue
  • Optional: Tempera paint

Start by cutting two circles out of newspaper and creating a flour paste by mixing flour and warm water. Apply the paste between the circles and crumple them to create wrinkles. 

Allow the circles to dry overnight, and optionally, paint them. Cut out the elephant’s trunk and ears from construction paper or cardstock, glue them to the newspaper face, and add white eyes with black centers. Finally, display the completed elephant craft.

Buggyandbuddy.com is the place to go if you need more information about this resource.

Imaginations | Creativity | Fine Motor Skills

3. Clothespin Crocodile Craft

Photo credit: theinspirationedit.com

Alrighty, let’s get ready for some crocodile crafting fun! The third worksheet is a total blast and perfect for some home or preschool creativity. Plus, painting and crafting with the kiddos is an awesome way to have a good time while boosting those fine motor skills, igniting imagination, and encouraging artistic flair.

Materials needed for the Clothespin Crocodile Craft include:

  • Clothing pegs
  • Poster Board
  • Red & Green Paint
  • Paint Brush
  • Scissors
  • Google Eyes
  • Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
  • Magnets
  • Green Pipe Cleaners

Start by painting those pegs a luscious green and let them dry. Then, bend and cut a green pipe cleaner to fit the top of the clothespin and glue it down with your trusty hot glue gun. 

Stick on those googly eyes and paint the crocodile’s mouth a fierce red, adding some sharp zigzag teeth made from white poster board scraps. To finish up, flip the craft over and attach a magnet to the back. You and your little ones have created an awesome Clothespin Crocodile Craft that’s sure to impress.

To get additional details about this resource, make sure to browse theinspirationedit.com.

Following Directions | Creativity | Fine Motor Skills

4. DIY Pipe Cleaner and Bead Snake Craft

Photo credit: artsycraftsymom.com

This DIY Pipe Cleaner and Bead Snake Craft is a fun and easy project for kids that can be used in a variety of ways. Whether you’re looking for a bookmark, bag charm, or keychain, this craft is perfect for creating a colorful and friendly snake. Here’s the material required so that you can make your snake in no time:

  • Tissue paper in assorted colors
  • Pipe cleaners or craft wire
  • Scissors
  • Ribbon or string (optional)

Start by forming an oval shape for the snake’s head with a pipe cleaner, and then string the beads along the tail in a pattern or at random. 

Add a friendly face with googly eyes and a tongue made of red felt or another pipe cleaner. Once you’ve made one snake, you can create an entire family by bending them into different shapes and sizes.

It’s a great way to improve fine motor skills and creativity, and the finished snakes can be used in a variety of ways.

For a deeper understanding of this resource, take a look at artsycraftsymom.com. Up for more crafting? Check out our list of other snake crafts preschoolers can make!

Recycling | Creativity | Fine Motor Skills

5. Toilet Paper Roll Jungle Scene

Photo credit: kidscraftroom.com

Get ready to take a walk on the wild side with this fun and easy DIY project! Create your jungle scene playset using toilet paper rolls and paper plates. You’ll need supplies like:

  • Acrylic Paint
  • Glue
  • Googly Eyes
  • Brown Pipe Cleaners (To Make Monkeys, Elephants, Snakes, And Trees)

Start by painting the toilet paper rolls in different colors. Cut them from one end to the other in a spiral, starting thick and getting thinner. Snip around the thick end to make a head shape and paint or stick on any other decorative patterns you want down the snake’s back. 

For the monkeys, round the head and cut out two monkey ears from the top of the toilet paper roll, paint them any color you like, and add a long curly tail made out of a brown pipe cleaner. 

Don’t forget to add googly eyes for both the snakes and monkeys! Let your kids’ imagination run wild and have fun creating your very own jungle scene playset.

If you’re curious about this resource, head over to kidscraftroom.com for more information.

Fine Motor Skills | Following Directions | Imaginations

6. Parrot in a Leafy Jungle Craft

Photo credit: Mykidcraft.com

This craft project is a bright and colorful parrot in a leafy jungle card, perfect for young children or anyone who wants to create a fun and cheerful birthday card. To create the card, you will need some simple materials such as:

  • Plain Card
  • Green, Yellow, And Blue Paint
  • Leaves For Printing
  • A Printed Photo Of A Parrot Or A Self-Drawn One
  • PVA White Glue
  • Brush

Start by painting a plain card with green paint using a brush or sponge. Next, mix green paint with yellow in one container and blue with yellow in another to create three unique shades of green. 

Take some leaves and dip them into each shade of paint, then press them onto the green background to create a leafy jungle pattern. Lift off the leaves to reveal your handiwork! 

Now, cover a printed parrot with glue and use craft feathers and colored paper scraps to match the parrot’s colors, sticking them onto the bird with glue. After it’s dry, cut around the parrot and attach it to the leafy jungle card.

For those who want a more complex project, drawing their parrot can add an extra level of creativity.

Mykidcraft.com provides more information about this parrot craft, so be sure to check it out.

Creativity | Following Directions | Fine Motor Skills

7. Sloth Handprint Craft

Photo credit: simpleeverydaymom.com

The Sloth Handprint Craft is a fun and easy activity that is perfect for kids who love sloths. With a free printable template and simple materials, this craft is great for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and elementary-aged children. 

The finished product makes a wonderful keepsake that your child will be proud to display. Here are the materials you will need:

  • Colored cardstock or construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Black marker
  • Pencil
  • Sloth template (available for download on the post)

To make the craft, simply download and print the sloth template, then cut out the pieces. Trace your child’s hand on brown paper and cut this out. Glue the sloth’s head onto the thumb side of the handprint and attach the face, eyes, and nose with the black and brown markers. 

Create the branch by gluing the three leaves onto the skinny end and attach the sloth’s arms and legs around the thicker portion. Your child will love creating their sloth handprint craft and showing it off to friends and family.

Don’t miss out on valuable information about this resource that can be found on simpleeverydaymom.com.

Pretend Play | Imaginations | Fine Motor Skills

8. Paper Plate Jungle Animals

Photo credit: madetobeamomma.com

This next craft is a perfect activity to keep kids busy and entertained. With just a few basic craft supplies, you can make a paper plate lion, zebra, and elephant that your kids will love.

To make these adorable animals, you’ll need:

  • Paper Plates
  • Construction Paper
  • Paint
  • Glue Sticks
  • Black Markers
  • Googly Eyes
  • White Paint Pen

First, paint your paper plate blue for the elephant, yellow for the lion, and white for the zebra. Then, grab some construction paper and cut out the necessary pieces to create your animal of choice. 

Next, glue those pieces onto the paper plate to give your animal its unique features. Don’t forget to use a black marker to draw the eyes, nose, and other important details! 

For some extra fun, add googly eyes and use a white paint pen to create a big smile for the zebra. Kids will have fun creating their animal characters and can display them as decoration or use them for imaginative play.

To fully comprehend this bundle of fun paper plate crafts, visit madetobeamomma.com for more details.

Imaginations | Listening | Creativity

9. Jungle-Inspired Collage

Photo credit: rainydaymum.co.uk

The Jungle Inspired Collage is a perfect craft for kids who love nature and animals. It’s a great way to encourage creativity and imagination in children while also promoting reading and storytelling.

To make this collage, children will need basic art supplies such as paper, glue, scissors, and markers. They will also need some materials like:

  • Leaves
  • Flowers
  • Animal figurines to create a jungle scene

Kids can use their imaginations to create their unique jungle landscape with a variety of colors, textures, and shapes.

Start by painting the paper with shades of green, yellow, and brown to create the perfect backdrop. Once the paint has dried, cut out shapes of leaves, trees, and animals to make the scene come alive. Then, glue all of the cut-out pieces to the paper to create your jungle. 

To add even more fun to your project, use different materials like tissue paper and pom-poms to give the jungle texture and dimension. And don’t forget to show off their finished masterpiece when it’s dry! 

This is a great activity for encouraging creativity and imagination while also incorporating fine motor skills through cutting and gluing.

If you’re seeking more information about this resource, rainydaymum.co.uk is a great resource to consult.

Creativity | Fine Motor Skills | Imagination

10. Rousseau Inspired Jungle Craft

Photo credit: Messylittlemonster.com

This last craft is a Rousseau-inspired jungle craft that’s perfect for keeping kids engaged and sparking their creativity.

Henri Rousseau was a French artist known for his distinctive style of painting lush jungles and wild animals. This craft takes inspiration from his famous artwork ‘Tropics’ and is a great way to introduce kids to art history and appreciation.

To create this craft, you’ll need:

  • Free Printable Jungle Background
  • Cardboard Box Or Lid
  • Images Of Animals
  • Leaves Or Plants (Made From Paper Or Real Ones From Your Backyard)

First, paint or color the jungle background and glue it to the cardboard. Then, add the jungle animals by drawing or painting them, or using the clip art included in the activity. 

Finally, add the leaves and plants to complete the jungle scene. Let your imagination run wild and have fun creating your unique jungle masterpiece!

Messylittlemonster.com offers further insight into this resource, so be sure to visit the website for more information.

Conclusion

We hope you and your little ones enjoyed these 10 great jungle crafts for preschoolers! These activities are a great way to inspire creativity and learning while having fun. 

Don’t forget to try out our other themed crafts and activities to keep the excitement going. See you soon for more fun and adventures!



Hi, I'm Amanda! Welcome to Education Outside! Im passionate about educating young minds and helping parents/teachers by providing easy and effective teaching resources. Check out all of my teaching resources on my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

0