Penguin Craft for Kids | Winter Animal Fun

Penguins are one of the most fascinating animals for kids to learn about — they don’t fly, they waddle, and they live in some of the coldest places on Earth! This Penguin Craft is one of my favorites because it’s simple, adorable, and can be made with supplies you already have at home. It’s also a perfect activity for a winter unit study or an Arctic/Antarctic animal lesson.

✂️ Materials You’ll Need

• 1 egg carton tray (cut into single cups for penguin bodies)

• Black paint + paintbrush (or black spray paint)

• White paint or paper (for belly and eyes)

• Orange felt (for beak + feet)

• Scissors

• Glue (hot glue or strong craft glue works best)

• Googly eyes (optional – or paint/draw your own)

• Cotton balls or tissue paper (optional – for snowy background)

📸 Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Cut the Felt Pieces

From orange felt, cut out a small triangle for the beak and two little penguin feet.

Step 2: Cut the White Belly

Cut an oval shape from white paper (or felt) to serve as the penguin’s belly.

Step 3: Cut the Black Flippers

Cut two small flippers/wings from black paper or felt.

Step 4: Prepare the Egg Carton

Cut out one cup from the egg carton to use as the penguin’s body.

Step 5: Paint the Body

Paint the egg carton cup black. Let it dry completely.

Step 6: Attach the White Belly

Glue the white oval onto the front of the egg carton cup.

Step 7: Add the Flippers

Glue the two black flippers onto the sides of the penguin’s body.

Step 8: Add the Face

Glue on the orange beak below where the eyes will go. Attach googly eyes (or paint/draw your own).

Step 9: Add the Feet

Use a glue gun to securely attach the orange felt feet to the bottom of the egg carton cup.
⚠️ Tip: Adults should handle the glue gun step for safety.

Step 10: Create a Scene (Optional)

Add cotton balls, tissue paper, or white paper scraps to make snow around your penguin. Kids can also draw an iceberg, water, or other penguins to complete the scene.

🌍 Learning Connections

This craft is a fun way to talk about penguins and their habitat:

• Penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere, many in Antarctica.

• They are birds that can’t fly but are excellent swimmers.

• Their black and white coloring helps them camouflage in the water.

• Penguins huddle together to keep warm in the cold.

❄️ Winter & Seasonal Tie-In

This penguin craft is perfect for winter lessons. You can use it to connect with other seasonal crafts (like snowflakes, igloos, or polar bears) or even make a whole “Arctic wall display” for your classroom or homeschool.

🌟 Extension Ideas

• Science Connection: Compare penguins to other birds that can fly.

• Math Connection: Count and graph how many penguins kids make.

• Creative Writing: Write a short story called “A Day in the Life of a Penguin.”

✨ Final Thoughts

This Penguin Craft is easy, fun, and educational — a perfect mix of art and science. It helps kids explore penguins’ unique adaptations while making something adorable they’ll be proud of. Whether as part of a winter unit, an animal study, or just for fun, this project is sure to be a favorite!

💡 Tip: For younger children, pre-cut the pieces and let them focus on gluing and decorating.

👉 Save this idea on Pinterest so you’ll have it ready for your next homeschool lesson or rainy-day project!

For more craft ideas, thematic video lessons for children ages 3-7 about the Ocean, Space, Forests, Polar Habitats, the Desert, Rainforest, African Savanna- and with stellar phonics and reading instruction- go to https://www.missannasclass.com/.