This American flag handprint craft is perfect for Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Flag Day. Anytime you need a patriotic craft is a great time to try this simple American flag craft at home or in school.
You can use our American flag template options for this craft to make it as simple or as complex as you’d like! Get ready to help your kids develop fine motor skills, and proudly create a visual representation of their national identity! Let’s get crafting.
- Table Of Contents:
Materials
- Construction paper
- Pencil
- Glue
- Scissors
- Template & Printer
Instructions
Step 1)
Trace your handprint onto the pink paper and cut it out.
Step 2)
You can use our free flag template for really young children, or cut the details to make the American flag yourself then assemble it.
To make the flag yourself, cut out a small rectangle of white paper and then 7 small strips of red construction paper for the flag stripes. Cut out white stars and a longer strip of blue construction paper to make the flag pole and a small rectangle of blue construction paper to glue the stars onto.
Step 3)
If you’re assembling the flag yourself, glue the pieces together. Start by evenly spacing out and gluing the red stripes onto the white rectangle. Then glue the blue rectangle in the top left corner. Glue the white stars on top of the blue triangle. Glue the long strip of blue to the left side of the flag for the flag pole.
Step 4)
Glue the handprint to a sheet of light blue paper.
Step 5)
Glue the American flag above the handprint with the flag pole inside the handprint. Then roll the fingers to make the illusion that the hand is holding the flag. Glue the fingers in place.
Step 6)
Cut small triangles from different colors of the construction paper to make confetti for the background then glue them to the light blue paper.
Video Instructions
Prefer watching video instructions for crafts? Check out the YouTube channel for Crafty Kids Play and watch the full video for this American Flag Handprint Craft here.
American Flag Craft Template Download
There are three ways to make the American flag for this craft. Option 1) print the American flag templates to make this craft easy for preschool students and toddlers to cut themselves. Option 2) Print the full color template pieces for more cutting practice and fine motor skills fun, and assemble the flag pieces yourself. Option 3) skip the template and see what your kids come up with for maximum creativity!
Use the button below the next image to get your own digital copy of the printable templates.
These digital files are for your own personal use, not for commercial use or resale.
Variation Ideas
Simplify the Craft
There are a few different options to make this craft easier or harder depending on the age of the children crafting and the amount of time you’d like the craft to take.
Option 1) Print the American flag templates to make this craft easy for preschool students and toddlers to cut themselves.
Option 2) Print the full color template pieces for more cutting practice and fine motor skills fun, and assemble the flag pieces yourself.
Option 3) Skip the template and see what your kids create on their own for maximum creativity!
Star Stickers
You can also use white star stickers instead of cutting out star shapes. Toddlers won’t have the fine motor control to cut the tiny details and older kids may enjoy placing the stickers to make the crafting session shorter.
Painted Flag
Instead of using cut paper to create the flag, you could use white paint for the white stripes, red paint for the red stripes and blue paint for the navy blue stripes and then add white star stickers on top once it’s dry. You can either paint directly on the large sheet of paper or paint your flag on a separate piece of paper, cut it out and paste it onto your background.
Background Variations
Get kids to add their own personal touch to this fun craft by changing the background. Making small confetti pieces is a great way to practice scissor skills but it’s not the only option. Use child safe ink or washable paint and add fingerprints to the background. Use stickers, paint sticks or glitter to make each child feel like they’re creating original artwork in a creative way.
Benefits of This Patriotic Craft For Kids
Fine Motor Skills Development:
Cutting out the handprint, flag details, and confetti involves the use of scissors, helping kids enhance their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Little hands need lots of practice to grow stronger and crafting is the perfect way to exercise their finger muscles.
Educational Element:
The easy patriotic craft involves learning about the components of the American flag, such as the stars and stripes. The hands-on experience of making this simple craft can complement classroom lessons about national symbols and colors.
Cognitive Skills Enhancement:
Following the step-by-step instructions and assembling the flag involves cognitive processes such as sequencing and problem-solving, contributing to the development of critical thinking skills.
Patriotic Awareness:
Creating this handprint American flag craft fosters a sense of patriotism as kids engage with the national symbol. It’s the perfect activity to provide an opportunity for discussions about the significance of the flag and national pride.
Spatial Awareness:
Assembling the flag and positioning it above the handprint requires spatial awareness. Kids learn about spatial relationships and how to organize different elements on a surface.
Final Thoughts
This handprint flag craft is a fun way to celebrate a patriotic holiday. Your child will love it when you display the finished product in your home or classroom.
Stick around Crafty Kids Play for more great handprint crafts, sensory play ideas and awesome craft activities for kids of all ages.
