Ready for a royal adventure? Put on your creativity crown and get ready to make this amazing castle paper plate craft.
You can pair this castle paper plate craft with some popsicle stick puppets and paper doll princesses and princes and get ready for hours of creative play! Imagination will whisk your little ones away to faraway kingdoms and fairy-tale realms with this cool craft.
- Table Of Contents:
Materials
- Paper plates
- Template
- Grey & red construction paper
- Scissors
- Gray paint
- Paintbrush
- Black marker
- Glue, or double sided tape
Instructions
Step 1)
Download and print your template from this article, then cut out the pieces.
Step 2)
Trace the template pieces onto construction paper then cut them out. Glue the red construction pieces to the grey pieces. You should have three turrets for your castle as well as one red strip left over.
Step 3)
Use the biggest center turret to measure a space in the center of both paper plates and cut out notches on either side of the paper plate; this will make the turrets look larger when you attach them later.
Step 4)
Paint the front of the paper plate grey and once it’s dry, use a black marker to draw some bricks on it for decoration. This will be the background of your craft.
Step 5)
Cut out the same notches and an archway out of a second paper plate; this will be the front of your craft.
Step 6)
Paint the back of the second paper plate grey and once it’s fully dry, use a black marker to draw some bricks on it for decoration.
Step 7)
Glue the three turrets to the back of the second paper plate and glue on the extra red strip of construction paper from your template pieces.
Step 8)
Use glue or strong double sided tape to attach your two paper plates together. Leave a space at the bottom of your craft so you can fit a popsicle stick puppet inside later.
If glue isn’t working well enough for you, you can staple the paper plates together at the side.
Video Instructions
Prefer video instructions? Check out the YouTube Channel for Crafty Kids Play and watch the full video tutorial for this castle craft right here.
Castle Craft Template Download
Download your free pdf template using the button below. You can print this template on regular white paper or thin cardstock at home or at your local print shop.
This castle craft template is for your own personal use only, not for resale or commercial use.
Tips & Troubleshooting
Prepare a Crafting Area:
Lay down newspaper or a plastic tablecloth to protect surfaces. This makes cleanup easier and allows children to be more relaxed during the crafting process.
Pre-cut Templates:
Pre-cutting the templates can save time and make the craft more accessible for younger children. This way, they can focus on assembling and decorating rather than spending a lot of time on cutting.
Working with younger children always requires adult supervision or assistance with cutting, to ensure safety.
Extra Drying Time:
Allow sufficient drying time between steps, especially when painting the plates. Using a hairdryer on a low setting can speed up the drying process if needed.
Introduce Educational Elements:
While crafting, discuss elements of castles, medieval history, or fairy tales. This adds an educational component to the activity, making it both fun and informative.
Variation Ideas
Magical Castle:
Turn the craft into a magical castle by incorporating glitter or sequins into the paint for a sparkling effect. Encourage children to add whimsical details like enchanted towers or mystical creatures.
Sticker and Gem Embellishments:
Allow children to use stickers or gem embellishments to add extra sparkle and detail to their castle. This provides an opportunity for creativity and personalization. You could also use tissue paper and pipe cleaners to add a different texture to your castle’s flags.
Storybook Castle:
Ask children to think of a story for their castle. They can create characters, write a short story, and illustrate it using the castle as a backdrop. This variation adds a storytelling element to the craft.
Themed Castles:
Tailor the castle to match a specific theme, such as a princess castle, dragon’s lair, or pirate fortress. Children can use their imaginations to add corresponding details and characters to fit the chosen theme.
Castle Stories:
Pair this castle craft with your favorite fairy tale like Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Beauty and the Beast or even Frozen. Anything that features a great castle. You can change the castle slightly to fit the story theme.
Benefits of This Castle Craft For Kids
Fine Motor Skills Development:
Cutting, tracing, and gluing the various template pieces requires precise hand movements, contributing to the development of fine motor skills in young children. Crafting is one of the most fun ways to practice activities that enhance coordination and control over hand-eye movements, fostering dexterity.
Spatial Awareness:
Tracing, cutting, and assembling the castle pieces encourage spatial awareness as children learn to manipulate and organize shapes in relation to each other. This skill is essential for various aspects of learning, including mathematics and problem-solving.
Puppet Play Integration:
Leaving space at the bottom of the craft for a popsicle stick puppet introduces an element of storytelling and dramatic play. Depending on the child’s age, they can create characters, developing narrative skills and incorporating their craft into imaginative play scenarios.
Extended Play Opportunities:
The castle craft is not only an art project but also a versatile toy. The added space at the bottom for a puppet allows for extended play opportunities, promoting open-ended play and creativity beyond the crafting session.
Final Thoughts
Who would’ve thought you could use simple materials to transform paper plates into castles as with this great craft! It’s a great way to spend a rainy day with your kids and creates opportunities for imaginative play, puppetry and storytelling.
Stick around Crafty Kids Play for more craft activities, sensory play ideas and printable activities for kids of all ages!
