Cute & Easy Monkey Paper Bag Puppet (Free Printable)

Looking for a fun and easy animal craft for kids? This monkey paper bag craft is a great way to turn ordinary paper lunch bags into adorable paper bag puppets! With a free printable template and just a few simple supplies, kids can cut, glue, and create their own monkey. It’s a fun way to introduce jungle animals while practicing important skills like cutting and gluing. Kids will have so much fun creating their puppet and using it later for pretend play.

Let’s get started!

Materials

Scissors
Glue
Paper Bag
Free Printable Template
Markers or Crayons (optional if coloring yourself)

Instructions

Step 1)

Gather your supplies and print off your free printable template. You can choose from a blank copy that you can color yourself or a full color version.

Step 2)

Cut out your template pieces

Step 3)

Glue the monkey head to the bottom of your paper bag (the part that moves).

Glue the tail down to the body of the bag and the body of the monkey over top.

Step 4)

If you picked the template version that you color yourself, choose markers, crayons, or colored pencils to decorate your monkey. Once everything is colored and assembled, your final product will be a cute monkey puppet ready to play with.

Enjoy!

Video Instructions

Prefer video instructions for your crafts? Subscribe to the Crafty Kids Play YouTube channel and watch our full video tutorial of this monkey paper bag craft here.

Tips & Troubleshooting

Use a Glue Stick for Best Results:
Glue sticks help keep this fun craft neat and prevent the paper bag from getting soggy.

Let Kids Color Before Cutting (If Needed):
For younger children, coloring the pieces before cutting them out can make the activity easier.

Make Sure the Head Goes on the Flap:
The bottom flap of the bag should move when kids open and close it, helping bring their puppet to life.

Pre-Cut Pieces for Younger Kids:
If you’re working with preschool crafts, an adult can cut out the template pieces ahead of time so kids can focus on assembling their puppet.

Add Extra Details:
Kids can decorate their monkeys with googly eyes, stickers, or draw jungle leaves and bananas around their puppet.

Monkey Paper Bag Craft Template Download

Download your free printable monkey paper bag craft template using the link below this next image. This free template is intended for personal or classroom use only and may not be redistributed or sold.

monkey-craft Download

Benefits of This Monkey Craft For Kids

Fine Motor Skills Development
Cutting, gluing, and coloring all help strengthen hand muscles and improve coordination.

Creative Expression
Kids can have a lot of fun while they decorate their monkeys with different colors, facial expressions, and fun details to make each puppet unique.

Encourages Imaginative Play
After the craft is finished, kids can gather their little monkeys together and perform a mini puppet show using their new puppet creations.

Educational Fun
This craft can also be part of a lesson about jungle animals or primates, helping kids learn while they create.

Final Thoughts

This monkey paper bag craft is a quick and easy activity that kids will love. With simple materials and a free printable template, you can turn a basic paper bag into a fun monkey puppet in just a few steps. It’s perfect for classroom activities, homeschool lessons, rainy days, or animal-themed units.

Stick around Crafty Kids Play for more fun kids crafts and printable activities that make learning creative and exciting!