Get ready for some rodent-themed fun with this adorable Rat Paper Bag Craft! It can also be a mouse paper bag craft if you’d prefer. Whether your little ones are learning about farm animals or getting into the Halloween spirit, this craft is the perfect way to spark their creativity. With just a few simple materials, your kids will have so much fun bringing their own rat puppet to life. Let’s grab our paper bags and get started!
- Table Of Contents:
Materials
- Free printable template
- Printer
- Scissors
- Glue
- Brown Paper bag
- Markers, pencil crayons or crayons
Instructions
Step 1)
Gather your materials and print off the free rat puppet printable template. Choose from the full color version or the black and white version that you can color-in yourself.
Step 2)
Cut out the template pieces and color them in if you picked the black and white version.
Step 3)
Glue the body, arms and tail to the brown bag near where it folds over.
Step 4)
Glue the rat head to the bottom of the bag so it will be able to move when you put your hand in the bag.
Step 5)
Put your hand in the puppet and make it move! This is a great craft for pretend play. You can also use these cute paper rats on their own as a cut and paste craft for kids.
Rat Paper Bag Template Download
Download your free printable rat paper bag template using the link below this next image. This rat template is intended for personal use only or for classroom use, not for resale or commercial purposes.
You can print the colored version to make this rat paper bag puppet craft a quick and easy cut-and-paste activity for kids, or use the black and white version so your children can color it themselves and add their own creative flair.
Tips & Troubleshooting
Printing Issues:
Make sure your printer settings are set to “Fit to Page” to avoid cropping the template. If the template prints out too large or too small, check your printer’s scaling settings and adjust them to 100%. You can use regular printer paper, or for a sturdier craft, print on cardstock or construction paper.
Gluing Tips:
For younger children, a glue stick can be less messy and dries quickly. If the pieces don’t stick well, try using a stronger adhesive like craft glue. Double-sided tape can also be easier for younger kids to handle.
Coloring Tips:
If markers bleed through the paper, consider using colored pencils or crayons. Place a scrap piece of paper underneath to protect your surfaces. It’s often easier for kids to color first and then cut out the pieces, which can help minimize any mess from coloring outside the lines.
Cutting Tips:
Older kids should be able to cut out the pieces of this paper bag craft by themselves, while young children should use safety scissors with adult supervision. For preschoolers, you can cut out the smaller pieces in advance so they can focus on coloring and gluing the craft.
Benefits of This Rat Craft For Kids
Creativity
Kids get to let their imaginations run wild as they color in their rat puppet. Whether they stick to the classic gray or go for a rainbow rat, this is the perfect craft for them to express themselves in their own unique way. It’s a chance for them to make something that’s entirely their own!
Fine Motor Skills
All that cutting, coloring, and gluing works wonders for those fine motor skills. Holding scissors, managing glue, and coloring within the lines (or not!) helps kids develop the small muscles in their hands, which are crucial for writing, buttoning, and more.
Pretend Play
Once the rat puppet is complete, the fun doesn’t stop! Kids can dive into imaginative play, bringing their rat paper bag puppets to life with stories, voices, and adventures. Pretend play is fantastic for developing social skills, problem-solving, and possibly some language development. You can even print off a bunch of these and make a whole family of rats for pretend play at home or school.
Educational Purposes: Learning About Farms or Halloween
This rat craft is a great way to introduce kids to topics like farms or Halloween. If you’re learning about farm life, the rat puppet can be a fun character in stories about barns, crops, and the animals that live there. For Halloween, it can be a spooky (but still cute!) addition to stories or decorations. By tying the craft to these themes, you can make learning more interactive and engaging, helping kids make connections between what they’re crafting and the world around them. Think about reading Charlotte’s Web or other books that have a rat as a character.
Final Thoughts
It’s not just an awesome paper bag rat craft, this template works great as a paper bag mouse craft too! Whether you’re making a spooky Halloween decoration or a cute farmyard friend, this craft is sure to be a hit.
Stick around Crafty Kids Play for more activities, brown paper lunch bag crafts and fun for kids of all ages!
