Paper Plate Bird Craft

Create a beautiful bird using paper plates and colorful paints. You can make many different kinds of birds, like a robin, cardinal, blue jay, or hummingbird! This craft is a fun way to learn about the birds that live around us.

20-30 minutes Ages 3-8

About This Project

A 20–30 minutes craft for ages 3–8, using supplies you likely already have — Pom Poms, Scissors, and Pencils.

GlueStick supports kids from setup to cleanup. After they choose a project, we guide them through gathering the supplies, making it, and cleaning up when they're done. We'll even help them share it safely with trusted family and friends.

Ad-free and kid-safe library — designed by a mom who wants kids to explore and create independently.

Step 1: Make the rocking body

Fold the paper plate in half As pictured, use the scotch tape to adhere the clothespins to the inside of the folded plate. These will give weight to the front end of the bird so that he will rock more effectively. Use the hole punch to make holes in the plate as pictured.

Step 2: Secure the bottom

Cut the pipe cleaner in half. Secure the bottom of the bird with the pipe cleaner by putting it through the holes and twisting it on each end to hold it in place. It's ok to ask for help if you need it!

Step 3: Choose Your Bird

Decide which bird you want to make! You can choose from many different birds like a robin, cardinal, blue jay, or hummingbird.

Step 4: Paint Your Paper Plate

May need grown-up help

Use the clothespin and pom pom to make a “paint brush”. For our bird, we used red paint to make clusters of 3 dots using the pom pom paint brush on both sides of the bird. Then, using the q-tip, we filled in around the red clusters with small pink dots on both sides of the plate. You can make any design you'd like! Try painting it all blue for a blue bird, red and gray like a robin, or orange and black for an oriole. Let the paint dry completely.

Step 5: Cut out bird parts

While the paint is drying, cut 2 medium-sized pink hearts for the wings, 2 medium long and thin red hearts for the tail feathers, 2 little thinner pink hearts for the feet, and 2 tiny red hearts for the beak.

Step 6: Assemble Your Bird

Once the paint is dry, glue the cut-out bird parts onto your painted paper plate. Put the wings, beak, and eyes in the right places to make your bird come alive.

Paper Plate Bird Craft

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