Paper Towel Tube Giraffe Craft for Kids (Easy Zoo Animal Craft)
I love taking a story beyond the pages of a book. When children create, imagine, and build something connected to a story, they have the opportunity to revisit the characters, explore the message, and make meaningful memories along the way.
This simple Craft is the perfect companion activity for The Middlest Giraffe. With just a few simple supplies, children can create their very own giraffe while remembering the story of the middlest giraffe.
Whether you are reading at home, adding it to a homeschool unit study, or looking for a fun classroom activity, this giraffe craft is sure to bring smiles to everyone!
About The Middlest Giraffe
Meet the middlest giraffe — not the littlest or the tallest, the middlest! You may know a kid like this, not little anymore, but not big yet, just bigger. Big enough to try things, to want some independence, but maybe not quite ready to do it all on their own yet.
Perfect for ages 3–8, The Middlest Giraffe is a story that hits home for so many kids, if they aren’t the ones going through it, chances are they know someone who is! Moms, dads, preschool teachers, your all going to love this one, and your little one’s too!
Add in this craft is a for a fun way for children to connect with the story.
✂️ Supplies Needed:
- printer and template
- 1 sheet White Cardstock
- 1 sheet Dark Yellow Cardstock
- Paper Towel Roll (optional)
- scissors
- glue
- googly eyes
- Black marker
- Optional: Tape, paper clips, stapler
How to Make Your Giraffe
- Print and carefully cut out the pieces.
- Wrap the yellow cardstock around the paper towel roll and glue into place. Or just roll the cardstock so the long sides over lap into a paper roll so they overlap about the same size as a paper towel roll, and glue together. (Hold until glue dries, or find something to hold it for you),
- Take the large oval and start building the face.
- Glue on the dark orange piece with the two black dots to the bottom of the oval as shown in the picture. This becomes the nose and mouth or ‘muzzle’ area.
- Glue the two ‘ears on the back of the other end of the oval. This becomes the top of thead.
- Glue the ‘horns’ between the ears.
- Glue the small orange circles to the top of the ‘horns’.
- Attach googly eyes.
- Glue head to one end of the tube, and the tube becomes a long neck!
- Glue on the small orange ovals to the neck to create a spotted girafge pattern.
Extend the Learning
Crafts are a wonderful way to help children connect with the books they read. After making your giraffe take some time to talk about the story:
- Can you retell me the story?
- Does this remind you of anyone?
- What was your favorite part of the story?
- Did you learn anything?
Then, this is important, remember to model asking for help. Even if you don’t really need it, because kids will learn its okay to ask, if they see the adults around them asking for help too.
Get the Free Template
Want to make it even easier? Download our free printable template from the Free Resource Page (find the password in the last newsletter) or get it straight to your inbox by signing up for the newsletter below.
You’ll also get access to my full library of book-based crafts, coloring pages, and more creative fun.
Blessings,
—Shannon L. Mokry
