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Paper Plate Turtles activity from Atlas Playbook
Arts & Crafts

Paper Plate Turtles

How to Make a Paper Plate Turtle

Make a colourful paper plate turtle with Coach Ellie! In this Atlas Playbook video, we show you how to turn a paper plate, tissue paper and a few craft supplies into your own turtle.

Age3-65 years
Time15 mins
EnergyCalm
KitSome
See what you need
Kit list Set-up How to play Variations

Why children love it

Friendship Bracelet Making is a lovely creative activity for children who enjoy designing, making and sharing something personal. It is low-cost, calming and gives children plenty of room to explore colours, patterns and their own style.

What you'll need

Already got these bits? You’re all set.

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How to set it up

  • Cover a table to protect it from glue.
  • Place materials on a table.
  • Choose a variety of tissue paper colours.

How to play

  • Cut your tissue paper into small squares.
  • Brush PVA glue all over the plate.
  • Cover the plate with tissue paper.
  • Trim away the excess paper from the edges.
  • Draw around your thumb, index finger (x4) and pinky.
  • Stick the head, legs and googly eyes on.
  • Give the turtle a name and story.

Make it easier

Pre-cut shapes for younger children.
Have the glue in the bowl ready.

Make it harder

Ask older children to create a habitat or fact card for their turtle.

Atlas tip

Stick the tissue paper on the dome side of the turtle.
Cover the whole turtle, don't be afraid to overlap the tissue.
Turn the finished turtles into a mini gallery or storytelling circle.

Safety notes

Supervise scissors and small craft materials.

Read the video transcript
Hi, everybody. It's Coach Ellie. Come with me today to make a paper plate turtle.

First things first, pause here to make sure you have all the materials you'll need to begin. Start by cutting your tissue paper into squares. From there, spread your PVA glue on the plate, then stick the squares all over. An Atlas tip is to overlap the squares so the whole space is covered, leaving no gaps. Then trim away the excess paper from the edges.

Now trace around your thumb for the head, your fingers four times for the legs. And your pinky finger once for the tail. And then cut them out.

Now we can apply the PVA glue to our head, the four legs and the tail, ready to stick underneath on the paper plate.

Now the final touches to make this turtle come to life is going to be sticking the two googly eyes on the head and adding a lovely smile. Using a black pencil and ta-daa the paper plate turtle is complete.

Hope you had fun making the paper plate turtles and we'll see you next time.
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