Rooster Craft | Preschool Lesson Plan Printable Activities

Instructions and Suggestions

Materials

Alphabet Letter R >
R is for Rooster or
Consonant Digraph Ch > Chicken or Chick

Animals > Birds > Farm > Chicken >
Rooster

Crafts >
Rooster Craft

Holidays & Events >
*Jan. 5th > National Bird day
*Jan. or Feb. > Chinese New Year
*March or April > Easter
*May 4th > Bird Day
*Sept. > National Chicken Month

Seasons >
Spring

Ages 3.5 and older

These are two crafts in two size versions that can help introduce the rooster (male chicken). The smaller version is easier for younger children and can be used for the same purpose or to help children learn a baby animal name: chick (assemble without comb/crest or wattle). A set of large and small version can be made to make a family. Visit this link to include a chicken/hen version. It can be assembled in various ways and the process can be made more challenging and creative depending on the age of the children.

These crafts are suitable to enhance related themes and children's literature: a bird theme, farm animal theme, or alphabet practice: R r is for Rooster and holiday themes listed in the activities column.

The crafts can stand-up so they make great decorations and dramatic play toys. It is important that the craft be printed on heavy duty construction paper or card stock in order to stand up. The pieces can also be traced onto thin paper plates as well.

Both crafts can be made by replacing template #1 (body) for a standard thin paper plate (10" to 8" inches in diameter) and the small version can be assembled by using a 6"-5" small thin paper plate.

The feathers are created by doing handprint cut-outs or painted handprints that are later cut-out. Other options for the feathers are: craft feathers, or cut elongated ovals in different sizes of decorative paper and or tissue paper (recycle).

Printing Options for Both Versions:
* Trace or paint and cut out 2 handprints for small plate
* Trace or paint and cut out out 4-8 handprints for large plate.

Option 1: Print all color templates and proceed to assembly instructions below

Option 2: Print all black & white templates and proceed to assembly instructions below

Option 3: Large Version only
* Use a thin paper plate instead of template #1 and draw and cut out a head separately.
* Print template #2 color version
* Paint/decorate the back of the paper plate in the color desired, wait until plate is dry and proceed with assembly as described below.

Option 4: Large Version Only - Print Black White Version directly onto color paper
*Print template 1 (black & white version) directly onto your color choice of construction paper or craft paper
*Print template 2 (b/w) onto a complimentary color or print on white paper and color these pieces separately.

Option 5: Small Version Only
* Use a small paper plate instead of template #1 black and white. Paint the back in desired color
* Print template #2 black and white onto a complementary color or print onto white paper and color these pieces separately.

All Versions:
* Children can color and decorate all other templates and pieces proceed with assembly described below.

Assembly Instructions Suggested:
*At this point all template pieces and or paper plate should be decorated and hand prints are ready.

1. Fold template #1 (body) or paper plate in half, color is showing on both sides.

2. Feet and Body assembly: Adult will have to do most of this part of the assembly - a stapler is required.
-Fold the feet template on the center dotted line so color is showing on both sides
-Insert the folded feet template on the center round portion up to the dotted line of template #1 (body) or folded paper plate and staple at least twice in place -- refer to the illustration for positioning (Note: glue will not hold the pieces in place).
-Turn and fold the feet upward on both sides to stand.

3. While adult is completing step 2 of assembly, children can glue the beak, comb (crest), and wattle (heart shapes) on the head template. Note: Fold beak along the center line and place glue where indicated -- the beak will open and close. To make a chick glue only the beak.

4. Glue assembled head with bill to right or left corner of body template (this will depend in which direction the feet were positioned and stapled.

5. Feather Assembly (Hand prints or Alternative)
Small Version: Glue one hand on each side of the body template. This step is important because one handprint (feather) on each side will create balance so the finished craft can stand.   Add equal amount of craft feathers on each side to also maintain balance. Bend the fingers on the handprints, slightly one way and the other to make the craft more realistic and stable.
Note: If gluing other alternatives - elongated ovals for example, glue same amount on both sides to maintain balance

Large Version: Same procedure as above except you may glue more handprints to fill up as the illustration shows - not to exceed 4 handprints on each side or it will be too heavy and not stand.

Other ideas for decorating:

Older children 4.5, 5 and 6 need more challenge to make the process more interesting and explore other art techniques or simply set up various materials and different brushes, sponge rollers, etc. and allow them to discover ways to paint and decorate.

1. Painting the plate or body template and head is an opportunity to explore other techniques:

1. Mosaic: fill the entire body with different colors & shapes of tissue paper and cut out excess.
2. Use a sponge roller and mix shades and roll paint.
3. Sponge paint or use a dropper
4. Glue yarn to half of toilet paper tube in different designs, roll the tube over a thin layer of paints and roll over the template - really neat designs will be achieved. Messy? Yes, but lots of fun.
5. Explore with stripes and color mixing.

Plain hand print cut outs can also be further decorated with the above ideas or any way the children want to explore.

Other suggestions:
The stand-up craft also is useful to introduce letters or numbers - have the children color or paint the first letter or assigned number in a given activity on one side of the body or on the feathers.

Make the crafts and use as name signs/table setting for a theme unit or party.

Related lesson plans:
Alphabet Printable Activities:
Activity worksheet and mini-book R is for Rooster or Digraph Ch is for Chicken

Learn about Chickens:
This lesson plan includes basic animal and nutrition information about chickens

Online Jigsaw Puzzles:
Rooster | Chicken | Chicks
Visit these six-piece online jigsaw puzzles to practice problem solving. Change number of pieces clicking on the SHAPES button on the left.

Large Rooster

Large Version
Illustration only
Templates below

Rooster Craft
Large Version:

Color Version
Template 1
Template 2

Black & White
Template 1
Template 2

Small Rooster

Illustration only
Templates below

Rooster
Small Version

Color Version
Template #1
(all pieces)

Black & White
Template #1
(all pieces)

Template for Small Paper Plate Version
Color Version
Template #2

Black & White
Template #2

Alphabet Printable Activities
Available in D'Nealian and Standard block Format

Consonant Digraph Ch Chicks | Chicken

Letter R is for Rooster

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