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Handprints Bat Craft Preschool Printable Activity

Materials:

• printer
• choice of paper: construction paper, card stock, "foam sheets," recycle paper or brown grocery bag.
• coloring tools for B&W template
• washable paints for painted handprints
• scissors
• glue stick
• Optional: small wiggly eyes

This easy craft can be included within lesson plan activities in many themes related to the bat or Halloween. It is suitable for toddlers, preschool and early elementary grades.

Review craft printing options and suggested learning activities during the craft assembly.

• Trace one handprint on the lower portion of the template, cut out, and use as a master template.
• Turn the handprint cut-out around to obtain left and right handed prints (2 of each).
• Trace over black or tan/brown paper using a gel pen, light colored crayon or pencil.
• The second method is to make painted handprints; two of each, left and right hand, cut out when dry.
  
  Printing options >
• Option 1: Print your selection of black or brown color template for body. Discuss colors on the template.
  
  
• Option 2: Print the black & white template. Children can color, paint, or print directly to color paper of your choice.
  
  
• Option 3: For large groups 6 or more, print the black and white template directly onto brown color paper.
  Trace and cut out matching handprints ahead of time.
  
  
• Options 4:  (Recycle)  Print the black and white format, cut out and use as a master pattern,  trace over left over recyclable materials such as:
  • Brown grocery bag paper is a good choice and it is sturdy. The face features are easy to duplicate by hand and glue paper eyes or plastic wiggly eyes.
  • Trace over black construction paper with a sharpened white or light color  crayon, or gel pen, cut out and assemble.
  • For a more permanent craft trace over foam sheets and use permanent marker to make facial features.

1. Assemble body and have children identify the recognizable shapes: head (circle), body (oval).
2. Assemble handprints as illustrated in the template. Children will need assistance.
3. Glue the body over the assembled handprints so that the thumbs are the bat's ears.

Other decorating ideas >

• Tape the craft to a craft stick (Popsicle stick) to make a hand puppet.
• Add a looped ribbon or pieces of yarn or string in various lengths to hang many of them as window ornaments.
• Create a nocturnal landscape with stars and a moon using colored paper (refer to online puzzle image).

Templates:

• Close template window after printing to return to this screen.
• Set page margins to zero (minimum) if you have trouble fitting the template on one page or review Print Help.

Handprints Bat Craft     black     brown     B&W

Complimentary activities:

• Bat Lesson Plan > Fun picture book, basic facts, and more.
• Alphabet Letter B Bat lesson plan printable activities
  Visit this lesson plan to present letter B for different age levels.

Animals > Mammals > Bat theme >