Spring Crafts 2023

During my years teaching at a day care/preschool and teaching elementary Sunday school classes, I found that boys liked to create craft projects just as much as the girls. In spring months, there are nights where you aren’t able to go outside for activities due to inclement weather. Below are several craft ideas for your Ranger Kids and Discovery Rangers groups.

RANGER KIDS

I tried to select craft projects that K-2^nd graders could complete with little supervision. If you are the only leader with several boys, you will need crafts that boys can work on with some independence, allowing you to focus on the younger boys in the class.

Paper Plate Frog 1

Although this frog looks easy, there are several supplies you’ll need for it: paper plates, green markers or paint, paintbrushes, cardstock (black, white, and red), brown and black permanent markers, utility knife, scissors, glue sticks, pencils, and tape. If you choose to let the kids paint, you’ll want to do this project in two weeks—painting the first week and constructing the frog the second week. If your time is limited, you may consider precutting the pieces for the eyes.

https://www.ourkidthings.com/paper-plate-frog-craft/

Paper Plate Frog 2

This frog project also has several supplies: paper plates, the template, green markers or paint, paintbrushes, construction paper (black, white, green, and red), scissors, white or tacky glue, pencils, and black permanent markers. If you choose to let the kids paint, you’ll want to do this project in two weeks—painting the first week and constructing the frog the second week. If your time is limited, you may consider precutting the pieces for the eyes, nose, and mouth.

https://www.firefliesandmudpies.com/paper-plate-frog-craft/

Template: https://www.firefliesandmudpies.com/wp-content/uploads/Paper-Plate-Frog-Template.pdf

Mosaic Bugs

Using foam, glitter sticker sheets, color markers, scissors, and the template, the boys will be able to make these great little bugs. I recommend cutting the glitter sticker sheets into strips before class and let the boys cuts the square tiles for the mosaics.

https://www.thejoysharing.com/2020/04/bugs-mosaic-art.html

DISCOVERY RANGERS

I tried to select craft projects that 3^rd-5^th graders could complete with little supervision. If you are the only leader with several boys, you will need crafts that boys can work on with some independence, allowing you to focus on the boys who may need extra help.

Cupcake Liner Butterflies

Using cupcake liners, wooden clothespins or craft sticks, pom poms, pipe cleaners, wiggle eyes, tacky glue, watercolor paint, and paintbrushes, Discovery Rangers will be able to make some amazing butterflies. You can even glue magnet strips to the back to create a spring keepsake.

https://www.thejoysharing.com/2019/04/cupcake-liner-butterfly-craft.html

Build a Bug

I know the photo looks too young for Discovery Rangers, but it doesn’t have to be. Provide the boys with a variety of colors of construction paper or cardstock, scissors, and glue (white, tacky, or glue sticks). Challenge the boys to create a bug that no one has ever seen before and watch their imaginations take flight.

http://www.paper-and-glue.com/2015/08/invitation-to-create-build-bug.html

Mother’s Day Craft Ideas

Please be sensitive to the boys in class who may not have a mom. Every boy will have a special woman in his life.

RANGER KIDS

Construction Paper Flowers

This is a very simple project, using scissors, tacky glue, green popsicle sticks, ½” sparkly pom poms, and construction paper. The boys may have trouble cutting the hearts, so those could be precut. Then, the boys could choose to make a flower with different colored petals.

https://onelittleproject.com/paper-heart-flowers/

Handprint Lilies

Lilies come in all colors, so you can choose any color construction paper with green and yellow pipe cleaners. You’ll also need pencils, tape, ribbon, and scissors to make a great bouquet of flowers for mom.

https://onelittleproject.com/handprint-lilies/

DISCOVERY RANGERS

Paper Flowers

Using any color of construction paper, straws, tacky glue, scissors, pens, rulers, and staplers, Discovery Rangers can make one or several flowers to give to mom. You may need to do this project a couple of weeks before Mother’s Day so the flowers can dry. Moving them while the glue is still wet may make them fall apart.

https://www.thejoysharing.com/2017/09/paper-flower-craft.html

Beaded Flowers

This project may require a little more patience from the boys and the leaders, but the result is worth it. You’ll need a variety of colorful pony beads and white or tacky glue. You’ll need green and yellow pipe cleaners for the stem and center of the flowers, but you’ll also need pipe cleaners to match the pony beads so the petals will have a consistent color.

https://onelittleproject.com/beaded-pipe-cleaner-flowers/

Father’s Day Craft Ideas

Please be sensitive to the boys in class who may not have a dad. Every boy will have a special man in his life.

RANGER KIDS

Handprint Grill

You can use construction paper or light weight cardstock in red, orange, black, silver, grey, and white. You’ll also need scissors, glue sticks, and black markers. Use the grill template if you want to photocopy the pieces onto the construction paper or cardstock.

https://www.ourkidthings.com/handprint-fathers-day-grill-card/

Template:https://www.ourkidthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/grill-card-template.pdf

Father’s Toolbox

This is a cute toolbox. On each toolbox is a simple sentence for the boys to complete about their dads. At the website below near the bottom of the page is a free printable template for the tools in the toolbox. What’s nice is you can print them in black and white and have boys color them, or you can print them in color. You will need light weight cardstock, scissors, and a stapler. Glue sticks or tape could also be used in place of the stapler.

https://www.123homeschool4me.com/cute-toolbox-fathers-day-craft/

[Against copyright to include photo or link to free printable template.]

RANGER KIDS & DISCOVERY RANGERS

Nuts and Bolts Heart Craft

You can make this craft as written, or you can scale it to a more affordable option. The full version uses a 16x20 canvas, nuts, bolts, nails, screws, washers, wooden letters, tacky glue, and spray paint. To make the craft more economical, use a 4x4 canvas or cut poster board in quarters and use washers and nuts that will stick easier. Instead of getting wooden letters, the boys could write, “Daddy,” or “I’m nuts about you,” above or below the heart. You also wouldn’t need to use spray paint.

https://www.mosswoodconnections.com/activity/upcycled-nuts-and-bolts-heart-craft/