10+ Brown Bear Crafts for Kids That Pair Perfectly with Storytime

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Love reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? with your little ones? These brown bear crafts for kids are the perfect way to keep the story going after the book is closed. Each idea is simple enough for toddlers and preschoolers but fun for older kids.

You’ll find puppets, paper plates, handprints, and more — all great ways to tie learning into play. Want more ideas like this? Take a peek at our animal crafts for even more hands-on fun.

A collage features 10 brown bear-themed crafts for kids using paper bags, paper plates, handprint cutouts, and cardboard tubes, with a bold title reading “10 Brown Bear Crafts for Kids.”

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Bear Craft Ideas

Brown Bear Paper Bag Puppet

Bring the classic Brown Bear, Brown Bear story to life by making a simple paper bag puppet of the brown bear himself. With a few basic supplies and a free printable template for the bear's face, kids can easily assemble their puppet and blast using it during storytime.

It's a fun zoo-animal themed activity that requires minimal prep, and little ones will love reading the book and “feeding” or talking with their bear puppet as you turn the pages.

www.paper-and-glue.com

Fuzzy Brown Bear

Kids can mix a special puffy paint (made from shaving cream and glue) to create this fuzzy brown bear art project. They get to glob the paint thick and even use a fork to draw fuzzy “fur” texture into it before it dries, which is messy sensory fun.

The homemade paint dries soft and squishy, and children also learn a bit about color mixing as they blend paints to get the perfect shade of brown for their bear.

Related: Handprint Bear Craft

www.messylittlemonster.com

Paper Bag Bear Puppet

This cute bear puppet is made from a paper lunch bag and a few simple art supplies, and even includes a fun painting twist – kids paint the bag using a fork to create the bear's fuzzy fur. After assembling the ears, eyes, and snout (the template is available on the blog), let it dry, and then the real fun begins: the paper bag turns into a puppet that kids can put on their hands.

They'll love growling and roaming around with their new bear friend, and you'll love that this project encourages pretend play, builds motor skills through the fork painting, and even recycles an old paper bag.

Bear Handprint

Little ones use their handprints to make this adorable bear art, ending up with a part bear and part keepsake project. They trace or paint their hand (with fingers as legs and ears) and then add paper pieces or coloring to turn the hand shape into a cute bear.

Kids can choose any “fur” color they like – brown, black, polar bear white, etc. – so each handprint bear is unique, and they'll be boosting creativity and fine motor skills without even realizing it.

totschoolresources.com

Brown Bear Paper Plate

Here's a perfect project for toddlers and preschoolers: a brown bear made from a paper plate. Little one will paint a paper plate brown and then glue on the provided paper pieces (ears, eyes, nose, etc.) from the printable template to create a friendly bear face.

It's quick, low-mess, and versatile – you can tape a popsicle stick to the back to turn it into a bear mask or puppet, and it ties in wonderfully with a lesson on the letter “B” or a reading of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?.

creativefamilyfun.net

Cardboard Tube Bear

Kids can transform a recycled cardboard tube into an adorable bear in no time. This eco-friendly project is simple – just paint the tube brown, add construction paper ears/feet, and draw on a cute face.

It's a fantastic way for kids to reuse materials and engage in imaginative play: once they finish their tube bear, they can move it around like a little figurine or even create a pretend zoo of cardboard animals.

Toilet Paper Roll Bear

Don't toss that empty toilet paper roll – turn it into a darling little bear art instead! Your “little cubs” can paint or wrap the tube in paper, then use a free template to cut out and glue on the bear's face, arms, and legs.

It's an easy, hands-on project that sneaks in learning about these cute yet fierce animals as kids use creativity and fine motor skills to bring their bear to life. Best of all, they'll be thrilled to play with their homemade bear toy afterward, roaring and stomping it around in imaginative play.

alittlepinchofperfect.com

Hibernating Bear Paper Plate

This project uses paper plates to let kids make a cozy cave for a hibernating bear. They'll cut one plate to look like a cave opening, paint it, glue it onto a background plate, and add a paper bear sleeping inside.

Kids end up with an adorable mini-diorama of a bear in its cave, and they also learn about hibernation hands-only as they create and play.

www.craftymorning.com

Paper Plate Bear

This project uses two paper plates to make one big bear, allowing kids to make a bear's head and body for a more lifelike creation. There's a bit of cutting and painting involved – children cut one plate into the shape of the bear's feet and another into a round head with ears, then paint them brown, so younger kids will need some adult help.

Once all the pieces are dry, you assemble them into an upright bear that stands on its paper plate paws. The extra effort is worth it: the result is “the cutest little bear,” complete with a pint-sized tail, that kids will be proud to show off.

Bear Art Project

If your kids love bears and the outdoors, they'll love this easy bear paper art, as simple as cut-and-paste. Using a free template, children trace and cut out the bear shape and its features from colored paper, then glue them together to make a cute bear (no complicated steps or mess).

It's one of the easiest animal activities to make. Yet, it might become a new favorite because the finished bear looks adorable, perfect for a quick afternoon activity or a forest-themed lesson.

www.coffeecupsandcrayons.com

Brown Bear Puppet

This simple brown bear puppet project perfectly complements the classic story Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?. Preschoolers can easily help make it – the blog even includes free printable tracers so you can cut out the bear's body parts from paper without any guesswork.

After gluing the pieces together (and attaching a stick or bag to hold it), kids end up with a cute brown bear puppet that they can use to act out the story or put on their little show, making storytime even more interactive and fun.

lifeovercs.com

Paper Plate Brown Bear

Here's a fun twist on painting: instead of a paintbrush, kids use a plastic fork to paint a paper plate and turn it into a brown bear's face! This process-art style project goes with Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and lets children experiment with creating texture – each fork stroke looks like furry bear hair.

They'll be excited to try an unexpected painting tool, and the project is quick and low-prep for you while still allowing them to build fine motor skills and explore their creativity.

www.theottoolbox.com

Christmas Bear Ornament

For a festive art, kids can make the cutest bear Christmas ornament by wrapping brown yarn or twine around a bear-shaped cardboard cutout. Children usually have a blast with the wrapping process – it's almost like a game – and it's great for their coordination and motor skills too, since they have to use both hands together while looping the twine.

In the end, you get an ornament inspired by the book Bear Stays Up for Christmas that your child will be proud to say they made themselves, and it might just become a cherished addition to your holiday decorations.

More Fun Kid’s Ideas

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photograph of found of Simple Everyday Mom, Sam

Meet Sam

Sam is the crafter and founder of Simple Everyday Mom. She has been featured in Oprah Mag, Good Housekeeping, The Spruce Crafts, Country Living, The Bump, and more.

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