When we think of spring, we think of all the beautiful flowers that pop up during this season. And since we can’t have flowers without bees, it’s natural to think of our helpful little pollinators.

If you’re looking for a fun and easy spring craft for kids to make, then this paper plate bee craft is perfect! This one even comes with a free printable template, so it’s perfect for making with toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarten children.

And if you need more bumblebee ideas, check out all of our bee activities for kids. Read below or watch our quick video tutorial to see how we make this cute little bee!

Bumble Bee Craft Idea

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Supplies

• Paper plates
• Yellow paint
• Paintbrush
• Colored card stock
• White card stock
• Black pipe cleaners
• Black marker
• Glue stick
• Scissors
• Tape (optional)
• Paper trimmer (optional)
• Bee craft template (click the “click here to get this freebie” image at the end to open the form)

Directions

First, let’s get our bee template ready. Go ahead and download the bee craft template. Once it’s on your computer, print it out and let the kids use their scissors to cut out all the pieces. This is where our bee starts to come to life!

Now, grab a paper plate, and give it a sunny makeover with some yellow paint. A thin coat will do just fine. If you’re using acrylic paint, it’s a quick 15-minute wait for it to dry.

In a bit of a hurry? No worries, a hairdryer can work wonders to speed things up.

It’s time for our bee to see! Take those cute bee eyes your kids have cut out and have them stick them towards the top of the paper plate. Aim for just inside the middle circle line of the plate for the perfect placement.

Let’s let our kids give the bee some personality with a smile. With a black marker, have the kids draw a small, happy smile line right under the eyes. Keep it close to the eyes to leave room for the bee’s stripes.

Speaking of stripes, you’ve got two ways to go about it:

• Option 1: If they feel artsy, paint the stripes with black paint once the yellow base is dry. Getting them straight is a bit more challenging, but it’s great for practicing those fine motor skills.
• Option 2: Cut out two long, thin strips from black card stock for a cleaner and quicker option.

If you’re going with the paper stripes, just dab some glue on the back of the cardstock and press them in place below the smile.

Remember to leave a little yellow showing between the stripes for that authentic bee look. If there is an excess paper hanging off the edge, trim it off.

Every bee needs a stinger, and ours is no exception. Glue or tape the stinger to the back of the paper plate. Tape is usually the best option here since it sticks fast and strong, especially on those tricky curved edges.

If you’re using glue, just make sure you’re generous with it so that the stinger stays put. Let it dry completely before proceeding to the next step.

It’s time to give our bee some wings. Using tape, have the kids attach the wings securely to either side of the plate.

Now for the finishing touch: the antennae! Take a black pipe cleaner, cut it in half, and loop one end around your finger to create that perfect antennae curve. If you want to go all out, curl the entire piece for that extra flair.

Flip the plate one last time and attach the antennae to the back. And just like that, you’ve brought a charming little bee to life!

Your little ones now have their very own bee craft to buzz around with. If they had a blast with this, they will definitely enjoy these paper plate crafts!

Bees As Pollinators

If you want to incorporate this bee craft into something educational, we’ve got some ideas for you!

Since bees are so important and research shows their population is declining, it’s a wonderful teaching opportunity.

Depending on the age of your children, you can start off by asking them if they know how bees help us. Let them know that bees are responsible for pollinating not only flowers but also the food we eat!

If they’re older and interested in bee facts, they can check out this fact sheet by Nat Geo Kids.

You can also read books like Five Bizzy Honeybees or Nat Geo Kids’ book on bees. Both are fun and engaging ways for kids to learn more about these amazing creatures!

More Insect Ideas For Kids

Are your kids interested in learning more about the wonderful world of insects? We’ve got some great activity ideas to help them discover, observe, and learn about these fascinating creatures.

Why not start with a captivating book that zooms into the life of these tiny critters? Picture books with colorful illustrations can spark curiosity and provide fun facts that kids will love. After storytime, you could dive into some hands-on activities. How about crafting your own insects from easy-to-gather supplies? Or maybe printing out some insect coloring pages for a quiet afternoon activity?

Remember to check out our collection of insect-themed ideas below. We’ve gathered activities that are perfect for nurturing a love for nature and science in young minds.

So, keep reading, and let the discovery begin!

Bug Children’s Books

Whenever we introduce a new theme or if we want to go deeper into it, we always start with children’s books! They’re an easy way to fill time and help kids learn to read or develop their vocabulary. Below are some of our favorite insect books for kids!

The Very Quiet Cricket– Everyone loves Eric Carle and this book is just as good as all his others! In it, a cricket is trying to discover how to make a sound, but when he rubs his legs together nothing happens. Follow him on his journey to find his very own sound! Kids love the ending where he and your child can hear the chirping!

Bugs A to Z is a great introductory insect book for kids. It’s great for kids to browse through and look at pictures and to find a short snippet about each bug.

Ten Little Ladybugs – This cute book is not only fun to read, but also fun to touch! Kids will want to read this book day after day and it helps them learn to count.

Kids’ Insect Crafts

Crafting is a great way for kids to let their imaginations run wild! These craft projects will help kids express their creativity and build fine motor skills, such as cutting, gluing, and drawing.

Not only will your kids create something special, but they’ll also feel a sense of accomplishment once they’re done. And they’ll love having a token of their hard work to show off to their loved ones! Here are some super fun insect crafts your little ones will love.

Ladybug Toilet Paper Roll Craft: Your little bugs will love creating this adorable and easy ladybug craft. By simply giving your kids a toilet paper roll and some craft supplies, they can create their very own recycled insect masterpiece. Your kiddos will be so excited to complete this fun project!

Bee Name Craft: Here is an awesome activity that’ll have your kids buzzing joyfully! Our preschool bee craft is the perfect combination of fun and education. Using our free downloadable template, this activity helps little ones practice their spelling and develop various skills.

Popsicle Stick Butterfly Craft: Turn your kids into master crafters with this cute idea! They can create colorful butterfly decorations with just a few basic supplies. Painting and gluing are always fun, and your little ones will love fluttering around with their new creations!

Dragonfly Craft for Kids: Let your kids express their creative side and let them create a one-of-a-kind dragonfly! This craft will also help children build fine motor skills as they tear tissue paper to decorate the wings of their dragonflies.

Best of all, no two dragonflies will look alike! Their colorful creation will be entirely unique – just like your little one!

Kids’ Insect Activities

Try out these butterfly worksheets for a fun and educational activity that your children will love! With engaging illustrations to color in, your kids will stay entertained while they work on letter recognition. Your children will have so much fun with these fluttering worksheets that they won’t realize they’re learning!

These bee cutting practice worksheets are the perfect way to help your little ones develop their fine motor skills. With each careful cut, they’ll strengthen the muscles in their hands and fingers.

So while your kids work through these buzzworthy worksheets, they’ll also set a strong foundation for writing, drawing, and crafting!

Our bug coloring pages are an excellent no-prep activity that’s sure to delight your little ones. Just print them out and let the creative fun begin! This activity is great for children of all ages, and they’ll have so much fun! Your kids will be engaged as they color and identify each bug.

For the younger kids in your life, these preschool bug activities are just the thing to keep them entertained while learning. These printable worksheets help your children practice skills such as pattern-making and handwriting. And who knows—it might inspire them to learn more about the world of bugs, too!

Spring Fun

• Fun honeybee bingo printables
• Awesome butterfly wings for kids to wear
• Cute chick soaps for kids

Share With Us

Did you make this craft with your kids or students? We’d love to feature them on our social media!

For a chance to have your child’s craft featured, simply snap a picture of the completed project and post it to our Facebook page, email it to us directly by clicking here, or use #simpleeverydaymom on your social media!

More Spring Activities

Bee Craft Template