Snail Paper Plate Craft for Kids [Free PDF Template]
All activities require adult supervision. By using this site, you agree to our terms of use. This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and a participant in other affiliate programs, I earn a commission on qualifying purchases. Read our disclosure policy.
Kids will love having a hands-on way to celebrate spring by making this snail paper plate craft. They’ll create a snail with its shell made by turning an everyday item like a paper plate into something imaginative and colorful.
For 1st to 2nd graders, try painting the shell with bleeding tissue paper for a soft watercolor effect. For ages 4 to 7, use a colored party plate or paint to keep things simple and fun. Plan for about 45 minutes if you include drying time, or around 15 minutes when you skip the paint to make this snail art project.
If you’re looking for more inspiration to keep the kids busy learning and having fun, be sure to explore the rest of our spring crafts. There are lots of nature-inspired projects to keep little hands engaged.
Fun Art Project For Spring
This adorable DIY snail craft for kids has your young artists make this slow-moving friend out of simple supplies. A paper plate becomes the swirling shell, while cardstock shapes form the body.
Our example features a plate decorated with bleeding tissue paper for a soft, blended look. You can also use a colorful party plate or paint their shell with tempera or acrylics to create their own unique snail.
Kids can stretch their creativity while practicing important early skills and making their snail. Cutting out the snail body improves scissor skills. Painting or gluing pieces in place strengthens hand-eye coordination and patience. Creative art experiences like this nurture confidence and self-expression in young learners.
Bring this snail art activity for kids to life by printing our handy snail template. Gather a paper plate, a few basic supplies, and follow the step-by-step instructions below. In no time, your kids will have a cute snail ready to display.
Supplies
- Colored cardstock or construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Bleeding tissue paper (it must be bleeding; regular tissue paper won’t work)
- Paintbrush
- Paper Plate
- Markers
- Tape
- Snail Template (click the “click here to get your freebies” image at the end of the post)
Directions
Start by printing the template, then gather the materials for this fun activity. Get those scissors ready, and let’s help the kids bring this snail to life!
Let your child tear small pieces of colorful tissue paper and arrange them on the paper plate. Overlapping the tissue paper is great because it gives the shell lots of color and texture.
Once the tissue paper is on the plate, lightly spray it with water.
Use a paintbrush and water to gently brush over the tissue paper. Watch as the colors bleed and blend together to create a magical effect! Let it dry before removing the tissue paper.
Now take the snail’s head and antennae pieces. Glue the antennae behind the top of the snail’s head, leaving a small space between.
Glue the eyes onto the snail’s head, just above the smile. Watch how it instantly gives the snail a friendly personality!
Use a marker to add little spots or dots to the snail’s head. This is a fun way for kids to personalize their snail and make it feel extra special.
Take the finished head and glue it onto the top of the body piece.
Add more spots or small details to the snail’s body with a marker. Some children may want just a few dots, while others may want lots of details. Either way works beautifully.
Once the paper plate shell is dry, draw a spiral on it with a marker. This simple spiral is what makes the plate look like a real snail shell. Start in the middle and slowly curve outward.
Turn the snail body and paper plate over so the back is facing up. Slide the bottom edge of the paper plate slightly underneath the snail’s body, while the side of the plate sits behind the snail’s head. Once everything is lined up, use tape to secure the paper plate shell.
This simple activity is great for helping kids build fine motor skills, practice following directions, and express creativity through color and design.
It also fits perfectly into spring themes like gardens, bugs, and nature studies in the classroom or at home. If your kids enjoyed making this snail, be sure to check out our other spring classroom crafts for more fun, hands on activities that keep little learners engaged and creating.
Spring Books for Children
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.
Planting a Rainbow – Kids will have a blast learning about colors and flowers in this colorful and engaging book!
Bee – This peek-through picture book is a fun bedtime book for kids! It’s short and keeps the kids’ attention span.
Garden Craft Ideas
Beehive Craft – Your busy bees will create a cute beehive with tiny bees buzzing all around. This hands-on activity helps kids learn how bees work together as a team and why pollinators matter. They’ll cut, paste, and assemble to strengthen fine motor skills and practice their coordination.
3D Dragonfly Craft – Creativity will take flight when kids design a 3D dragonfly that looks ready to buzz into the sunset. They will paint a glowing sky, then roll, cut, and glue their dragonfly so it lifts right off the page. This colorful, hands on project keeps little artists busy while building fine motor skills and artistic confidence.
Butterfly Name Craft – Kids will bring a colorful butterfly to life with bright flowers that spell out their name. This playful project blends art and learning in a fun way when they practice letter recognition by putting each letter in order to spell their name.
Bee Tissue Paper Craft – Bring a little buzz to your art table with a sweet honey bee made from crinkly tissue paper and our free template. Kids will love tearing, scrunching, and gluing to create fuzzy stripes and fluttery wings. This hands-on project builds fine motor skills while letting creativity take flight.
Spring Learning Printables for Centers
Add seasonal fun to learning time with these spring pattern worksheets. Kids will cut out the pictures at the bottom to finish each row as they figure out what comes next. Spotting patterns in shapes, colors, and images builds problem solving skills and careful observation. Every correctly placed piece boosts confidence and feels like solving a puzzle.
This set of spring worksheets brings fun to learning. Kids will finish colorful spring patterns, hop through an R letter maze, and practice neat printing on the R is for Rabbit handwriting page. These playful activities build early literacy and thinking skills while also keeping little ones happily engaged.
See what all the buzz is about with these bee tracing worksheets. These pages will have kids tracing the letter Bb, following wiggly lines, and outlining adorable bees to practice steady hand movements. These activities strengthen grip, build coordination, support early letter formation, and keep practice playful.
Celebrate the new season with these spring activities for preschoolers that are filled with bees, blooming flowers, and busy little bugs. Kids can practice counting, matching, and coloring across 10 engaging pages. Just print and add crayons for easy learning at home or in the classroom that feels like play.
Share With Us
Did you make this activity with your kids or students? We’d love to feature them on our social media!
For a chance to have your child’s project 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!
Snail Paper Plate Craft
Materials
- Colored cardstock
- Scissors
- Glue
- Bleeding tissue paper (regular tissue paper will not work; make sure it's bleeding tissue paper)
- Paintbrush
- Paper Plate
- Markers
- Tape
- Snail Template
Instructions
- Print the template and gather the materials for this fun activity.
- Begin by tearing small pieces of tissue paper and arranging them on the paper plate.
- Lightly spray the tissue paper with water.
- Brush over the tissue paper with water and let the plate dry completely. Once dry, peel off the tissue paper. Alternatively, paint the paper plate with acrylic paint or use a colored party plate.
- Glue the antennae behind the top of the snail’s head, leaving a small space between them.
- Next, glue the eyes onto the snail’s head, just above the smile.
- Draw spots on the snail’s head with a marker.
- Glue the head onto the top of the body piece.
- Using a marker, draw spots or small details on the snail’s body.
- Draw a spiral on the paper plate starting from the center and moving outward.
- Finally, turn the snail body and paper plate over and tape the paper plate shell to the back of the snail on the head and body.
Video
Did you make this?
Don’t forget to leave a comment below and make sure to follow on Pinterest, Facebook and TikTok for more!
Free Snail Paper Plate Template
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.
