Paper Plate Boat Craft for Preschool
Simple crafts for kids are the best way to enjoy the summer months — whether you’re looking for art projects to make at home or fun crafts for the preschool classroom! That’s why you’re going to love this cute paper plate boat craft! Just grab a few simple supplies to put this easy project together with your kids right now.
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This simple paper plate boat craft is so quick and easy to put together! That means it’s a great summer art project for kids of any age to make!
The best part about this DIY project is that you only need a few simple craft supplies to put it together. In fact, you probably have everything you need at home right now! What better way to keep your kids entertained when you’re tired of hearing them say I’m bored?
Paper Plate Boat Craft
Since this adorable paper plate craft is so easy to make, it can be put together with just a few minutes of crafting time. Which means it’s perfect for a lazy summer afternoon! And since it’s so simple, all your kids can get in on the fun, no matter their ages!
You’re going to love the short list of supplies needed to put this easy art project together! And since it’s so easy to make, this beach craft is also easy to customize. Keep scrolling to the bottom of the post to get more ideas for making this project with your kids.
- Paper plates. We used small 6-inch plates because that’s what we had on hand, but full-sized plates would also work to make your own rocking sailboats!
- Paint. Have fun picking the colors for your boats! I suggest using acrylic craft paint to paint the paper plates because it has the best color and coverage.
- Popsicle sticks. You can use plain wooden sticks or colored sticks to create the sails for your boats.
- Cardstock or construction paper. To make the sails for your rocking boats, you can use any type of paper you want. I used polka dot scrapbook paper to add a fun pattern to our sales. But plain construction paper would also work.
How to Make a Paper Plate Boat
Now that you have all your supplies gathered up, it’s time to get crafty! Have some fun with your kids making your own sailboat craft at home this summer.
Before you can start putting your paper plate boats together, your kids will need to have some fun painting their paper plates. Make sure to cover your work area well, then let your kids paint their plates whatever color they want their boats to be. You may need to add a second coat to fully cover the plate with paint.
Once the paint on the plates is fully dry, fold each paper plate in half.
After giving the paint on your paper plate plenty of time to dry, set them aside for a minute while you make the sails. First, cut one triangle out of your cardstock or construction paper for each boat you plan to make.
Then, glue the triangle sail to one one end of a popsicle stick. Make sure to leave plenty of room at the bottom of the stick to attach it to your boat!
After that, flip the sale over and glue it to the paper plate. Make sure the round part of the plate is on the bottom of your boat so your sailboats will rock properly.
Once the glue is dry, stand the sailboats up on the round part of the plate and lightly tap one side. The boat will start rocking like it’s floating on the water!
Paper Plate Boat Craft Ideas
See how simple it is to make your own sailboats out of a paper plate? And while these boats might not float in the water, they are pretty fun to play with!
But my favorite part about making this cute summer art project is giving your kids a chance to customize their craft! Try these ideas as your kids are putting their own boats together to create some adorable art projects while they’re on summer break.
Decorate the boat. While you can make this a super simple craft by letting your kids paint the paper plates one solid color, there’s no reason they can’t get creative! Let them have some fun adding their own decorations by painting designs in the boat, or adding creative elements after the paint is dry. Try decorating your boats with:
- Buttons
- Stickers
- Ribbon
- Glitter
- Markers or crayons
- Sequins
Add decorations to the sails. Another fun way to customize your boats is by adding decorations to your sails. Let your kids draw their own designs or add different craft decorations to the paper to make it their own.
Paper Plate Boat Craft
Turn a plain paper plate into a cute rocking sailboat with this fun preschool-friendly craft idea.
Materials
- Paper plates
- Paint
- Popsicle sticks
- Cardstock or construction paper
Tools
- Scissors
- Paint brush
- Glue
Instructions
- Paint the paper plate and allow to dry completely.
- Fold the plate in half.
- Cut a triangle out of the cardstock and glue it to the top of the popsicle stick. Attach the other end of the stick to the back of the paper plate.
More Easy Craft Ideas:
Emily is a midwestern mom of two boys. She loves all things DIY — from home renovations to kids birthday party planning. Whether she’s making a new farmhouse craft for her home or helping her kids with a cool activity, you can bet she’s in the middle of some kind of DIY project (or three) right now!
