Snap, snap! This alligator paper plate craft is a folded plate with a red mouth inside and a row of pointy cardboard teeth. Kids love that it actually opens and closes.
It’s easy to set up and great practice with painting, cutting and following steps in order.
What You Need for This Paper Plate Alligator Craft
Alligator Paper Plate Craft (visual directions + template)
Get the printablePaper plate
View on AmazonGreen paint
View on AmazonPaintbrush
View on AmazonRed construction paper
View on AmazonCardboard
View on AmazonBlack marker
View on AmazonGlue
View on AmazonKid scissors
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How to Make a Paper Plate Alligator
Paint the plate green
Cover the bottom of the plate in green paint and let it dry completely.
Add the red mouth
Glue red construction paper to the inside of the plate, then fold the plate in half with the green side out.
Cut the teeth
Cut a cardboard strip as wide as the plate, then cut small triangles along one edge for teeth.
Glue in the teeth
Glue the strip along the inside top edge of the folded plate with the teeth pointing out.
Make the eyes
Cut two small arcs from cardboard and color a pupil on each one with a marker.
Attach the eyes
Glue the eyes to the top of the folded plate. Let everything dry before your alligator starts chomping.
Ways to Use It
- Turn it into a puppet and chomp along to a song
- Use it for “greater than, less than” math, letting the alligator eat the bigger number
- Make a swamp scene on a bulletin board
- Pair with a favorite alligator book
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Paper Plate Alligator Craft for Preschool, Pre-K and Kindergarten
Preschool
Paint, glue and decorate. You handle the tricky cutting, and kids point to each picture step as they go.
Pre-K
Trace the template and cut the straight lines. Follow the visual steps in order.
Kindergarten and up
Cut out every piece, add their own details, and retell the steps in order.
Get the Printable Visual Directions
Doing this with a group? The printable has picture steps for every part of the alligator, plus a template you can trace.
🎟️ Blog reader deal
Use code ALLIGATORPLATE at checkout to get this craft free.
What’s included
- A picture supply list
- Visual step-by-step directions
- Photo step cards
- A printable template
- Instant PDF download, nothing is shipped
Perfect for
- Preschool and kindergarten classrooms
- Special education and speech therapy
- Following directions practice
- Thematic units
- Homeschool art time
Paper Plate Alligator Craft FAQ
Write two numbers on cards and let the alligator “eat” the bigger number. Our alligator math game has more ideas.
Ages 3 to 6. Preschoolers paint and glue with a little help, and kindergartners can trace and cut the pieces themselves.
Yes. Crayons, markers or torn construction paper work too and are less messy.
You can freehand the pieces, but the template and picture steps help kids work on their own and make it easy to do with a class.
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