How to Make a Cowardly Lion Craft

This cowardly lion craft features his signature red ribbon and eyebrows.

You don't have to be a big fan of "The Wizard of Oz" to learn something from the cowardly lion's character. He journeys to the wizard in search of the courage that is already within him. This cowardly lion craft provides more than an opportunity for children to participate in a creative exercise. It provides an occasion to discuss the virtue of courage and to inspire children to live courageously.

Things You'll Need

• Paper plate
• Light brown poster paint
• Foam paint brush
• 1 sheet brown tissue paper
• Scissors
• Brown construction paper
• Glue
• Black marker
• 12-inch piece of 1/2-inch-wide red satin ribbon

Instructions

1. Flip the plate right side down.

2. Spread the brown paint, using the foam paint brush. Spread the paint evenly over the entire surface of the plate. Set aside to dry.

3. Cut the brown tissue paper into 1/2-inch-wide strips. Cut each strip into 2-inch-long segments.

4. Cut two 2-inch-wide half circles out of the brown construction paper. These are the ears.

5. Flip the dry, painted plate over so that the unpainted side is facing up. Squeeze a 1/4-inch-wide rim of glue around the perimeter of the plate.

6. Place the flat edge of each of the two construction paper ears into the band of glue at the top sides of the plate.

7. Set two of the tissue paper strips aside, and then place the short edge of the remaining strips into the band of glue with the long side of the strip extending outward from the plate. This creates the lion's mane. Allow the glue to dry.

8. Flip the plate over so that the painted side is facing up. Use the black marker to draw on two almond-shaped eyes. Draw a black circle in the middle of each almond shaped eye. Use the marker to fully color the circles black.

9. Draw an upside down triangle nose, and color the triangle with the black marker. Draw a "J" and a backwards "J" extending from the tip of the nose. The straight portions of the "J"s should touch each other.

10. Squeeze a thin, 2-inch-long diagonal line of glue above each of the lion's eyes. Each of the diagonals should point inward toward the lion's nose. Place the reserved tissue paper strips onto the lines of glue to create eyebrows.

11. Draw four black whiskers protruding from each side of the nose.

12. Tie the red satin ribbon into a bow around three of the tissue paper strips at the top of the lion's head.

References

• Hollywood East: Classic Images From the Wizard of Oz
• DLTK's Growing Together: Easy Lion Paper Plate Craft