How to Make a Lion Mask Out of A Paper Plate

Little kids love pretending to be animals they see in the zoo. Working with your child to make a lion mask out of a paper plate will help your child get even more in to the role of playing a lion. Making the mask is fun and allows your child to explore their creativity. Throw in a real life lesson about lions and you have just created an educational experience your child will never forget.

Things You'll Need

• Paper plate
• Scissors
• Paints
• Paint brush
• Ribbon
• White, orange, brown, or black yarn
• Glue
• Hole puncher

Instructions

1. Lay out your paper plate in front of you. Punch one hole on the middle edge of the right side and one hole on the middle edge of the left side. This is going to be for the ribbon to tie around the head when the mask is complete.

2. Cut one inch slits all the way around the paper plate, being careful not to cut into the two holes. This is to create the look of a lion's mane.

3. Cut two holes where the child's eyes reach on the paper plate. To find out where you need to cut the holes hold the paper plate up to their face. Place a little dot with a pencil where their eyes are and then use the scissors to cut the holes out.

4. Paint the lion mask. Typically you would use orange, brown, and yellow paint to make a lion, but you can use whatever color you would like. Let them be creative and remember this is their mask and no one else's so they get to choose how they want it. When you are done painting, set the mask aside to dry.

5. Cut 6 pieces of string about 3 inches long and glue 3 on each side of the lion's cheeks. These are the lion's whiskers.

6. Tie a piece of ribbon to one end of the mask and swing it around the back of the child's head. Tie it snug in the second hole so that the mask stays on their head.

Tips & Warnings

• Lay out newspaper on the workspace so that nothing gets paint on it. You may even want to put the child in a smock so they don't get any paint on their clothes.

• If you are not old enough, have your parents help you with the scissors.