Monkey Kindergarten Craft

Monkeys' long tails help them swing through the branches.

Monkeys, with their endearing faces and humorous antics, have great appeal for many children and make an ideal subject for a kindergarten craft project. This monkey craft is a based on a traditional jumping jack toy but the construction has been simplified to make it more suitable for children of kindergarten age.

Supplies

You will need to assemble some simple craft supplies for this project. The monkey body shapes are cut from light and dark brown card stock. If a child is going to cut the pieces out by himself he will need safety scissors suitable for kindergarten use. Colored markers can be used to decorate the monkey. White craft glue, masking tape, split pins (sometimes called brads or brass fasteners), a tongue depressor and googly eyes are also needed.

Preparation

Draw one large oval for the body and a smaller one for the head on dark brown card stock. Draw two leg shapes and two arm shapes; these can be simple elongated ovals. They will be attached to the center of the monkey's chest with a split pin, so with the body shape placed vertically measure from the center of the top half of the oval to determine the length of the arms and legs. The legs should be at least one third longer than the arms. Draw a long curled tail shape, again measuring from the center of the chest to determine the length. The tail hangs down low at the bottom and is used as a lever to move the arms and legs. Draw two small semi-circles for ears. On the light brown card stock draw a smaller oval for the nose and mouth area, and one for the tummy.

Assembly

If the child is able, have him cut out the body shapes with safety scissors, or cut them out for him. Let him stick the head to the body shape, with the body placed vertically and the head shape horizontally, using white craft glue. Have him glue the light brown ovals to the face and body shapes and glue the ear shapes to the sides of the head. Have him draw on a mouth and nose with colored markers and stick on googly eyes. Have him assemble the arm, leg and tail shapes separately from the body, placing the tail vertically and gluing one end of each arm and leg shape to the top end of the tail shape. The arms should be positioned horizontally, and the legs at an angle between the arms and tail. Secure the pieces in position with masking tape, if necessary.

Construction and Use

When the arm, leg and tail section glue is dry, have an adult make a hole at the top of the tail where the pieces all join together. Push a split pin through the center of the monkey's chest and then through the arm and leg construction which is placed behind the body. Glue a tongue depressor to the top of the monkey's head as a handle. The child can now play with her monkey using the tail as a lever; as she swings the tail from side to side the arms and legs will move. Have children use their monkeys as props or puppets to accompany songs such as "Five Little Monkeys."