Make an adorable paper plate fox craft with kids using our free printable template, construction paper, and googly eyes. Easy and fun for all ages to create a woodland animal!
There’s just something about foxes that feels made for fall. With their fluffy tails, pointy ears, and warm orange coloring, they’re the perfect little woodland animal to bring to life at the craft table.
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This paper plate fox craft is simple enough for preschoolers but fun for older kids, too. It’s a great choice for a fall classroom activity, homeschool project, or an easy afternoon craft at home. And you only need a handful of basic supplies to get started and I have a free template for you to keep things simple!
Kids can cut, glue, and mix up the template pieces and use a marker to add personalized details and create their own fox face. The result is a whole collection of foxes, each with its own little personality.
The kids and I have had a pretty up-close encounter with foxes! We got to inspect a fox den and even found clues about what the fox had been eating. Then, one night, we heard a strange noise outside that honestly gave us a little scare until we realized it was a fox! 🦊
If you’ve never heard a fox before, go listen to a video—you might be just as surprised as we were! They make some seriously unexpected sounds.
That experience made creating these little foxes even more fun. I made this craft with my kids, and I loved watching them put their own spin on each one. They experimented with different colors, gave their foxes plenty of personality, and learned a few fun facts about these fascinating animals along the way.
Why You’ll Love This Paper plate fox craft with template
- Cute enough to display and keep as a one-of-a-kind keepsake!
- Easy enough for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners — but fun for older kids too!
- Kids can choose their own colors and make their fox totally unique — no two turn out the same!
- Uses simple supplies you likely already have on hand, like paper plates, construction paper, and googly eyes.
- The free printable template makes cutting out the pieces a breeze.
Fox Activities for Kids
If your kids loved making this paper plate fox, why not turn it into a little woodland unit? For more animal-themed fun you might also love the Owl Paper Bag Craft — it uses a lot of the same cutting and assembling skills and makes such a cute companion piece. And if you want to keep the fall forest feeling going, the Fall Tree and Painted Leaves Kids Craft and Free Template is a beautiful next step that ties everything together into a cozy seasonal display.
A Book to Read Together
Make craft time even more fun by reading Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss. This classic tongue-twisting read-aloud is a guaranteed giggle-fest that kids will want to repeat again and again. It’s the perfect silly companion to your fox craft — make your paper plate fox, then practice your best tongue twisters together! Click here to learn more about this book.
Paper Plate Fox Craft with Free Template
At a Glance
- Craft time: 15 minutes
- Best for ages: Ages 3-8
- Difficulty: Easy
- Skills practiced: cutting, painting, gluing, shape recognition, fine motor
Supplies
- Paper plate
- Orange paint
- Paintbrush
- Orange paper
- Black paper
- White paper
- Scissors
- Glue or glue stick
- 2 large googly eyes
- Black marker
How to Make This Paper plate fox craft with template
Grab the template and printable directions from the bottom of this post to make craft time easy!
Cut the paper plate — Start by cutting your paper plate in half right down the middle. That straight flat edge will become the top of your fox’s head — it’s the perfect shape!
Paint it orange — Paint the rounded side of your paper plate half orange and let it dry completely before moving on. We used classic fox orange, but kids can use any color they like — a red fox, a white arctic fox, or even a purple one would be adorable!
Trace and cut out the pieces — While the paint dries, use the free printable template (available at the end of this post!) to trace and cut out all the fox pieces — two orange triangles for the outer ears, two white or light-colored triangles for the inner ears, a white curved muzzle shape, and a small black nose and mouth. You can cut them from construction paper or print the template directly onto paper.
Attach the ears — Tuck the orange ear triangles behind the flat top edge of your painted semicircle and glue them in place so they poke up above the head. Then glue the smaller inner-ear triangles on top of the outer ears. We centered ours evenly, but kids can angle them however they like!
Add the muzzle and nose — Cut out the white muzzle by tracing the template on the second half of the paper plate or print it out on white paper. Cut out the muzzle. Glue the white muzzle shape onto the lower half of the orange semicircle, then glue the black nose and mouth pieces on top of the muzzle. This is where your fox really starts to come to life! Kids can also decide to use markers and draw the details on like a nose and mouth.
Add the eyes and finishing touches — Glue on two googly eyes above the muzzle, or kids can use a marker to draw their own. Kids will love giving their fox a funny expression or a sweet smile. The best part about this craft is that there isn’t a right way to make it — every fox turns out a little different, and that’s what makes each one so special.
Try These Fun Variations
- Add details like a bushy paper tail, whiskers made from black pipe cleaners or strips of paper, or stripes on the ears for a more elaborate fox — older kids in elementary school will love the extra challenge of decorating their fox with as many little touches as they can dream up.
- Turn it into a finger puppet or stick puppet by attaching the finished fox face to a popsicle stick or folding a strip of paper into a loop on the back to slip fingers through — it’s a fun extra step that gives kids something to play with long after the glue dries!
Learning Benefits
- Fine motor skills — cutting, gluing, and assembling small paper pieces strengthens hand muscles and builds dexterity
- Color recognition and mixing — choosing and applying paint helps kids learn color names and explore how colors work together
- Creativity and self-expression — personalizing the fox with their own color choices and arrangements encourages imaginative thinking
- Following multi-step directions — working through each step in order builds focus, listening skills, and the ability to sequence tasks
- Shape recognition — identifying and cutting triangles, curves, and other shapes reinforces early geometry concepts
Frequently Asked Questions
What age group is this fox craft best for?
This craft is great for kids ages 3 and up! Younger kids will need a little help with the cutting and painting, while older kids can tackle most of it on their own. It works beautifully for preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school — and it’s a favorite for homeschool craft days too.
How long does this craft take to finish?
Plan for about 15-25 minutes from start to finish. The painting step adds a little drying time, so if you want to keep things moving, you can paint the paper plate the night before and have it ready to go or use orange colored paper plates (the ones from the dollar store work great and are inexpensive!) Once the paint is dry, the assembling goes pretty quickly!
How messy is this craft?
It’s on the lighter side of messy! The main mess comes from the orange paint, so just lay down some newspaper or a plastic tablecloth and keep a damp cloth nearby for little hands. Construction paper cutting is tidy, and the glue stick keeps things nice and easy to manage.
Can kids use colors other than orange for their fox?
Absolutely — that’s one of the most fun parts! We used classic orange, but kids can make their fox any color they like. A red fox, a gray fox, a purple fox — there’s no wrong choice. Every fox turns out a little different, and that’s what makes each one such a special keepsake.
How can we display the finished fox craft?
These look so cute displayed on a bulletin board, taped to a bedroom door, or hung on the fridge. If you want to hang it on the wall, just punch a small hole at the top and loop a piece of yarn through. They also make adorable additions to a homeschool portfolio or a classroom fall display!
Do I need the template to make this craft?
The template makes things a lot easier, especially for cutting out the ear and muzzle shapes, but it’s not required. Kids can also draw and cut their own shapes freehand — that’s totally fine and adds even more personality to their fox. A free printable template and printable directions are available at the bottom of this post!
More Fall Crafts for Kids
While you’re in a crafty mood, here are some more fun fall projects to try with your kids!
- Fall Tree and Painted Leaves Kids Craft and Free Template
- Autumn Leaves STEAM Absorption Art and Free Template
- Lil’ Pumpkin Handprint Craft
- Owl Paper Bag Craft
- Boo Ghost Footprint Craft
- Paper Plate Turkey Craft for Kids – with Printable Template and Tissue Paper Feathers
- Thanksgiving Handprint Crafts and Free Template: Fun Activities for Kids!
- Thanksgiving Turkey Pinecone and Leaf Craft: A FUN Nature Craft for Kids
- 25+ The BEST Pumpkin Crafts for Kids for Fall and Halloween
Download the Template Here
Print the Directions Here
How to Make a Paper Plate Fox Craft
Equipment
- Paper plate
- Orange paint
- Paintbrush
- Orange paper
- Black paper
- White paper
- Scissors
- Glue or glue stick
- 2 large googly eyes
- Black marker
Instructions
- Cut the paper plate — Start by cutting your paper plate in half right down the middle. That straight flat edge will become the top of your fox's head — it's the perfect shape!Paint it orange — Paint the rounded side of your paper plate half orange and let it dry completely before moving on. We used classic fox orange, but kids can use any color they like — a red fox, a white arctic fox, or even a purple one would be adorable!Trace and cut out the pieces — While the paint dries, use the free printable template (available at the end of this post!) to trace and cut out all the fox pieces — two orange triangles for the outer ears, two white or light-colored triangles for the inner ears, a white curved muzzle shape, and a small black nose and mouth. You can cut them from construction paper or print the template directly onto paper.Attach the ears — Tuck the orange ear triangles behind the flat top edge of your painted semicircle and glue them in place so they poke up above the head. Then glue the smaller inner-ear triangles on top of the outer ears. We centered ours evenly, but kids can angle them however they like!Add the muzzle and nose — Cut out the white muzzle by tracing the template on the second half of the paper plate or print it out on white paper. Cut out the muzzle. Glue the white muzzle shape onto the lower half of the orange semicircle, then glue the black nose and mouth pieces on top of the muzzle. This is where your fox really starts to come to life! Kids can also decide to use markers and draw the details on like a nose and mouth. Add the eyes and finishing touches — Glue on two googly eyes above the muzzle, or kids can use a marker to draw their own. Kids will love giving their fox a funny expression or a sweet smile. The best part about this craft is that there isn't a right way to make it — every fox turns out a little different, and that's what makes each one so special.
Notes
Try These Fun Variations
- Add details like a bushy paper tail, whiskers made from black pipe cleaners or strips of paper, or stripes on the ears for a more elaborate fox — older kids in elementary school will love the extra challenge of decorating their fox with as many little touches as they can dream up.
- Turn it into a finger puppet or stick puppet by attaching the finished fox face to a popsicle stick or folding a strip of paper into a loop on the back to slip fingers through — it’s a fun extra step that gives kids something to play with long after the glue dries!