Australian Crafts and Activities for Kids

Platypus Paper Bag Puppet

What you will need: Paper lunch bag, construction paper, glue, scissors, and markers to make the eyes.

What to do:

1. Print out the platypus pattern and make copies onto construction paper. (Large file or small file)

2. Fold in the bottom corners of the bag as shown in the picture.

3. Cut out the patterns and glue them to the bag as shown in the picture to the left. Glue the bottom beak to the bag underneath the top beak.

©2005, Carolyn Warvel -* See Copyright Information

Kangaroo Crafts - See the Kangaroo Crafts Page

Kangaroo Crafts

Mama Kangaroo With Joey Craft for Kids

Kangaroo Mom and Joey 3D Craft - Color the pattern, fold, and tape. This mother kangaroo carries a joey in her pouch. You can place other items such as candy or small gifts in her pouch and use as a party favor. This craft is available to members only. Follow the link to get the the member's only section.

©2005, Carolyn Warvel -* See Copyright Information

Echidna Craft for Kids

What you will need: Foam eggs, golf tees, brown paint, and toothpicks. You can buy foam egg shapes

What to do:

1. Cut the top part of four golf tees so that they are about 1 1/2" long. Press the cut tees into the egg to make the Echidna's legs as shown in the picture.

2. Paint the body and legs brown.

3. Break toothpicks in half and stick them in the Echidna's body as shown in the picture. Stick one of the cut off tee in the front of the egg to make the Echidna's pointy snout. Paint it brown and draw on eyes with a permanent marker.

©2004, Carolyn Warvel -* See Copyright Information

Australian Dot Art - Australian Aboriginals used sticks, Echidna quills, or spikes to paint traditional "dreamtime stories". Their paintings depicted stories from their lives. They usually used traditional symbols in their paintings such as: fish, turtles, crocodiles, snakes, kangaroos and other animals. They also painted pictures of weapons, boomerangs, and other tools they used.

Make your own dot art pictures - Study Aboriginal art and then make your own dot painting by dipping a stick, handle end of a paint brush, or your finger into tempera paint and place dots on your paper to make designs.

Dot Art Paper Weight

What you will need: smooth river rock, acrylic paint (earth tones), and paint brushes.

What to do:

1. Study Australian dot art designs. Decide what type of design and colors you would like to use.

2. Start by painting the lightest background colors. Fill in with the darker colors. Then add dots.

Examples of dot paintings on art-rageous.net.
Example 1 of aboriginal dot painting on Art.com
Example 2 of aboriginal dot paint on Art.com
Many samples of student dot art on Aboriginal Art Project web site
Example of a painted Emu egg - Dot painted Emu Eggs
Another web site with examples of Australian Dot Art: Dave's Aboriginal Art and Dreamtime Site

Stenciling - Aboriginal's used common objects such as stencils in their rock art. They used boomerangs, their own hands or other's hands, feet, tools, spears, etc.

Make your own stenciled pictures - Add food coloring to small spray bottles filled with water. (Wear old clothes because food coloring stains.) Place your hand on a sheet of construction paper, trace around it with a pencil and then cut it out. This is your stencil. Place the "stencil" on another sheet of paper. Use the spray bottle to spray painting around the handprint. When you lift the handprint stencil the hand shape will stand out.

You can find out more information about stenciling at Aboriginal Art Online and rock art stenciling in Carnarvon Gorge on the Queensland Government web site.