The kids will love making this Dr Seuss Horton Paper Bag Puppet! It's a great activity for Dr. Seuss fans to be able to make a craft that they can enjoy again and again. Creative play is always a good idea.
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💖 Why You'll Love This Craft
- Whimsical & Fun: Bring Horton’s big ears and gentle heart to life with this cute, interactive puppet craft.
- Perfect for Seuss Week: A great addition to any Dr. Seuss celebration or classroom activity.
- Encourages Creativity: Kids can customize Horton’s look and use their puppet for imaginative storytelling.
Tips for Creating This Dr. Seuss Horton Paper Bag Puppet
This simple Dr. Seuss activity is fun for the kids and is one that they'll be able to do all on their own. This is great for working on their scissor skills as well as their hand-eye coordination, too. And once they have the puppet completed, they'll get to use imaginative play to make it come to life.
🎨 Supplies Needed
- Cardstock
- Glue
- Scissors
- Paper Bag
- White Chalk Marker
🖌️ How To Make a Dr. Seuss Horton Bag Puppet
- Step 1: Download and print out the Horton Hears A Who template.
- Step 2: Cut all the pieces out and set them aside.
- Step 3: Glue the large rectangle onto the front of the bag and then glue the head onto the top of the bag. Finish gluing the rest of the pieces onto the puppet.
- Step 4: Add detail with a white chalk marker.
💡 Pro Tip: Attach a small stick to the back of the paper bag to turn Horton into a movable stage puppet, making it easier for kids to perform with him.
🧑🎨 Expert Tips
- Floppy Ear Effect: Gently fold the elephant’s ears downward at the top before gluing to give Horton a softer, more natural and friendly appearance.
- Soft Nose Curve: Slightly bend or curve the trunk when attaching it to the bag to make Horton’s trunk look more lively and less stiff on the puppet.
- Big Eye Focus: Make Horton’s eyes slightly larger than usual to emphasize his gentle personality and create a more charming, wide-eyed look.
- Shaded Wrinkle Lines: Lightly draw simple curved lines along the trunk and ears with a soft gray pencil to suggest natural elephant wrinkles without cluttering the design.
- Background Scene Addition: Create a small grassy ground or jungle leaves around the bottom of the bag to give the puppet an easy environment setting.
- Puffball Clovers: Craft a tiny pink puffball or pom-pom to represent Horton’s famous clover and glue it onto his trunk for a small but recognizable detail.
💭 FAQs
Grouping finished Horton puppets along bookshelves or pinning them near play tents can give the play area a fun, story-themed atmosphere.
Kids can race to create mini Horton lookalikes from scraps, or design a "save the speck" relay using crafted puppets for a playful event.
Puppet pieces like Horton’s ears or trunk can be traced onto cards, creating cute, custom thank-you notes after Dr. Seuss parties.
Yes, kids can carry their Horton puppets during scavenger hunts or invent outdoor rescue missions, adding a playful twist to backyard games.
Did you make this craft? Leave a review and comment below! Alternatively, bookmark it in your browser or save to Pinterest.
Download Template
Download free Printable Template To Make Dr Suess Horton Paper Bag Puppet!
Dr. Seuss Horton Paper Bag Puppet
Materials
- Cardstock
- Glue
- Scissors
- Paper Bag
- White Chalk Marker
Instructions
- Download and print out the Horton Hears A Who template.
- Cut all the pieces out and set them aside.
- Glue the large rectangle onto the front of the bag and then glue the head onto the top of the bag. Finish gluing the rest of the pieces onto the puppet.
- Add detail with a white chalk marker.
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I love this craft!!! My students will love it! How do I download the pieces of the elephant?
Thank you so much!
K. Cole