Easy Paper Plate Grinch Craft For Kids (Free Template!)

If your kids love all things Grinchy, they’re going to have a blast making this adorable paper plate Grinch craft! It’s cute, simple, and the perfect holiday activity to spark creativity and bring a little Who-ville cheer into your home.

My kids have always loved the main character from the Dr. Seuss book How The Grinch Stole Christmas. If your kids can’t get enough Grinchy fun during the holidays (like my kids!), this paper plate Grinch craft is the perfect way to bring that mischievous green character to life this holiday season!

With simple supplies and a whole lot of creativity, kids of all ages can make their very own Grinch face — complete with that iconic smirk — and proudly display it as festive holiday décor.

This easy craft is the perfect activity to do while enjoying other Grinch-themed favorites such as our Grinch Bundt Cake and cozy Grinch-themed white hot chocolate during the Christmas season.

Make it part of a classroom craft day, a holiday party activity, or even a cozy afternoon project to get everyone laughing and feeling festive. No matter how you use it, this adorable paper plate Grinch is guaranteed to steal the spotlight (but hopefully not Christmas!).

If you want more ideas for great Christmas crafts, try my Paper Plate Reindeer Craft or this Wood Slice Santa Ornament Craft.

Why You’ll Love This Fun Grinch Craft

• Age-Appropriate Craft – A craft that is perfect for all ages… literally every age will enjoy this craft. Younger children can benefit from a little adult help, while older kids and adults can put their own creative spin on the much-loved Grinch character.

• Strengthen fine motor skills – Help your little people practice their cutting, tracing, and gluing skills.

• Crafting with kids – Waiting for the time to open presents can be hard for kids, so set up a craft area for them to distract them until everyone is ready!

• Home or school – Perfect craft for kids at home or in a classroom.

Supplies Needed

This activity uses pretty basic craft supplies – you may already have everything you need! Here’s what you need to gather:

• Paper Plate – I prefer the 9-inch uncoated plates that are mostly flat
• Green Paint – lime green is most similar to the color of the Grinch
• Paintbrush – a craft paintbrush or even a foam brush works well!
• Marker – medium point permanent marker such as a black Sharpie marker.
• Scissors – all sizes for different-sized hands
• Glue – Elmer’s, glue stick, or craft glue
• Construction Paper – yellow for eyes and red for hat
• Cotton Balls – regular or jumbo
• Grinch craft template

How to Make Paper Plate Grinch Craft

1. Trace the templates – Begin by tracing the Grinch head template onto the paper plate. Cut out the Grinch face.
2. Paint the plate – Paint the paper plate green and allow it to dry.
3. Draw the face – Turn the plate over and use the back of the plate. Using the black marker to draw on the Grinch’s face.
4. Attach the Eyes – Use the Grinch template to cut the eyes out of the yellow construction paper. Glue the yellow eyes of the Grinch on the plate.
5. Create the Hat – Use the red construction paper to cut out a hat. Attach the top part of the hat to the plate.
6. Attach Cotton Balls – Glue the cotton on the bottom of the red hat as a band, and place a final cotton ball on the tip of the hat to make adorable Santa hat fluff.

Paper Plate Grinch Craft Notes And Expert Tips

• Depending on the size of cotton balls you have on hand or purchased, you may want to ‘puff’ them up by gently pulling on them.

• If you are working with younger crafters, it may save some time and be helpful to cut the plate and smaller pieces, such as the eyes, before beginning the craft.

• Glue sticks and glue dots are less messy and easier to work with than liquid glue or a glue gun.

• Allow the painted plate to dry completely. This will make it much easier to glue on the construction pieces and use the marker.

• Want to skip the painting? Cut out green craft foam sheets or green cardstock paper and skip right to the face, eyes, and hat.

Tips for Classrooms and Groups

Here are some ideas for ways to use this Grinch paper plate craft in the classroom.

Holiday Bulletin Board Display: Create a “Who-ville Wall” where each student adds their own Grinch face. Add speech bubbles or character traits for a literacy tie-in.

Classroom Door Decoration: Turn the entire door into the Grinch’s face and have each child add their own mini-Grinch ornament or accessory.

Storytime Companion Craft: Pair the activity with a read-aloud of How the Grinch Stole Christmas to help students connect the story with hands-on creativity.

Behavior or Kindness Lesson: Use the craft to talk about kindness, emotions, and what it means for someone’s “heart to grow.” Students can write something kind on the back of their Grinch.

Ways To Extend The Activity

Writing Activity: Have students write a short paragraph or sentence about what makes their heart grow or how they can spread kindness like the Grinch at the end of the story.

STEM Challenge: Let kids design and build a tiny sleigh, Max the dog, or a Who-ville house using classroom materials to accompany their Grinch plate.

Art Extensions: Encourage students to personalize their Grinch by adding 3D features like cotton-ball fur for the hat, pipe-cleaner eyebrows, or construction-paper accessories.

Character Comparison: Incorporate a quick ELA mini-lesson where kids compare the Grinch before and after his transformation. They can use Venn diagrams or create two versions of the Grinch craft to show the change.

Grinch-Themed Centers: Combine the craft with other Grinch activities (like printable Grinch coloring pages or a Grinch snack) to create rotating holiday centers.

How To Display Paper Plate Grinch Crafts

Add a ribbon loop or hook to the top of the hat on the back of the paper plate and hang your Grinch on the doorknob of the front door. Visitors will enjoy being greeted by your clever creations.

If you used smaller plates, write a Christmas wish on the back, and deliver your new Grinch friends to your neighbors and friends.

Make a ‘Grinch wreath’ by overlapping and attaching your creations in a circle to look like a wreath and hang it on the front door or above the fireplace.

Turn your Grinches into a banner by stringing them together or hanging them on walls/fridges. 

Variations of Paper Plate Grinch Craft To Try

• Use a dessert-sized paper plate for a smaller version of this adorable craft.

• Use some fun white pom poms from the craft store instead of cotton balls.

• Let your crafters have creative liberties with their project and design their own facial expressions for their Grinch, and also design the shape of the hat any way they choose.

• Add some gold or silver glitter….because who doesn’t love glitter. I’m sure the Grinch would love it too. 😉

• Googly eyes would be a fun addition to your Grinch face.

Grab The Template

More Christmas Printables and Activities To Check Out

• Free Secret Message From Santa Printable (Decode Game)
• Best Printable Letter To Santa Template (Cute & Free!)
• Best Free Christmas Countdown Calendar Printable
• Free Printable Christmas Bingo Game
• Christmas Planner For A Stress-Free Holiday Season
  

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