This paper plate cloud craft is such a sweet and simple weather craft for kids, and it is perfect for a preschool weather theme, spring learning topic, or any classroom unit about clouds, rain, sunshine, and the sky.
Using a paper plate as the base makes this craft sturdy and easy for little hands to manage, while the smiley face gives the finished cloud so much personality. Kids can make their cloudy craft look happy, sleepy, silly, or even stormy if they want to change up the expression.
Cloud crafts are a lovely way to start talking about weather with young children. You can chat about cloudy days, what clouds are made from, how clouds move across the sky, and how different types of clouds can sometimes tell us what kind of weather might be coming next. We also have other cloud activities and cloud printables on the blog, so this craft fits really nicely alongside those if you are planning a full weather theme.
Paper Plate Cloud Craft
This cloudy paper plate craft uses a cut paper plate for the main cloud shape, then construction paper pieces are added to create the face and extra blue cloud details. It is easy enough for preschoolers and kindergarten children with some help cutting, and older kids can make it more independently.
You can use white paper plates as shown here, or let kids paint the paper plate first if you want a brighter or more colorful cloud. Blue, gray, pink, or even rainbow colors would all work well depending on the weather theme you are exploring.
Materials
The supplies for this paper plate cloud craft are simple and easy to find, making it a great low prep activity for home or the classroom. All you need is a paper plate, some construction paper, scissors, glue, and a marker to create the smiling cloud face and extra cloud details. Using basic craft materials keeps this weather craft fun, affordable, and perfect for kids of different ages.
- Paper plate
- Construction papers
- Scissor
- Glue
- Marker
- Printable cloud template (download at the end of this blog post)
How to Make a Paper Plate Cloud Craft
Use the printable template to help with the shapes, then follow the simple steps below to make your own cloud weather craft.
Paper Plate Cloud Craft
Instructions
- Trace the cloud template to a paper plate and cut it.
- Outline the cloud paper plate using a marker.
- Cut and trace the templates to their corresponding paper, then cut them again.
- Assemble and attach the templates one by one.
- Attach the details of the face to the paper plate, such as the eyes, blush, and smile.
- Attach the cloud templates on both sides.
- Let the glue dry. Your cloud craft is finished
Once everything is glued down, leave the craft to dry flat. The finished cloudy face looks adorable on a classroom wall, weather display board, or as part of a kids’ craft collection at home.
This is also a great fine motor skills activity because children are cutting, tracing, gluing, and placing small paper pieces carefully. It gives them a chance to practice hand control while still making something fun and cute.
Download the Cloud Craft Template PDF
Download the free printable cloud craft template to make this activity easier to prep. The template includes the cloud shapes and face details, so children can trace, cut, and assemble their own paper plate cloudy craft.
Print the template on regular paper for tracing, or on cardstock if you want something sturdier to reuse with a group of children.
Terms of use: This cloud craft template is free for personal use and classroom use.
This paper plate cloud craft is simple, cheerful, and easy to make with everyday craft supplies. It is a lovely addition to a weather theme and gives kids a cute finished craft they can be proud of.
More Cloud Activities for Kids
If your kids enjoyed this paper plate cloud craft, they will love trying more cloud activities too. Cloud themes are perfect for weather lessons, spring topics, science discussions, and simple observation activities where kids can look up at the sky and notice what they see.
You can pair this craft with cloud spotter printables, cloud identification worksheets, weather charts, rain crafts, rainbow crafts, or a simple walk outside to look at the clouds together.
- Cloud Identification Worksheets and Free Printable Cloud Spotter
- Fine Motor Threading Rain Cloud Craft
More Weather Crafts and Activities
Weather crafts are always fun for young children because they connect so easily to the world around them. Kids can make sunshine crafts, rainy day pictures, rainbow art, snowflake crafts, wind activities, and storm cloud projects as they learn about different kinds of weather.
- Rainy Day Umbrella Craft
- Rainbow Sun Catcher Shadow Art
- Snowflake Sensory Bottle
- Hot and Cool Colors outdoor Science Experiment For Summer
We have the whole set coming for all of these paper plate weather crafts too.
These kinds of hands-on weather activities help children build vocabulary, creativity, and early science understanding in a playful way.
Please share this blog post with friends, family, teachers, or anyone looking for easy weather crafts for kids.
