If you’ve been on the hunt for the perfect DIY project this Halloween season, or if you’re aiming to teach your little ones a thing or two about the human body, you’ve come to the right place! Today, we’ll embark on a fun skeleton craft journey that is not only adorable but also educational. From spooktacular Halloween decorations for your haunted house to anatomy lessons, this craft covers it all. And the best part? It’s easy, making it perfect for kids of all ages.
This craft is a great way to introduce younger students to the skeletal system and the different types of bones in the human body.
Not just for the spooky season, this versatile craft can also be a great addition to your arts and crafts all year round.
Materials You’ll Need
To create this easy skeleton craft, gather up the following items (affiliate links included below)
- Construction or colored paper in orange and black
- White paper
- Glue – You might need a lot of glue for smaller pieces! Elmer’s glue works great, or a glue stick.
- Scissors – Safety first! Especially with little kids.
- Free skeleton printable template (don’t worry; we’ve got a PDF file ready for you, download at the end of this blog post. )
Step-by-step Guide
Print out the template and follow our step by step guide below on how to put together your halloween skeletons craft.
Skeleton Craft
Get ready to create the cutest Halloween decoration this season with our spooky skeleton crafts!
These fun crafts are the perfect way to keep young kids engaged and entertained.
Our skeleton printables make it easy to assemble a delightful and cute skeleton, ensuring a playful touch to your festive décor
Materials
- Construction / colored paper (orange and black)
- White paper
- Glue
- Scissors
- Template (free pdf printable template below)
Tools
- Printer
Instructions
- Print the Template: And gather all of your craft supplies.
- Cutting the Template: Begin by cutting out the provided skeleton template. For little kids, larger parts of the skeleton like the top of the skull or the big bones are easier. Older kids can tackle the smaller, detailed pieces.
- Color Selection: Paste the parts of the skeleton on the appropriate colored papers (black and orange). Remember to leave a small border or outline when tracing, except for the full body piece.
- Creating the Orange Basket: For the part of the skeleton template that's on the orange paper, glue it again onto a black paper. Cut it out and you'll see it forms an orange basket. This step adds a nice touch and can be seen as a 'trick or treat' basket or a fun accessory. Check out the photo guide for a clearer view.
- Final Touches with White Paper: Now, paste the remaining skeleton pieces onto a white bond paper. Trace and then cut once more, ensuring a small border remains.
- Assembling the Skeleton: Now comes the fun part! Attach the cut-out body parts onto the black body using glue. Ensure they're in the right places, especially if you're teaching the kids about the human skeleton.
- Voilà! There you have it - your skeleton complete with a trick or treat orange basket, ready to be a star of Halloween activities or a great craft for learning.
Try including these fun skeleton activities during lessons on El Día de los Muertos with sugar skull designs, or as part of a creative writing activity about spooky stories!
Tips and Tricks
- Safety First: Always supervise little ones when using scissors.
- Choosing Materials: Invest a little bit of time in choosing the right materials. Sometimes, paper plates or black cardstock can offer different options and textures.
- Boost Creativity: Let your child’s creativity flow. Maybe they’d like to make their skeleton dance, or perhaps add movable joints? There’s no limit!
Developmental & Educational Benefits
This craft isn’t just a fun way to get into the Halloween spirit; it’s also beneficial for children’s development. Working with small pieces enhances fine motor skills. For older children, it can be paired with a lesson about the human body, teaching them about different parts of the skeleton.
Whether you’re looking for Halloween party ideas, fun Halloween crafts to keep the younger children engaged, or an interactive way to introduce older kids to the anatomy of the skeletal system, this easy skeleton craft with a free printable template is a great starting point.
Related: Free Human Body Printables for Kids
The Bones of the Skeleton
The human skeleton is a complex framework comprised of many bones. Here’s a brief overview of the main bones. You can pick a few to introduce to the kids, depending on their ages and the complexity level you want. See how many you can point out on your skeleton craft.
- Cranium – The bones that make up the skull, protecting the brain.
- Mandible – The lower jaw bone.
- Vertebral column or Spine – Made up of:
- Cervical vertebrae: Neck region (7 vertebrae)
- Thoracic vertebrae: Upper/mid-back attached to the ribs (12 vertebrae)
- Lumbar vertebrae: Lower back (5 vertebrae)
- Sacrum: Fused vertebrae below the lumbar region
- Coccyx: The “tailbone,” the final section of the vertebral column
- Ribs – Twelve pairs attached to the thoracic vertebrae, protecting the heart and lungs.
- Sternum (or breastbone) – Where the ribs attach at the front center of the chest.
- Pelvis (or hip bones) – Comprising the ilium, ischium, and pubis.
- Upper extremities:
- Humerus: Upper arm bone
- Radius & Ulna: Forearm bones
- Carpals: Wrist bones
- Metacarpals: Palm bones
- Phalanges: Fingers and thumb bones
- Lower extremities:
- Femur: Thigh bone (and the longest bone in the human body)
- Patella: Knee cap
- Tibia & Fibula: Bones of the lower leg
- Tarsals: Ankle bones
- Metatarsals: Sole bones
- Phalanges: Toe bones
- Scapula – Shoulder blade.
- Clavicle – Collarbone, connecting the shoulder blade to the front of the rib cage.
These are the major bones of the human skeleton. There are many other smaller bones, especially in areas like the hands, feet, and face.
Fun fact – The average adult skeleton has 206 bones, but we’re born with around 270, and some fuse together as we grow.
Download Free Printable Skeleton Template PDF
Click below to download your free template with each part of the skeleton, to make this craft super easy to make with the kids.
Terms of use: free for personal use and classroom use. Not for commercial use.
This skeleton craft is the embodiment of Halloween fun, merging creativity with the spooky vibes of the season.
As the leaves fall and the nights get longer, there’s no better way to get into the Halloween spirit than by crafting your very own cute skeleton.
It’s a delightful blend of educational discovery and festive celebration, making it a must-try project this eerie season. Plus, it’s not just a craft; it’s a memory-making experience that will linger long after the Halloween candy has disappeared!
More Halloween Crafts
If you’re seeking more fun skeleton craft ideas, skeleton facts, or even sugar skull designs for El Día de los Muertos, stay tuned. We’ve got a range of craft activities, coloring pages, and free templates coming up.
So, whether it’s for Halloween, El Día de los Muertos, or just a fun activity for a crafty DIY day, this skeleton craft is bound to be a hit. Happy crafting!
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We hope you enjoyed using this skeleton craft printable with the kids. Please go ahead and share this blog post with friends and family so that more parents, teachers and families can enjoy our free resources and fun skeleton activities. Thank you so much.
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.
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