This Little Red Hen craft is an easy and cute craft that mixes story time fun with hands-on creativity.
This simple paper plate hen craft is the perfect way to bring this classic fable to life. Whether you’re a homeschool mom planning your next themed week, a grandparent looking for a fun activity, a teacher prepping for a fables unit, or a librarian organizing a story time session, this craft is for you.
This project does use paint but I’ve got tips and ideas for keeping it as stress-free and mess-free as possible. Plus, I’m sharing all the step-by-step instructions with pictures to make it even easier to enjoy.
Easy Way to Make This Fable Fun
When I was updating our Preschool Enchantment program and came to the first unit on The Little Red Hen, I had one of those sweet homeschool flashbacks. I immediately thought of this paper plate hen craft that my boys and I had made years ago to go with this classic story. It was one of those simple and budget-friendly projects that turned out to be way more fun than expected.
With five boys, I had a few times to go through the process of making this craft. I made a few tweaks here and there (like adding the adorable hat). It became one of those crafts that stuck with us. And I think that’s because we were able to use it in a variety of ways for our preschool at home.
I knew I had to recreate it to share with you. It’s the kind of activity that reminds me why I love homeschooling so much. Those simple moments that spark learning, laughter, and connection are what makes it all worth it. I’m so excited to pass this cheerful little red hen along to you and your learners!
What You’ll Need for This Little Red Hen Craft
Now that you know the story behind this sweet craft, it’s your turn to make some memories. This Little Red Hen project is super easy to prep, affordable, and perfect for little hands. ll your homeschool day, this project fits right in.
You’ll want to gather these supplies before you get started:
- Paper plate for each hen that you’d like to create
- Red paint
- Yellow and red construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Black marker
If you’d rather not use paint, no worries! Try tempera paint sticks (like Kwik Stix). You get the same effect as paint without all of the drips and mess.
How to Make This Paper Plate Hen Craft
Paint and prepare the plate:
Paint the plate red and let dry. Start by cutting the paper plate in half. One half will become the hen’s body, and the other half will be used to make the tail. From one of the plate halves, cut out a tail shape. The tail can be a simple rounded or feathery shape to resemble tail feathers.
Create and add the details:
Cut a small hat shape from yellow construction paper. Use a black marker to draw a line where the brim meets the base. Cut a yellow triangle beak and a small red wattle (a teardrop shape works well). Draw an eye with the black marker towards the top corner of the plate. Glue the yellow hat near the top edge. Glue the beak on the curved edge. Add the red wattle just under the beak.
Add the tail:
Glue the red tail shape to the opposite end of the plate to complete your hen.
Creative Ways to Use Your Little Red Hen Craft
Once your students are done making their crafts, I encourage you to keep the fun going. Here are some wonderful ways to use this craft in your homeschool, classroom, or storytime:
- Retell the Story: Use the hen as a story prop for a retelling activity. Kids can practice sequencing events and acting out different characters. You can also add a wood craft stick to the bottom of the craft and use for a puppet show.
- Growth Mindset Fun: Talk about the themes found in the fable of hard work, responsibility, and teamwork.
- Sing-Along Fun: Use your DIY hen with farm-themed songs like “Old MacDonald”. Music and movement activities are perfect for preschoolers and beyond!
- Bake Like the Hen: Enjoy a real-life bread baking activity. Let your kids mix, knead, and taste the bread. Fantastic for sensory experiences, fine motor skills, and more!
FAQs About the Little Red Hen Paper Plate Craft
This craft is great for preschool through early elementary (ages 3–7). Older kids can enjoy it with more detailed decorating or storytelling prompts. You can also simplify steps for younger learners by pre-cutting shapes or using glue dots instead of liquid glue.
Definitely! A piece of cardstock or cardboard circle works just fine. In fact, if you’d rather skip the painting, using a piece of red paper is a great option.
No worries! You can use tempera paint sticks, crayons, markers, colored pencils, or red construction paper. The key is to keep it fun and flexible.
More Ways to Have Fun with The Little Red Hen
This Little Red Hen craft is just the beginning of all the fun you can have with this fable. Here are some fantastic ways to enjoy this story and theme:
The Little Red HenLittle Red Hen (Little Board Books)CHEFAN Felt Board for Toddlers,4 Sets Flannel Board Stories for Preschool Activity,Little Red Hen,The Ant and The Grasshopper,The Goose That Laid The Golden Egg and The Emperor’s New Clothes
If you and your kids enjoyed bringing the story to life, you’ll love diving even deeper with our Little Red Hen Unit Study! It’s packed with learning activities and hands-on fun to help you explore the story without the stress or overwhelm.
Curious to see how our preschool unit studies work before committing? Hurray! You can try our Little Red Riding Hood Unit Study for FREE and get a feel for just how fun, flexible, and engaging these activities can be.
