This easy paper plate poppy craft is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers to make for Remembrance Day, Veterans Day or Anzac Day.
Of all the poppy crafts I have on my blog, this one is the easiest, making it a perfect Remembrance Day craft for daycare and preschool.
On November 11th, Canadians will observe Remembrance Day and Americans will observe Veteran’s Day. It is a day for us to remember and give thanks to those who went to war to serve and fight for our countries’ freedom.
The poppy has come to symbolize Remembrance Day due to the poem “In Flanders Fields”, which tells of the blood-red poppies that grew in abundance in the battlefields and among the gravestones of the fallen soldiers.
The flower is easily recognized by its vibrant colour, frilled edges and black centre. Our paper plate poppies closely resemble the felt poppies that we pin to our lapels in the early days of November.
If you’re looking for a simple Remembrance Day craft to make with your kids, give our paper plate poppies a try. Young children will enjoy the process, and the results are really lovely.
Older kids will love our puffy tissue paper poppies.
To make our paper plate poppy craft, you’ll need:
- paper plate
- red and black paint
- paintbrush
- wine cork (optional)
- scissors
Today, instead of pouring our paint into paint pallets, I swirled several colours of red paint onto a paper plate so the hooligans could blend and mix their colours right on their plates.
It’s fun to paint this way sometimes. The kids can really what happens as the colours blend together, and it gives the craft definition, as the different shades produce highlights and shadows.
If you don’t have paper plates on hand, you can easily use thin cardboard, like the panel from a cereal box, to make your poppies.
While your children are painting their paper plates, you can talk to them about the meaning and the importance of Remembrance Day. I know that war is a difficult topic to discuss with children, but you can share the basics with them in a caring and honest way.
Today’s Parent has an article that’s very helpful when teaching young children about Remembrance day.
When your child is happy with the look of their red plate, have them add a black centre to their poppy.
The black center can either be painted on with a paint brush, or stamped on with a wine cork dipped in black paint.
The toddlers love stamping with corks, so I always keep a stash of them in the craft room just for this purpose.
Let your poppy dry for a bit. You can speed up the process with a blast from a hair dryer.
When the paint is dry to the touch, have your child make 4 V-shaped cuts into the rim of the paper plate to form the petals of the flower.
Your paper plate poppy will be large enough to proudly display in a window in your home or classroom.
More Poppy Crafts for Kids
Get the 3-5 Playful Preschool e-Book!
25+preschool activities by 25 bloggers, 10 printables, 50 links to activities not featured in the book all for $8.99!
Follow the Hooligans on Facebook
Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
