DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Paper Plate Turtle or Tortoise Craft

contributed by Leanne Guenther

This adorable turtle craft uses a paper plate to make a project suitable for an animals theme, reptiles theme, a letter T theme or just for fun.

In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of creating a turtle using a paper plate craft. Whether you want to make a playful sea turtle or a charming tortoise, this craft allows you to personalize your turtle's appearance. Let's dive in and bring a delightful turtle to life!

Materials:

• Paper plate
• Green paint
• Paintbrush
• Colored construction paper (various colors, particularly green)
• Scissors
• Glue or adhesive tape
• Pencil
• Black marker

Instructions:

• Paint the Paper Plate:
  • Take a paper plate and paint it green using the green paint and a paintbrush.
  • Apply a smooth, even layer of paint on both sides of the plate.
  • Set it aside to dry completely.
• Decorate the Shell:
  • Cut out squares or hexagons from different colors of construction paper.
  • Use your creativity to arrange and glue the colored paper shapes onto the painted paper plate.
  • Cover the entire surface of the plate to create a vibrant and unique turtle shell.
• Craft the Head and Tail:
  • Cut a smaller circle or oval shape from green construction paper to create the turtle's head.
  • Cut a longer, narrower oval shape for the tail.
  • Use a pencil to lightly sketch the desired shapes on the construction paper before cutting.
• Attach the Head and Tail:
  • Apply glue or adhesive tape to the backside of the head cutout.
  • Position the head at one end of the paper plate, slightly overlapping the rim.
  • Press it down gently to secure it in place.
  • Repeat the same process for the tail, attaching it to the opposite end of the plate.
• Cut and Attach the Legs:
  • Depending on whether you want a sea turtle or tortoise, cut four legs from green construction paper.
  • For a sea turtle, cut oval-shaped fin legs. For a tortoise, cut rectangular legs.
  • Apply glue or adhesive tape to one end of each leg cutout.
  • Position the legs evenly on the bottom side of the paper plate, two on each side.
  • Press them down gently to attach them securely.
• Add Facial Details:
  • Use a black marker to draw eyes, a nose, and a mouth on the turtle's head.
  • You can give the eyes a friendly expression and add other facial features as desired.
• Personalize and Decorate:
  • Feel free to embellish your turtle with additional details using markers, crayons, or colored paper.
  • Add patterns, scales, or any other decorations to make your turtle unique and colorful.
• Let it Dry and Display:
  • Allow the glue to dry completely and ensure all the elements are securely attached.
  • Once dry, your turtle paper plate craft is ready to be displayed!

Creating a turtle paper plate craft is a fun and creative way to celebrate these charming reptiles. Whether you opt for a sea turtle with fin-shaped legs or a tortoise with rectangular legs, your personalized turtle will make a delightful addition to any display. Enjoy the process of painting, decorating, and bringing your colorful turtle to life!

Tortoise:

• A tortoise is a type of reptile.
• It has a large, dome-shaped shell on its back.
• Tortoises live on land and spend most of their time on dry ground.
• They have sturdy, elephant-like legs with thick, round feet.
• Their feet are designed for walking on land and are not webbed.
• Tortoises eat mostly plants and have a herbivorous diet.
• They can withdraw their head, legs, and tail into their shell for protection.
• Tortoises are commonly found in deserts, grasslands, and forests.

Turtle:

• A turtle is also a reptile.
• It has a streamlined shell that is usually flatter and more streamlined than a tortoise's shell.
• Turtles spend most of their time in water, such as oceans, rivers, or lakes.
• They have webbed feet or flippers that help them swim in water.
• Turtles have a more streamlined body shape, which makes them excellent swimmers.
• Their diet can vary depending on the species, but many turtles are omnivorous, eating both plants and small animals.
• Some turtles, like sea turtles, have the ability to retract their head partially into their shell, but they cannot completely withdraw like a tortoise.

In summary, the main difference between a tortoise and a turtle is that tortoises are land-dwelling reptiles with dome-shaped shells and sturdy legs, while turtles are water-dwelling reptiles with streamlined shells and webbed feet or flippers for swimming.

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