Who says pasta is only for eating? With this wonderful craft, pasta pieces transform into the mane of the most adorable little lion! A creative activity for preschool-aged children that develops fine motor skills and lets their imagination run wild.
What You'll Need
- Printed lion template (free download below) — ideally printed on thicker paper than standard A4
- Pasta in various shapes (farfalle, penne, rigatoni)
- Glue
- Yellow and orange poster paint and a paintbrush
- Markers or coloured pencils if printing the black & white template
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1 — Print the template Download and print our free lion template.
Step 2 — Prepare the pasta Choose pasta with interesting shapes for the mane — farfalle and rigatoni work brilliantly! For a colourful mane, paint the pasta pieces beforehand with poster paint and leave them to dry on baking paper.
Step 3 — Glue the mane Spread glue around the edge of the lion's face and press the pasta pieces on one by one to form the mane. Kids love this step — let them decide the order and combination! You can also use spaghetti for a more dramatic, flowing mane!
Step 4 — Leave to dry Place the lion on a flat surface and leave it to dry completely before displaying or playing with it.
Why We Love This Craft
Pasta crafts are wonderful for developing fine motor skills in young children, as picking up and placing each individual piece gives little fingers a fun and purposeful workout. Perfect for preschool and nursery activities too!
