Moving Polar Bear Craft: A Winter Wonderland in Motion

a paper plate craft with a polar bear attached to a popsicle stick so it can move back and forth

This Moving Polar Bear Craft is a perfect winter activity that combines creativity, movement, and learning into one adorable project. It’s hands-on, interactive, and just the right mix of art and play. When finished, kids can actually make their polar bear “walk” across an icy landscape using a simple paper plate mechanism—making it not just a craft, but a fun little science-meets-art experience.

a paper plate craft with a polar bear attached to a popsicle stick so it can move back and forth

What makes this activity special is how it brings a polar scene to life. Instead of a flat art piece, children get to create a moving winter story with their own handmade polar bear as the main character. The end result looks magical—like a little polar world right on a paper plate—but it’s simple enough that even young kids can make it with just a bit of guidance. It’s perfect for preschool, kindergarten, or early elementary classrooms, and it also makes a great snow day project at home.

Supplies You’ll Need to make this moving polar bear craft

construction paper, paper plate, paint brush, blue paint, cotton, scissors, glue, and a black marker

Start by gathering your materials. You’ll need paper plates (two per child), a marker, scissors, glue, blue paint, a paint brush, construction paper, cotton balls, and a popsicle stick. You’ll also need the included polar bear template, which makes this project both structured and easy for kids to follow along.

How To make the moving polar bear craft

a paper plate painted blue

Begin with the background. Take one of the paper plates and paint it a light, wintry blue—this will be your sky. Let the paint dry completely before moving to the next step. While it’s drying, you can talk to the kids about polar bears and where they live. You might explain that polar bears live in the Arctic, where snow and ice cover the land most of the year. It’s a great opportunity to weave in a mini science lesson while the paint sets.

a paper plate painted blue and cotton attached to a second paper plate

Next, take your second paper plate and carefully cut out the inner circle, leaving only the outer rim. This piece will serve as the “ice edge” where your polar bear moves. Use the back side of this cut-out plate, which has a smooth surface for gluing cotton balls. Glue cotton all around the rim to create a fluffy, snowy border. The texture of the cotton gives the project a realistic, wintry look that kids love touching.

Once the cotton is attached and the blue plate is dry, it’s time to connect them. Glue the cotton-covered rim on top of the blue plate to create a layered scene. But here’s the key part—don’t glue the bottom section completely shut. Leave a small gap where you’ll later insert the popsicle stick holding your polar bear. This open space allows the bear to slide back and forth, giving the illusion that it’s walking across the snow.

a polar bear made out of construction paper

Now, it’s time to make the star of the show—the polar bear! Using the included template, cut out the bear’s body, legs, and facial features. Have kids trace the pieces onto white construction paper and cut them out carefully. Once the pieces are ready, assemble the polar bear by gluing everything together. Add details with a black marker—a little nose, eyes, and maybe even a small smile.

a polar bear made from construction paper attached to a popsicle stick

When your bear is complete, glue or tape it securely to the top of a popsicle stick. Then, gently slide the stick into the opening between the two paper plates. Move it back and forth, and watch as your polar bear “walks” across the snowy landscape! It’s such a simple mechanism, but it feels like magic to kids when they see their creation come to life.

a paper plate craft with a polar bear attached to a popsicle stick so it can move back and forth

For an extra touch of creativity, kids can decorate their background with small snowflakes or glitter glue to make falling snow. They might even add a few paper fish or icebergs to give the polar bear some company. If you’re doing this craft in a classroom, each student’s version will look a little different—some might give their bear a scarf or rosy cheeks, while others might draw baby cubs nearby.

Why parents and teachers love this craft

a paper plate craft with a polar bear attached to a popsicle stick so it can move back and forth

This project is great for building fine motor skills—painting, cutting, tracing, and gluing all help strengthen hand coordination. It also encourages storytelling and imagination. Once the craft is complete, ask the kids to tell a short story about where their polar bear is going. Maybe it’s searching for fish, exploring the ice, or playing with its cubs.

For teachers, this activity ties beautifully into a winter animal or Arctic theme unit. You can pair it with books like Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle, The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett, or Little Polar Bear by Hans de Beer. Reading before crafting helps kids connect what they’ve learned about polar bears to their artwork.

a paper plate craft with a polar bear attached to a popsicle stick so it can move back and forth

At home, this makes a wonderful parent-child craft project. It’s quick enough to do in an afternoon but detailed enough to keep kids focused. Plus, it doubles as an adorable handmade decoration to hang up or display on a shelf during the winter months.

A fun, interactive craft that your kids will remember forever

moving polar bear craft: a paper plate craft with a polar bear attached to a popsicle stick so it can move back and forth

What’s especially wonderful about the Moving Polar Bear Craft is that it combines creativity with motion. Kids don’t just make a picture—they make something that moves. It feels interactive, almost like a mini puppet theater, and it encourages children to engage more deeply with what they’ve created.

Once finished, the result is a charming winter scene full of texture, color, and imagination. The blue and white contrast beautifully, the cotton snow adds dimension, and the polar bear itself steals the show as it “wanders” across the icy paper plate.

This craft reminds children that art doesn’t have to stay still—it can tell a story, move, and spark wonder. With a few simple materials, they get to create their very own Arctic adventure, one that’s as fun to make as it is to play with afterward. Whether you’re crafting in a classroom or at the kitchen table, the Moving Polar Bear Craft is sure to become a winter favorite—full of snowy charm, learning, and creativity.

Grab the template below:

free polar bear template

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