Build your kids’ excitement for school with this paper backpack craft. If you are a teacher, you can use the backpack printable for a classroom back-to-school or first day of school craft.
It’s a simple craft (like the rest of our easy crafts for kids) and because of this it can be used for kids as young as preschoolers. They can practice their scissors cutting skills while putting the colorful backpack together.
Kindergartners can write their name on the backpack. It can be placed on top of a writing piece about first day of school.
Add two straps at the end of the backpack and use it for a pretend school play. This is particularly good for younger siblings who don’t get to go to school yet. When my oldest started kindergarten, his brother was still in pre-k. We all went to the school bus in the morning and out little guy had such a hard time seeing his older brother ride the school bus when he couldn’t. He would ask us everyday when it was time for him to become a kindergartner.
You can pair this paper backpack craft with one of these 15 school bus crafts or these 25 apple crafts.
Paper Backpack craft
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Supplies:
- Backpack printable template
- Cardstock paper: yellow, orange, purple and light blue
- Glue
- Scissors
I like to use 65lb cardstock for my crafts. It is particularly useful for this backpack craft as you need to print all the patterns directly on colored paper. So you won’t be able to use construction paper for printing.
HOW TO MAKE A PAPER BACKPACK CRAFT
I usually create two versions for my templates, one for home ( print the template, cut out the patterns and trace them on appropriate colored paper ) and one for classroom ( print the pattern directly on colored paper and cut them out ).
All the patterns of this template have details like buttons or zipper that you won’t be able to trace so you will need to print them all on colored paper. However, I still created a template version that will save you paper when making the craft at home with your kids.
The only downside of the home template is that you will only be able to use two colors for your backpack.
STEP BY STEP DIRECTIONS FOR HOME CRAFTING
Download the home backpack template. Print the patterns on colored paper of your choice. To make the school backpack craft you will need: 1 backpack, 1 hanging strap, 1 flap, 2 side pockets, 1 front pocket and 2 straps.
Start by gluing the side pockets to the back of the backpack, one pocket on each side.
Add the front pocket at the bottom of the backpack.
Glue the handing strap and the flap together. The handle is glued to the back of the flap.
Add the straps at the bottom of the flap.
Finish by gluing the flap onto the backpack. Be careful to align the top of the flap with the top of the backpack.
(Optional) You can glue the backpack on a white cardstock paper sheet.
STEP BY STEP DIRECTIONS FOR CLASSROOM CRAFTING
Download the classroom backpack template. Print the patterns on colored paper. To make the school backpack craft you will need: 1 yellow backpack, 1 yellow hanging strap, 1 blue flap, 2 orange side pockets, 1 orange front pocket and 2 purple straps.
Start by gluing the side pockets to the back of the yellow backpack, one pocket on each side.
Add the front pocket at the bottom of the backpack.
Glue the handing strap and the flap together. The handle is glued to the back of the flap.
Add the purple straps at the bottom of the flap.
Finish by gluing the flap onto the backpack. Be careful to align the top of the flap with the top of the backpack.