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Invite kids on an adventure to make their own paper plate pirates using minimal supplies. Great for a fun summer project or lesson on pirates.

three paper plate pirates on counter with extra buttons beside

Kids love a good adventure, and what better way to explore than to pretend to be a pirate? This easy pirate craft is a ton of fun for kids of all ages. Whether kids are younger and working on fine motor skills or older and looking for something to use with their pretend play, this craft is perfect. Tuck this paper plate pirate craft in your back pocket for a rainy day or a fun study on the stories of pirates and their buried treasure.

paper plates painted shades of brown, paper beards and pirates hats glued on

HOW TO VIDEO:

Craft Supplies for a Paper Plate Pirate

Here is what you will need to make your own paper plate pirate. These little pirate crafts only need a few supplies. If you have done my other paper plate crafts before, you may have these materials on hand already. If not, find them at the craft store or at Dollar Tree.

dessert-sized paper plate
blue, red, green, yellow, and black cardstock
FREE pirate template
FREE pirate hat template
flesh colored paint, whatever shade you want!
googly eyes – 3/4 – 1 inch in size
black buttons *
black sharpie or black paint pen
glue stick

I used buttons that were about 3/4 of an inch or an inch in diameter. Same with the googly eyes. I also used a variety of flesh-colored paint. Use brown or tan, and add white or cream to lighten or darken it.

supplies needed to make pirates on counter - paint, marker, colored cardstock, scissors and glue

How to Make Paper Plate Pirates

To create this fun craft, just follow the step-by-step instructions below. They are pretty self-explanatory once you print off your pirate template. If you don’t have a printer, do your best to create the necessary shapes. Regardless of what it looks like, kids will enjoy the experience and quality time.

First, paint your small paper plates with the skin-colored paint of your choice.
Next, using the blue, red, and green cardstock, cut out your bandana template for the top of the pirate’s head.
Then, you can chose which style pirate hat you want. Glue these pieces to the top of the paper plate.
Create a beard using brown or black construction paper. Attach it to the bottom of the paper plate.
Add a yellow earring to one ear if you would like.
To finish the pirate off, add your googly eye and a black button for the patch.
Finally, use a black marker to draw the straps of the eyepatch and the rest of the facial features.

If you have a white crayon or white paint pen, use it to draw a skull and cross bones on the black hat if you don’t want to print out our free version.

process collage to put together paper plate pirates

Pirate-Themed Activities to Pair with this Craft

My kids love to complete a craft before or after reading a story or doing a themed activity. Sometimes we tie in a little learning when we craft; other times, it’s just for fun. If you are looking for a fun way to get your kids interacting and moving after doing the fun pirate craft, try some of these ideas. They are great for both younger and older children.

Have your kids create a treasure map and hide a piece of treasure for one another. Give them gold or regular coins (or anything you can think of) to hide. If you have a fake treasure chest, be sure to use that as well. The kids will have fun creating their maps and hiding their beloved treasures.
Pretend to walk the plank with the kids. This can be done outdoors or indoors. Find a piece of plywood to lay on the ground for them to balance on, or use painter’s tape to create a line. See how long they can balance as they walk across the floor.
Place a bunch of gold coins or candy pieces into a jar and have your kids guess how many pieces are in the jar. This is a great “math” game to get them thinking and making predictions.
Give your kids a large cardboard box and let them decorate it with crayons, markers, or paint. They will be able to use their paper plate pirates for fun pretend play once the pirate ship box is complete.
If you have a small sandbox or something similar, bury small tokens in the sand and let kids dig up the treasure. This is great sensory play and a fun way to keep them occupied on a rainy day or Saturday morning.

three complete paper plate pirate crafts on kitchen counter with coordinating paper and pirate hat on table

I hope your kiddos love creating this easy paper plate craft with your and their loved ones. If you are looking for more easy skills to do with your kids, try some of the ideas below: