3D Lion Paper Craft

This 3D Lion is a fun paper craft for kids who love safari animals. They can color, cut, and put together the different pieces to turn the printable into a lion with a big mane and a playful face.

It’s a simple project, but the 3D design gives the finished lion more shape and makes it much more interesting to look at than a flat paper animal.

Get the template here

“Now this looks familiar. Where have I seen this before? Hmm, let me think.”

If you recognize that line, then you probably grew up watching The Lion King too. It’s one of those movies that stayed with me for a long time, and that scene with Scar is definitely one I still remember.

The Lion King was such a big part of childhood for so many of us. The characters, the songs, the story, and all those moments that made us laugh, cry, or just sit there completely glued to the screen. Even after all these years, seeing a lion still makes me think of Simba, Mufasa, and Pride Rock.

So when I started working on this lion craft, I couldn’t help but think about that movie again. Of course, this little guy is much more playful than the lions in the movie. With his big mane, wide eyes, and tongue sticking out, he looks like he’s here to have some fun rather than rule the Pride Lands.

And I thought that would make him a pretty fun addition to a safari animal collection. Kids can make their own lion, choose the colors they like, and maybe even imagine what kind of adventure their little lion might get into.

Learning Through Making This 3D Lion Paper Craft

There’s quite a bit for little hands to do with this craft. Coloring the different sections, cutting around the shapes, folding the pieces, and gluing everything together all involve small, careful movements that help kids work on hand control and coordination.

The coloring part also leaves plenty of room for them to make the lion their own. They don’t have to copy one exact color scheme, so they can try different shades for the fur and mane or add their own patterns and details.

The 3D part adds another layer to the activity too. Kids get to see how a few flat pieces can be folded and joined together to create a paper animal with shape and depth. They also need to keep track of where each piece goes, which gives them some practice with paying attention and following a project through step by step.

Ideas for the Classroom and Homeschool

A lion craft can easily fit into a lesson about safari animals or the animals of Africa. You could start with a few simple facts about lions, where they live, what they eat, and how they live in groups, then let the kids make their own lion afterward.

It could also be part of a bigger animal study. Each child could choose a different safari animal to learn about and make, then everyone could put their paper animals together to create a classroom safari scene.

For writing practice, younger kids could write a few sentences about their lion, such as what it looks like, where it lives, or what it likes to do. Older children could imagine that their lion is part of a pride and write a short story about a day in its life.

3D Lion Paper Craft Step By Step Guide

Supplies Needed

• Cardstock
• Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
• Scissors
• Glue
• The 3D Lion Paper Craft Templates

3D Lion Paper Craft Instructions

Step 1: Print the 3D Lion Paper Craft Templates on cardstock.

Step 2: Color the lion with colored pencils, crayons, or markers.

Step 3: Carefully cut out all the parts along the outlines.

Step 4: Fold the side panels of the face along the lines.

Step 5: Fold the tabs on the side panels along the lines.

Step 6: Apply a thin, even layer of glue to the tab so it doesn’t warp the paper, then press and hold the tab firmly against the inside of the adjacent panel for a few seconds until it bonds.

Step 7: Repeat Steps 5 and 6 to assemble the lion’s snout in the same way.

Step 8: Attach the snout to the lion’s face, lining it up with the dotted line.

Step 9: Glue the lion’s mane, body, and tail onto the paper background.

Step 10: Glue the lion’s face onto the mane, aligning it with the dotted line.

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