Paper Hedgehog

Autumn is full of little things that make you want to stop and look around — colorful leaves, cooler days, and all those cozy little scenes outside.

So why not bring a little bit of that autumn feeling to the craft table? Grab the crayons, gather the kids, and spend some time making this adorable Paper Hedgehog together.

Get the template here

Just look at this little hedgehog! With its sweet face, tiny paws, and all those colorful leaves around it, it makes such a cute addition to an autumn craft collection.

What makes this one a little more interesting is the 3D effect. The hedgehog’s face pops out from the body, while the little spines stick out around its back, giving it a fun shape instead of looking completely flat. Here’s its side-profile.

Kids can have fun playing around with the colors too. They can use classic autumn shades like orange, yellow, red, and brown, or come up with their own color combinations to give their hedgehog a completely different look.

Once it’s all put together, you get a cheerful little hedgehog with a 3D shape and a pile of colorful leaves around it — a simple craft that feels just right for fall.

Learning Through Making This Paper Hedgehog

Making this Autumn Hedgehog gives kids a chance to practice fine motor skills through coloring, cutting, and putting the different paper pieces together. These simple movements help develop hand control and coordination.

There is also plenty of room for creativity. Kids can choose how they want to color the hedgehog and experiment with different colors for the autumn leaves instead of having to follow one exact color scheme.

The project also gives them practice with following instructions and working carefully through several steps. Since there are quite a few leaves to cut and arrange, it encourages kids to pay attention to the small pieces while putting the whole picture together.

Kids also get to make creative choices while decorating the panda and bamboo. They can choose their own colors and add details to make their finished craft look the way they want.

Since there are several parts to put together, the project also encourages kids to follow instructions carefully and pay attention to how each part fits into the next. Working through the steps gives them practice with concentration and patience.

Ideas for the Classroom and Homeschool

This printable can fit nicely into lessons about autumn, seasonal changes, woodland animals, or nature. Kids could talk about the changes they notice outside during fall and then make their own hedgehog surrounded by colorful leaves.

It could also be paired with a simple nature activity. Kids could collect a few fallen leaves, look at their shapes and colors, and then use what they see as inspiration for coloring their paper leaves.

For a writing activity, younger children could write a few simple sentences about their hedgehog and where they think it might live. Older kids could create a short autumn story about a hedgehog exploring the woods and finding a cozy place among the fallen leaves.

Paper Hedgehog Step By Step Guide

Supplies Needed

• Cardstock
• Colored pencils, crayons, or markers
• Scissors
• Glue
• The Paper Hedgehog Templates

Paper Hedgehog Instructions

Step 1: Print the Paper Hedgehog Templates on cardstock. You can use colored cardstock, or print it on white cardstock and color it yourself.

Step 2: Cut along the hedgehog’s back, including the lines inside it. Then cut out the section labeled “CUT” from the hedgehog’s body.

Step 3: With the “CUT” section removed, bring the two sides of the opening together and glue them where marked “GLUE.” This helps the hedgehog’s face pop out from the body.

Step 4: Color in the spines on the hedgehog’s head.

Step 5: Attach the hedgehog’s body onto the hedgehog’s back.

Step 6: Gently curve the cut edges of the hedgehog’s back.

Step 7: Color the autumn leaves, then cut them out.

Step 8: Glue the finished hedgehog onto a sheet of colored cardstock. Arrange the autumn leaves around the hedgehog.

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