Perfect for toddlers (with a bit of help), preschoolers, kindergarteners, and early elementary kids, this craft is simple to prepare and fun for a wide range of ages, making it a great choice for both home and classroom activities. The free template includes two types of hats and two types of hair (straight and jagged), plus decorations so kids can personalize their scarecrow. You’ll also get a ready-to-color version and a pre-colored version. No subscription needed—download and craft.
Tools & Materials
Printer Template (download at the end of the article – no subscription required) 9-inch paper plate Scissors White cardstock Skin-tone paint (or mix your own with white, brown, yellow, and red) Black marker (optional) Glue Crayons or markers (optional)
Super tip: No paper plates? Use white cardstock cut into 9-inch circles.
Step 1 – Print Paper Plate Scarecrow Template
Look through the template and only print the pages you need. For a longer activity, print the coloring version so kids can decorate before assembling. For this tutorial, I used the pre-colored version.
Step 2 – Paint the Paper Plate
Paint the paper plate before cutting so it’s dry and ready to go. If you don’t have skin-tone paint, you can mix your own:
4 teaspoons white paint 1 teaspoon brown paint ½ teaspoon yellow paint 3 drops of red paint
Depending on the hues of your paint, you may need to modify the quantities; do one drop at a time!
Step 3 – Snip, Snip, Snip!
Cut out all the template pieces. You’ll find different sets of eyes to choose from. The mouth can be tricky to cut, so if you prefer, draw it with a black marker instead (this is also a fun step for the kids to try).
Step 4 – Assemble Scarecrow
First, measure (or just eyeball) 6.5 inches from the top of the paper plate and cut a straight line. This helps the hat fit neatly. Glue the hair – In this tutorial, I used the jagged hair, but you can also use the straight style. If using straight hair, don’t glue it all the way down—leave the ends loose for a fun 3D look.
Glue the hat – Trim off any extra hair or paper plate that sticks out.
Glue the eyes, nose, cheeks, and mouth – or draw the mouth with a marker. Add decorations – Choose between the flower or the bow. The bow can also be used as a bow tie for a different look.
Mini Paper Plate Scarecrow
The mini scarecrow looks adorable on bulletin boards, as part of a classroom display, or even as a fun tabletop decoration. Want to make a smaller version? Use a 6-inch paper plate and scale the printable to 70%. Because the pieces are smaller, it can be a little trickier to cut—older kids might enjoy the challenge, but younger crafters may need some extra help.
Download the Free Template
Click the image to open in a new tab or the yellow button below to download your scarecrow template to your computer.
I hope you had a blast making your scarecrow! They’re so fun to customize—no two will ever look the same. Maybe yours has a big sunny smile, wiggly hair, or a fancy bow tie. *Smaller pieces may be trickier to cut, so this is best for older kids. Remember that craft time is the perfect time to chat. Ask your child what their scarecrow’s name is, what it likes to do on the farm, or what it’s “scaring” away in the garden. The sillier the answers, the better!
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