Print out and cut the pieces for the face, body and tail:
1. Print out the printable templates on card stock for the face, body, and tail pieces. Cut out the pieces, using the dotted lines as a guide.
OPTIONAL:
Eye Pop-Up Instructions: To make the eyes pop up, gently fold the green face along the solid line down the middle of the white eye. Try to crease the paper gently so as not to leave a seam. Then, cut along the curved dotted line, open the paper back up, and fold back the eye so it stands straight up.
Create the face
1. Trim the plate by one inch, cutting around the edge. Have your preschooler color one side green with crayon. Fold the paper plate in half. Pick which side of the folded plate will be the top and attach the green semi-circle face so it matches up with the edges of the plate.
2. Glue or tape each of the face pieces onto the plate as follows:
— The ears go on either side of the face. Tape to the inside of the plate half, facing up.
— Glue the eyes on top of the white semi-circles on the face. If using the pop-up option, attach the eyes to the front of the pop-up (see above).
— Attach the nose just below the middle stripe on the face.
— Attach the tongue to the bottom of plate half, centered.
Assemble the body and attach to the face
1. Attach the body and tail pieces together where indicated. Fold accordion style, from front to back, folding at each yellow ridge. You should have eight folds when you're done.
2. Match up the top fold of the body to the back of the face plate and tape together so the tail extends directly behind the face. You’re done!
OPTIONAL: Make it a puppet!
To make your table topper into a puppet, simply poke two holes at the front of the body for your preschooler's fingers to poke through. For grown-ups: a pointy pencil should do the trick!
