Printable Moving Skeleton Craft For Kids
Looking for a fun Halloween craft that kids can actually play with after they make it? This printable moving skeleton craft is a simple cut-and-build Halloween activity that turns into a movable paper skeleton with bendable arms and legs.
Kids can print the pieces, cut them out, assemble the skeleton, and then move the joints into different poses.
It’s a fun hands-on activity for Halloween, preschool, kindergarten, classrooms, homeschool, or just a spooky craft afternoon at home.
The finished skeleton is approximately 16 inches tall, so it is big enough to make a really fun Halloween decoration too.
Printable Moving Skeleton Craft
This skeleton craft for kids is designed to be easy to print, cut, and assemble.
The printable includes separate skeleton pieces that children can put together to create their own full paper skeleton. You can use it as a simple skeleton cutout template, or add paper fasteners to turn it into a moving skeleton.
I especially love the movable version because once the craft is finished, kids can keep changing the skeleton’s pose. Move the arms up, bend the elbows, change the legs, or make your skeleton dance!
It becomes part Halloween craft that you can use as DIY Halloween decor and part Halloween activity.
What You Need
You only need a few simple supplies:
- Printable skeleton template
- White paper or cardstock
- Scissors
- Hole punch
- Paper fasteners or brads
- Crayons, markers, or colored pencils if you want to decorate it
I recommend using cardstock if you are making the moving skeleton craft, because the pieces will be a little sturdier when kids move the joints.
How to Make the Moving Skeleton Craft
- Start by printing the skeleton cutout template. Cut out all of the skeleton pieces along the dotted cutting lines.
- Next, punch a hole through each of the marked circles.
- Lay all the pieces out first so you can see where everything belongs. Line up the holes where the pieces connect, including the shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and other joints.
- Insert a paper fastener through each pair of matching holes and open the fastener at the back.
- Try not to fasten the brads too tightly. Leaving a little room allows the pieces to turn easily.
Once all of the pieces are attached, your skeleton is ready to move!
Kids can bend the arms and legs, make funny poses, or even use the finished skeleton as part of their Halloween decorations.
A Simple Paper Skeleton Craft
You don’t have to make the movable version either.
For younger children, you can use this as a simple paper skeleton craft. Have them cut out the pieces and glue them together instead of using paper fasteners.
This makes it an easy preschool skeleton craft, especially if you want a lower-prep version without movable joints.
You can also help younger children by cutting some of the more detailed pieces ahead of time.
Preschool Skeleton Craft Idea
For preschoolers, you can make this activity as simple or as hands-on as you like. It is a fun way to combine a Halloween craft with fine motor practice.
Kids can:
- Color the skeleton
- Cut out the pieces
- Match the body parts
- Glue the skeleton together
- Talk about where the different bones go
If you are using the movable version with younger children, an adult may want to help with the hole punch and paper fasteners.
Make Your Skeleton Move
This is probably my favorite part of the craft.
Once the moving skeleton craft is assembled, kids can put the skeleton into all kinds of positions.
- Make it wave.
- Make it sit.
- Make it dance.
- Stretch the arms out.
- Bend the knees.
You could even have kids create a different silly skeleton pose each day during Halloween week.
It also works really well for a classroom display because every child can pose their skeleton differently.
Turn It Into a Glowing Skeleton
We tried something a little different with our skeleton, and it turned out much better than I expected!
I colored parts of the skeleton with a bright neon highlighter, assembled it with the paper fasteners, and then put it under a UV/black light.
The skeleton glowed beautifully in the dark.
If you want to try this too, color the skeleton with a bright neon highlighter before or after cutting it out. Assemble the skeleton as usual, turn off the lights, and shine a UV or black light over it.
Different paper and highlighters can react differently under UV light, so it is worth testing a small section first.
It makes such a fun little Halloween surprise, especially because the skeleton can still move and pose while it glows.
Ways to Use Your Printable Skeleton Craft
This printable skeleton craft would work well for:
- Halloween classroom crafts
- Preschool Halloween activities
- Kindergarten crafts
- Homeschool activities
- Halloween party activities
- Fine motor practice
- Halloween bulletin boards
- October classroom centers
- Halloween decorations
- Quiet afternoon crafts at home
You could also print several and create a whole group of silly dancing skeletons.
Printable Skeleton Craft for Kids
If you’re looking for an easy Halloween activity that is more than just a coloring page, this skeleton craft for kids is such a fun one to try.
Kids get to cut, build, and assemble their own skeleton, and the movable version gives them something they can continue playing with after the craft is finished.
Use it as a simple paper skeleton craft, turn it into a moving skeleton craft with paper fasteners, or try the glowing skeleton idea for an extra Halloween twist.
Print, cut, build, and pose your skeleton!
