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Clothespin Sloth

  • Motor Practice
  • Spelling
  • Grades 4-5
  • Grades 1-3

Create a sloth clothespin craft to help shape those fine motor skills! 

Materials



2 Clothespins (Per Sloth)
2 Craft Foam Sheets (Brown & White)
White Acrylic Paint (Optional)
Wiggly Eyes (Optional)
Paintbrush (Optional)

Scissors

Pencil

Markers

Glue or *Hot Glue* Adult Supervision Required

Instructions



Step  1.

Gather all your materials to make your clothespin sloth! 

Step  1.

Gather all your materials to make your clothespin sloth! 

Step  2.

Use your pencil to draw the outline of the sloth’s body on a brown foam sheet.

Step  2.

Use your pencil to draw the outline of the sloth’s body on a brown foam sheet.

Step  3.

Use scissors cut out the sloth’s body. 

Step  3.

Use scissors cut out the sloth’s body. 

Step  4.

Place the sloth’s body on the white foam sheet. Trace around the head to get the right size, then draw the sloth’s face shape!

Step  4.

Place the sloth’s body on the white foam sheet. Trace around the head to get the right size, then draw the sloth’s face shape!

Step  5.

Cut the face shape out of the white foam sheet and glue it to the sloth’s head on the brown foam sheet.

Step  5.

Cut the face shape out of the white foam sheet and glue it to the sloth’s head on the brown foam sheet.

Step  6.

Once the glue dries, use your markers to draw a nose, mouth, and eyes. Cut a “D” shape out of brown foam to place around each eye to give your sloth it’s markings. 

  • TIP: For some added cuteness, glue a pair of wiggly eyes to your sloth’s face instead of drawing them on!
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Step  6.

Once the glue dries, use your markers to draw a nose, mouth, and eyes. Cut a “D” shape out of brown foam to place around each eye to give your sloth it’s markings. 

  • TIP: For some added cuteness, glue a pair of wiggly eyes to your sloth’s face instead of drawing them on!
  •  

Step  7.

For added detail, paint some white lines along the sloth’s back! 

Step  7.

For added detail, paint some white lines along the sloth’s back! 

Step  8.

Glue one side of the open end of a clothespin to the sloth’s stomach, about a third of the way from the neck to create the sloth’s arms. Then, glue the second clothespin the same way, but about a third of the way from the tail end of the sloth to create the sloth’s legs. Let it dry.

Step  8.

Glue one side of the open end of a clothespin to the sloth’s stomach, about a third of the way from the neck to create the sloth’s arms. Then, glue the second clothespin the same way, but about a third of the way from the tail end of the sloth to create the sloth’s legs. Let it dry.

Step  9.

With the sloth belly up, use markers to draw some claws on the closed end of each clothespin. Now you have a clothespin sloth to hang around your home!

Step  9.

With the sloth belly up, use markers to draw some claws on the closed end of each clothespin. Now you have a clothespin sloth to hang around your home!

Slow down and learn about the ABCs with this clothespin craft!

  • Spelling Sloths: This animal is notoriously slow, so ask the class to put on their best sloth voice and spell out some of the longer vocabulary words they know —this will help them understand the order of every letter without spelling too fast.
  • Sloth Sensory: Did you know sloths are so sluggish algae that grows on their fur?! Take your time getting the details just right — add extra sensory materials, like fuzzy sticks!

Sloths are just one of many fascinating creatures living in tropical forests. Can your students think of any others that live in this environment? What about other habitats, like the desert or mountains? Explore the animal kingdom and their homes by visiting resources, like National Geographic Kids!