• These craft projects are based on the kangaroo, an animal native to Australia and Tasmania.eastern grey kangaroo image by Christopher Meder from Fotolia.com
  
  While kangaroos live far away in the plains of Australia and Tasmania, doing fun and creative crafts based on this fascinating animal can introduce it to children no matter where they live. These craft projects are simple enough for children to do with little assistance and are perfect to do as class projects, at birthday parties or just at home with your child on a rainy day.
  
  

Kangaroo Pencil Holder/Planter

• This project will allow you to make your very own kangaroo-shaped pot that can be used as either a flower pot or pencil holder, both a great accessory to decorate your child's desk. For this craft you will need a large wooden craft stick, glue, a pencil, plastic cup, googly eyes, brown paint, kangaroo planter pattern (see Resources) and brown construction paper or fun foam. Print out the kangaroo pattern, cut out the pieces, and trace them onto the construction paper or fun foam and cut them out. Then, cut off about 1 inch from the bottom of the craft stick and paint it, along with the plastic cup, brown to match the kangaroo cut outs. While waiting for the paint to dry, glue the googly eyes to the oval shaped cut out–this will serve as the kangaroo's head. Then glue the two smaller oval shaped pieces, the ears, to the top of the head. Once the paint on the craft stick and cup have dried, you can assemble the kangaroo. Simply glue the head to the top of the craft stick and then glue the arms right below it and glue the stick onto the inside of the cup. Then, glue the two remaining cutouts, the legs, onto the back of the cup.
  
  

"Hoppy" Valentine's Day Kangaroo

• This craft project is quick and easy, requires very few materials and is perfect for Valentine's Day. You'll need an empty toilet paper roll, scissors, glue, kangaroo template (see Resources), and colored pencils, crayons or markers. Print out the template and color it in. Then, cut out the pieces. Now you can assemble the kangaroo. Glue the large rectangle cut out around the toilet paper roll–this will serve as the body of the kangaroo. Then, glue the ears, eyes and triangle nose onto the blank round shape–this is the head of the mother kangaroo–and glue it to the top of the toilet paper roll. Next, glue the baby kangaroo's head to the middle of the paper towel roll and the square-like shape, which serves as the pocket, slightly overlapping the bottom of the baby kangaroo's head. Finally, finish it off by gluing the heart cut out onto the pocket.
  
  

Kangaroo Wreath

• This simple adaptation of the classic Christmas wreath is a fun activity that kids can do in the classroom or even at home with little assistance from an adult. For this activity you will need an empty cereal box, brown construction paper, kangaroo template (see Resources), pencil, scissors and glue. Open up the cereal box flat and, using a desert plate and a dinner plate, trace a ring onto the cardboard–the dinner plate will serve as the stencil for the outer part of the ring while the desert plate will serve as the center. Cut out the shape, make sure to also cut out the center circle to create a ring. Next, cut the construction paper into strips of about 1 1/2 inches wide and 4 inches long and glue the far ends of each together, forming rings. Next, glue the rolls of construction onto the cardboard ring to create the wreath. Finally, print out the kangaroo template, assemble it appropriately and glue it to the bottom of the wreath.