Hand and Footprint Eagle Craft
Celebrate America’s national bird with this easy Hand and Footprint Eagle Craft for kids. Little hands become the eagle’s wings, and a footprint becomes the body, making this a sweet keepsake craft for home, school, or homeschool lessons.
January 10 is Save the Eagles Day, which makes this a wonderful time to talk with kids about bald eagles, wildlife protection, and why animals need safe places to live.
Fun Facts
The bald eagle became an important symbol of the United States because it represents strength, freedom, and courage.
In 1940, Congress passed the Bald Eagle Protection Act because bald eagles were in danger. In 1962, the law was updated to include golden eagles too, becoming the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Bald eagles are not actually bald. Their name comes from an older meaning of the word “bald,” which meant white-headed.
Bald eagles build very large nests. Some eagle nests can be used year after year and grow bigger over time.
Supplies
- Tan construction paper
- Brown construction paper
- Eagle head and feet printable pattern
- Marker
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Glue stick
Instructions
- Fold a piece of brown construction paper in half.
- Place your hand on the folded paper with your fingers spread slightly. Trace around your hand with a pencil.
- Cut out the handprint shape through both layers of paper. You should have two matching handprints for the eagle’s wings.
- Trace around your bare foot on tan construction paper. Cut out the footprint shape to make the eagle’s body.
- Print the eagle head and feet pattern. Cut out the pieces.
- Glue the two brown handprints behind the tan footprint body to make the wings.
- Glue the eagle head near the top of the body and the feet near the bottom.
- Use a marker to draw feather details on the wings and body.
- Let the glue dry, then display your hand and footprint eagle craft.
Patterns, Templates and Printables
Click on the eagle head and feet pattern to open it in a new window and print it in the correct size.
Teacher Friendly Educational Extension
Use this eagle craft as part of a classroom activity about American symbols, birds, or animal conservation.
Ask students why they think the bald eagle was chosen as a national symbol. Younger children can describe the eagle using words like strong, brave, or free. Older students can write a short paragraph about what the bald eagle represents.
For a science connection, talk about habitats, nests, feathers, beaks, and talons. Students can compare bald eagles to other birds they know.
For a classroom display, place each child’s eagle on a bulletin board with the title “Soaring with Pride” or “Protecting America’s Wildlife.”
Supplies
Tan Construction Paper
Brown construction Paper
Marker
Pencil
Scissors
Glue Stick
Instructions
Fold a piece of brown construction paper in half. Trace around your hand on the folded sheet with fingers spread slightly. Cut out through both halves. Trace around your bare foot on a tan piece of constructiion paper. Cut out. Click on Printables and print supplied eagle head and feet. Cut out. Glue pieces together using picture as a guide. Use marker to draw on feathers.
Patterns, Templates and Printables
Click on a pattern to open it in a new window
Contributor
These projects are created by Terri, Betty, Jamie or one of the talented staff members at MakingFriends.com. They have been created exclusively for publication on FreeKidsCrafts.com with supplies you'll be able to find around your house.
