Upcycled Penguin Craft for Kids Using Toilet Paper Rolls

You learned all about penguins in our last post, so now get your creativity going with this adorable (and upcycled) penguin craft for kids!

The Yellow-Eyed Penguin is a fan favorite collectible in our limited-edition Wild Water series. Before we get started with this easy penguin craft, let’s learn some interesting facts about the Yellow-Eyed Penguin.

Also known as Hoiho, the yellow-eyed penguin is the fourth largest penguin species. They are known for their yellow eyes and distinctive yellow stripe that runs through their eyes and around the back of their head. Baby yellow-eyed penguins do not have the stripe, however. This is part of their adult plumage and comes in after a year.

This penguin species is listed by the New Zealand Department of Conservation as being “Threatened.” The loss of coastal forest has played a part in the decline of the yellow-eyed penguin on the New Zealand mainland, but the biggest threat to their survival are the mammalian predators that have been introduced into their habitat. Wild cats and ferrets are known to kill penguin chicks and take the eggs. Often, the adult penguins fall victim to dogs.

Sharks, seals, sea lions and, occasionally, orca are all marine predators of the yellow-eyed penguins. Leopard seals, usually residents of the Antarctic region, are specialist penguin predators and can occasionally be seen as far north as the North Island.

Toilet Paper Roll Yellow-Eyed Penguin Craft for Kids

What you’ll need:

Empty toilet paper tube
Black paint
White paint
Yellow paint
Yellow googly eyes
Orange construction paper
Pink construction paper
Paintbrush
Scissors
Glue

How to make a Toilet Paper Roll Yellow-Eyed Penguin 

Step One: Paint the empty toilet paper tube black.

Step Two: When the paint has dried, cut one end off the tube. 

Step Two: Lay each tube on its side and glue the smaller piece on top of the large piece.

Step Three: Use the white paint to paint the penguin’s belly on the front of the larger tube. Use the yellow paint to paint yellow stripes at the top of the smaller piece.

Step Four: Glue a yellow googly eye on top of each yellow stripe.

Step Five: Cut a small triangle out of the orange construction paper and glue it directly under the eyes.

Step Six: Cut two webbed feet out of the pink construction paper and glue them to the bottom of the large tube.

If you enjoyed these yellow-eyed penguin facts for kids and our adorable upcycled penguin craft, you’ll love Yowie treats. With each Yowie surprise-inside chocolate or gummy candy, you get to reveal a limited-edition endangered animal collectible and a leaflet containing facts and information about each one. Check out our store locator to find Yowie near you!