A Fun and Easy Bat Craft for October

If you’re looking for a classroom craft that’s equal parts engaging and educational, this bat craft is a perfect fit for October. Whether you’re planning a Halloween bulletin board, teaching about nocturnal animals, or pairing it with a bat-themed read-aloud, your students will love creating their own little winged friend.

This activity is low-prep, print-and-go, and adaptable for any classroom setup, making it a go-to choice during one of the busiest times of the school year. Plus, it’s part of a Halloween Crafts Bundle, so you can keep the fun going with a whole collection of fall-inspired projects.

Why Crafts Are Great for the Classroom

Crafts aren’t just for decoration; they’re an essential part of hands-on learning. When students cut, paste, color, and assemble a project, they’re building fine motor skills, following directions, and expressing creativity at the same time.

Activities like this bat craft help children:

• Strengthen hand-eye coordination through cutting and gluing
• Practice spatial awareness by matching shapes and parts together
• Develop listening and sequencing skills by following multi-step instructions
• Gain a sense of pride and ownership in their finished work

Crafts also provide a welcome brain break from traditional paper-and-pencil tasks. They invite students to engage in a calmer, more mindful type of learning that still reinforces key classroom skills. And when finished projects fill your walls or bulletin boards, they help create a classroom environment that feels bright, warm, and student-centered.

What’s Included in the Bat Craft

This bat craft is simple for teachers to prepare and fun for students to complete. Everything you need is neatly organized in a single easy-to-use PDF file.

Here’s what’s included:

• A photograph of the completed craft activity, so you and your students know what the finished product will look like
• Step-by-step directions that make preparation and assembly simple and stress-free
• Templates that can be copied directly onto colored cardstock or construction paper. It’s the perfect print-and-go activity.
• Labeled templates that can be copied onto cardstock and used as tracing patterns, giving students an extra opportunity to practice cutting skills
• Coloring templates (available in a separate two-page PDF) for students who are learning remotely or who prefer to color their bat rather than use colored paper

Each labeled template includes the pattern name, the color to use, and how many of each piece to cut (for example: “Body – Cut 1 Black”). This makes preparation super easy, especially if you’re sending templates home for distance learning or prepping materials in advance.

Fun Ways to Use the Bat Craft in the Classroom

There are so many ways to make this Bat Craft work for your classroom goals. It’s flexible enough to fit into various lessons or routines, depending on your focus for the week.

Here are some fun ideas to try:

• Letter of the Week Activities – Use the bat craft as part of a study on the letter B. Students can practice identifying the sound, writing the letter, and associating it with “bat.”
• Fine Motor Practice – Perfect for preschool, kindergarten, or early elementary students who are working on cutting, gluing, and following steps.
• Bulletin Boards & Door Displays – Hang your class’s bats in flight across a bulletin board, or create a “Bats Hanging Out in Our Class” display on your door.
• Small Group Stations – Use this craft as a center rotation activity during your Halloween or nocturnal animal units.
• Pair with Writing – Have students write a few bat facts or sentences about what makes bats unique, then display their writing next to their finished craft.
• Rewards or Class Parties – The bat craft makes a great quiet activity during a Halloween celebration or Fun Friday event.

Because the templates are easy to copy and assemble, you can even prepare a few extras for early finishers or sub plans during October.

Books to Pair with Your Bat Craft

This bat craft pairs perfectly with two beloved classroom books:

• Stellaluna by Janell Cannon – A beautiful story about a baby bat learning to be herself even when she doesn’t quite fit in. After reading, students can make their own bat and discuss themes like friendship, belonging, and being different.
• Bat Loves the Night by Nicola Davies – A nonfiction favorite that introduces students to the fascinating world of bats, from their anatomy to their nighttime habits. Pairing this book with the craft allows kids to connect what they learn with what they create.

You can also extend the lesson by exploring other bat-themed activities, like:

• Watching a short educational video about bats and their habitats
• Comparing bats to birds in a simple Venn diagram
• Writing a “Bat Fact Book” to go with the craft display

These extensions turn a simple art project into a meaningful, cross-curricular learning experience.

Try the Whole Halloween Crafts Bundle

If your students enjoy this bat craft, you’ll definitely want to check out the Halloween Crafts Bundle #1. This bundle includes 10 printable craft activities perfect for September, October, and November. Each one includes step-by-step directions, ready-to-print templates, and labeled patterns to make prep simple.

The bundle includes:

• Bat Craft
• Black Cat Craft
• Candy Corn Craft
• Frankenstein Craft
• Ghost Craft
• Pumpkin Craft
• Jack-O-Lantern Craft
• Pumpkin Kids Craft
• Spider Craft
• Vampire Craft
• Witch Craft

Each craft can be used on its own or as part of your classroom centers, book studies, or seasonal bulletin boards. The bundle also includes coloring templates for several crafts, perfect for younger learners or for digital use.

Whether you’re decorating your classroom for Halloween, reinforcing letter sounds, or simply giving your students a fun hands-on project, these crafts are a great way to bring the season to life while keeping learning purposeful.

Bring Some October Fun to Your Classroom

October is the perfect time to mix creativity with curriculum. With this bat craft, your students will get to cut, color, and create something they’re proud of while practicing essential academic and fine-motor skills. Display their finished bats around the classroom or hallway to celebrate their hard work and add a festive touch to your space.

If you like these crafts, check out these posts:

The Ultimate Pink Monster Craft Kids Can’t Stop Talking About

A Mad Scientist Writing Activity Students Will Love

Create the Perfect Scarecrow Hat Craft in 4 Easy Steps