Bring Storytime to Life with This Adorable Corduroy Craft

If your students love the story Corduroy by Don Freeman, they’ll adore bringing this beloved bear to life with a hands-on Corduroy craft! This simple cut-and-paste bear is the perfect follow-up activity after reading the book and makes an adorable keepsake for students to take home. Whether you’re looking for a creative bulletin board idea, a fine motor activity, or a book-inspired art project, this Corduroy Bear Craft checks all the boxes.

Why Teachers and Students Love This Corduroy Craft

There’s something timeless about Corduroy. The gentle storyline, the lovable bear, and the theme of friendship and belonging make it a perennial favorite in the classroom. This Corduroy craft helps students connect more deeply with the story by creating their very own version of the bear in his signature green overalls.

Teachers love it because it’s easy to prepare, works well in multiple settings, and reinforces fine motor and following directions skills. Kids love it because they get to personalize their bear and proudly show off their finished masterpiece. And parents love seeing a familiar book character hanging on the fridge or classroom wall!

What’s Included in the Corduroy Craft

The Corduroy Bear Craft resource includes everything you need to make this activity a success with no guesswork required!

Here’s what’s inside:

• A full-color photo of the finished craft to guide you and your students.
• Step-by-step directions that make setup and assembly easy.
• Printable templates that can be copied directly onto colored cardstock or construction paper.
• Labeled templates that include color and quantity guides (for example: “Body – Cut 1 Brown”).
• Coloring templates for a no-prep digital option. It’s great for distance learning or centers.

You can choose to have students cut out their own pieces for extra scissor practice, or you can prep the pieces ahead of time if you’re working with younger learners or a tight schedule.

Fun Ways to Use the Corduroy Craft

This Corduroy craft fits perfectly into so many classroom themes and routines! Here are a few ideas teachers love:

1. Letter Study:
Use the bear to introduce or review the letter B for bear or C for Corduroy. Add a quick writing prompt, such as “B is for Bear” or “C is for Corduroy,” to tie in literacy skills.

2. Fine Motor Practice:
Cutting, gluing, and assembling the craft help strengthen small hand muscles and hand-eye coordination. It’s a sneaky way to build fine motor skills while students think they’re just having fun!

3. Book Companion Activity:
After reading Corduroy, discuss how the bear felt when he lost his button and how Lisa helped him. Then, let students make their own bear as a reflection activity. You can even have them add a missing button or write a sentence about kindness and friendship.

4. Bulletin Board Display:
Create a cozy classroom bulletin board filled with student-made bears! Title it “We Found Corduroy!” or “Our Classroom Is Beary Special.” The colorful overalls and smiling faces make a charming display for parents and visitors.

5. Door or Hallway Décor:
Display the bears along your classroom door or hallway to celebrate your students’ hard work. They create an inviting and cheerful decoration that celebrates your reading adventures.

6. Small Group Station:
Set up the Corduroy craft as a literacy or art center. Students can work independently or in small groups to follow directions and assemble their bears. It’s a quiet, focused task that pairs perfectly with early finisher time or after a read-aloud.

7. Pair It with Other Activities:
Extend the fun by pairing this craft with a worksheet, sequencing activity, or writing prompt related to Corduroy. You could even have students design a new adventure for the bear or write about what they would do if they found Corduroy in a store.

8. Class Reward or Party:
Crafts are a fun way to celebrate the end of a unit or a classroom goal. Set aside a special afternoon where students get to create their bears as part of a “Beary Good Behavior” reward.

The Benefits of Book-Based Crafts

Book crafts like this one aren’t just cute, they’re powerful teaching tools. Integrating art and literature enables students to make personal connections to stories, enhance comprehension, and expand their vocabulary. When students get to create something related to a book they’ve read, they’re more likely to remember the story’s details and message.

Hands-on activities like the Corduroy craft also promote:

• Creativity and imagination
• Listening and direction-following skills
• Fine motor development
• Confidence and pride in their work

Plus, when students see their creations displayed, it builds a sense of classroom community and ownership.

Part of a Big Books Craft Bundle

If you love this Corduroy Bear Craft, you’ll want to check out the full Books Craft Bundle, which includes 36 crafts that pair with some of the most beloved classroom books. Each craft is designed to bring stories to life and make your literacy lessons more interactive.

You’ll find crafts that go with favorites like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, The Kissing Hand, The Day It Rained Hearts, Tacky the Penguin, Duck for President, The Crayon Box That Talked, and many more. With 36 different projects included, you’ll have a ready-to-go art activity for nearly every season and book study.

Bring Storytime to Life

When it comes to creating memorable classroom moments, few things beat combining a classic story with a creative craft. The Corduroy craft is simple to prep, engaging for students, and heartwarming to display. It’s an excellent way to celebrate reading while encouraging creativity and hands-on learning.

Whether you’re decorating your bulletin board, focusing on the letter B, or wrapping up a book study, this sweet bear will quickly become a classroom favorite. So grab your scissors, glue, and colored paper! It’s time to help Corduroy find his button and take a special place on your classroom wall!

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