Easy Couch Potato Craft for Kids (Fun Learning Activity)
Looking for an easy craft for kids that’s both fun and educational? This couch potato craft is a simple and creative activity that combines hands-on crafting with learning. This activity is inspired by The Couch Potato by Jory John and is perfect for preschoolers and elementary kids, this project is a great way to encourage creativity while keeping little hands busy.
The Food Group books by Jory John are wonderful reads. Kids will love learning about an important life lesson. The main character learns that it is important to balance activities in life. This is a great character education book for children. I love books that teach children important lessons. This craft lesson will make a great companion activity after reading the book aloud.
Why You’ll Love This Couch Potato Craft
- 🐝 Fun to create character faces of choice
- ✂️ Easy and inexpensive to make
- 👧👦 Great for preschool and early elementary kids
- 🎨 Encourages creativity and fine motor skills
- 🖼️ Makes a cute display or keepsake
- Great for social-emotional learning (SEL)
- Great for learning to balance activities in life
- Hands-on crafts paired with reading help children better understand story themes and build comprehension skills.
Supplies You’ll Need
- Couch Potato template
- Brown construction paper or cardstock
- Black construction paper or cardstock
- White paper or cardstock
- Green construction paper or cardstock
- Markers
- Glue
- Scissors
- Optional: Pipe cleaners
Step 1: Print out the Couch Potato Template
To begin print out the Couch Potato template on color paper indicated on template. The template is available for purchase at my TPT store
✨ Couch Potato Template
To make this craft even easier, grab the printable in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.
Step 2: Cut out and Pieces of The Couch Potato
Cut out the pieces of The Couch Potato.
Step 3: Add and Create the Eyes
Glue the white circles onto the potato shape. Using a green marker add pupils and then add black circles on top of the green ones.
Draw eyes to the potato
Step 4: Add Eyebrows Above the Eyes
Next, using the black marker add eyebrows. Use illustrations in the book to inspire choices for the eyes and eyebrows.
Step 5: Add Arms and Legs to The Couch Potato
Add the arms to the couch potato. Glue them on and fold to create the pose you would like.
Add the arms and legs to the potato
Step 6: Add the Mouth and Details to the Face of the Couch Potato
Use a marker to draw the mouth onto the Couch Potato. Then add freckles in between the eyes and on the cheeks.
Use a marker to add cute details to the face.
Step 7: Add Final Details to the Potato
Use a marker to add spots onto the potato.
Add spots to the top of the potato
Step 8: Add the Stem on Top of the Potato
You can add the paper stem using white or green paper. Cut and glue it on top of the potato.
You can cut and add a paper stem at the top of the potato
You can also create a stem using pipe cleaners. Take three small pipe cleaners and twist them together. Then, use tape to attach them to the back of the potato.
You can also use a pipe cleaner to add a stem to the potato
Tips & Variations
- Pre-cut for younger kids
- Use a template for consistency
- Encourage creativity
- Keep supplies simple
- Turn it into a lesson by adding the cut and paste activity after making the craft.
- Add names to finished crafts
Cut and Paste activity included as well.
🎨 Fun Variations to Try
- Turn into a puppet
- Use textured material(felt, foam, tissue paper)
- Paint instead of using paper
Looking for other crafts to go along with Jory John books? Try some other crafts on my page!
Kim
Kim
Learning Extensions
This activity is perfect for:
- Social Emotional Learning discussion
- Discussing the importance of physical activity
- Fine Motor Skills
For older kids, challenge them to:
- Complete the read aloud companion sorting activity
- Complete a writing Activity
🎯 Perfect For
- Preschool and Kindergarten Classrooms
- Read-Aloud Activities
- Homeschool Lessons
- Bulletin Board Displays
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
- Rainy Day or At-Home Crafts
Final Thoughts
This The Couch Potato craft for kids is a fun and meaningful way to bring stories to life through creativity. With simple materials and easy steps, it’s an activity that works beautifully in the classroom, at home, or during a read-aloud lesson.
More than just a craft, this project gives kids the chance to explore important themes like confidence, kindness, and what it truly means to be a leader. Pairing hands-on activities with reading helps children better understand and remember what they learn.
Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or homeschooler, this couch potato craft for kids is an easy and engaging way to combine art, literacy, and social-emotional learning in one activity.
Have you tried this Couch Potato craft with your kids or students? I’d love to hear how it turned out!
Share your creations or ideas in the comments — and don’t forget to save this post for later so you can come back to it anytime.
- “Leave a comment with your favorite Jory John Book”
- “Tag #craftymamabirdnc on Instagram so I can see your Couch Potato characters.
Make this craft easier by purchasing the craft activity on my TPT store.
This post contains affiliate links to the products mentioned. Crafty Mama Bird is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
