Accordion Fold Lion Craft (Easy Paper Craft for Kids)

This Accordion Fold Lion Craft is a fun and creative paper craft that kids will absolutely love! Using simple accordion folds, children can create a bold lion mane while practicing fine motor skills and following step-by-step directions.

Accordion fold lion paper craft with printable template turning into finished lion

It’s perfect for animal units, letter L is for Lion, zoo themes, or just a fun afternoon craft.

Why Kids Love This Lion Craft

  • Fun accordion folding for the lion’s mane
  • Encourages fine motor skill development
  • Bright colors and cute details kids enjoy
  • Great for preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary

The accordion mane gives this lion a fun 3D look that really stands out!

Supplies Needed

To make this accordion fold lion craft, you’ll need:

  • Colored craft paper
  • Scissors
  • Pencil
  • Craft glue
  • Sharpies or markers

Grab the Accordion Fold Lion Craft Template

Grab the lion craft template. Print it, cut out the pieces, and you’ll have everything you need for this easy lion craft for preschoolers ready to go.

This template is perfect for:

  • Classroom projects
  • Homeschool activities
  • Library or daycare crafts
  • Fun afternoons at home

Please remember: this lion craft template is for personal and classroom use only.

How to Make an Accordion Fold Lion Craft

Step 1: Cut Out the Lion Pieces

Use orange paper for the mane strip and tail tip. Use pink, mustard, and yellow paper for the head, ears, body, paws, and tail. Trace and cut out all template pieces.

Step 2: Assemble the Face

Glue the inner ear pieces onto the ear sections of the head. Add blush pieces to both sides near the bottom and glue the nose in the top middle of the face.

Step 3: Draw the Face

Use a black marker to draw the eyes, nose details, and mouth.

Lion face with nose and cheeks glued in place
Lion paper face base with ears and facial pieces arranged
Lion paper craft cut pieces laid out before assembly

Step 4: Build the Body

Glue the paw cutouts along the bottom of the body. Attach the tail tip to the end of the tail, then glue the tail to one side of the body base.

Step 5: Prepare the Mane

Glue two orange rectangle strips together to make one long strip. Fold it in half lengthwise, then fold it in half again.

Step 6: Continue Folding

Keep folding the strip in half until it is about 1 cm wide.

Lion body assembled with tail attached
Lion body and tail paper pieces laid out for assembly
Finished lion face with drawn eyes and mouth

Step 7: Unfold and Accordion Fold

Unfold all the folds. Use the crease lines as guides to accordion fold the strip back and forth.

Step 8: Form the Mane

Bring the two open ends together to form a circle and glue them to secure the shape.

Step 9: Assemble the Lion

Glue the lion’s head to the center of the accordion folded mane. Then attach the completed head and mane to the top of the body base.

Completed accordion fold paper ready to attach as lion mane
Orange paper folded accordion style for lion mane
Orange paper strip prepared for accordion folding

Your accordion fold lion is complete!

Finished accordion fold lion paper craft with orange folded mane, yellow body, and smiling face on pink background

Learning Tip

This craft is great for teaching:

  • Folding patterns
  • Sequencing steps
  • Hand-eye coordination

Have kids count the folds or talk about symmetry while making the mane.

Ways to Use This Craft

  • Zoo or safari-themed units
  • Letter L crafts
  • Animal studies
  • Classroom bulletin boards

More Easy Animal Crafts for Kids

Find more simple, kid-approved paper crafts right here on Frosting and Glue. We love crafts that are creative, doable, and fun for kids of all ages!

Happy crafting!

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