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Spooky Skeleton Crafts

LeanneChesser by LeanneChesser
Last updated: 30/01/12

Spooky Skeleton Crafts for Kids

Spooky skeletons are probably one of the first things that pop into your mind when you think of Halloween. And making skeleton crafts is a great way to create a spooky Halloween atmosphere in your home, or in your classroom (I'm a mom and a teacher, so I think of both).

Why not get an entire theme going? Read a skeleton book with your kids and then do an inspired skeleton craft. Add to the skeleton theme with other Halloween symbols like spiders, ghosts, witches and bats. Add pumpkin play dough for a cool sensory experience . . . or try fake snot Gak for something gross! You can even burn a pumpkin scented candle for an adult addition to the atmosphere.

Now, on to the skeleton crafts . . .

Some of the ideas here are ones I used myself in my classroom. Others I've accessed from other sources and those sources are cited in the text. I've highlighted several crafts here and linked to other ones like a milk jug skeleton craft and a paper chain skeleton craft.

No matter what you're looking for, you'll be able to find it here!

Photo Credits:

The craft photos are mine.

The intro photo is from Weird Duck on Photobucket.

The skeleton photo in the fact boxes is from kaddyface on Photobucket.

Stuff About Skeleton Crafts That You'll Find Here

  1. Skeleton Crafts: Toilet Paper Roll Skeleton
  2. Spooky Skeleton Books
  4. Skeleton Crafts: Cotton Swab Skeleton
  5. Spooky Skeleton Games
  7. Skeleton Crafts: Pasta Skeleton
  8. Spooky Skeleton Costumes
  10. Skeleton Crafts: Paper Skeleton Mobile
  11. Other Spooktacular Stuff
  13. More Awesome Skeleton Crafts
  15. How Much Longer 'Til Halloween?
  16. Skeleton Videos on YouTube
  18. About Me
  19. Love This Page?
  20. Do You Love Spooky Skeleton Crafts for Kids?

Skeleton Crafts: Toilet Paper Roll Skeleton


The skeleton in the picture is a project that I did with one of my Kindergarten students in 2004. He was extremely interested in the human body - - skeletons, human body puzzles, the workings of everything. It was quite amazing, really. So, when the kids chose projects, he chose this WAY-bigger-than-life-sized toilet paper roll skeleton. It was such a blast to create with him!

What You'll Need:


  1. Approximately 68 toilet paper rolls for each one - we did 24 ribs (12 pairs) and 26 vertebrae (24 plus the sacrum and the coccyx) (ask parents at the beginning of the year to save up things like toilet paper rolls and other recyclables and donate them to the class)

  2. 4 paper towel rolls

  3. White construction paper to make the skull

  4. Scissors

  5. A black marker to draw the face

  6. Glue

  7. Brown butcher paper, or whatever long, heavy paper you have

  8. A book that shows an illustration of a skeleton that the student can use as a model, or an actual skeleton model
What You Do:

  1. Draw a skull outline on a sheet of white construction paper.

  2. Draw a face inside the skull shape.

  3. Cut out the skull shape.

  4. Draw lines for fingers on 10 toilet rolls and lines for toes on 10 more toilet rolls.

  5. Choose about 7 toilet rolls and cut each of them into about 4 pieces (rings) for vertebrae.

  6. Cut a length of butcher paper, about 8-10 feet long.

  7. Place your pieces on the butcher paper, starting at the top, and gluing the parts as you go.

  8. Hang the skeleton on the wall!

Spooky Skeleton Books

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Did you know . . . there are 206 bones in the human body?

Skeleton Crafts: Cotton Swab Skeleton


This is another one of the skeleton crafts I did with my Kindergarten class in 2004. It's really simple.

What You'll Need:


  1. At least one sheet of black construction paper for each child

  2. Glue

  3. White chalk or white crayons for drawing the skull

  4. Cotton swabs (Q-tips)

  5. Scissors
What You Do:

  1. Use something as a model; introduce the concept and the craft by reading a book, or looking at pictures, or watching a movie, etc.

  2. Draw a skull on the black construction paper with the white crayon or white chalk.

  3. Glue on cotton swabs to form the bones of the skeleton.

  4. If you want, you can cut the cotton swabs to create more detail (e.g. fingers, toes, smaller bones).

Spooky Skeleton Games

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Skeletons are a popular symbol for Halloween because they represent death. Actually, according to Wikipedia, on All Hallows Eve, "the ancient Celts would place a skeleton on their window sill to represent the departed."

Skeleton Crafts: Pasta Skeleton


This is a really cute skeleton craft and it's easy and fun for the kids. Some people don't like to use food for crafts . . . I actually don't like to do that very often either. But it's here if you'd like to try it.

What You'll Need:


  1. Different types of pasta (choose shapes that are appropriate for different shapes of bones e.g. penne for legs, spaghetti for fingers, macaroni for ribs)

  2. Black construction paper (at least one sheet per child)

  3. Glue

  4. White chalk or white crayon
What You Do:

  1. If you choose, draw a skeleton on the black construction paper with white chalk or a white crayon.

  2. Arrange pasta on the construction paper (this can be done with or without the white skeleton drawing).

  3. Glue the pasta on once you've arranged things on the paper the way you want it.

Spooky Skeleton Costumes

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Did you know . . . almost half of our bones are in our hands and feet?

Skeleton Crafts: Paper Skeleton Mobile


A skeleton mobile is almost a must-have in your Halloween decorations - - kind of an old stand-by. So, here's how you can make one easily:

What You'll Need:


  1. 1 set of skeleton template pages for each child (print 2 each of the legs, arms, hands and feet)

  2. Scissors

  3. Card stock

  4. Glue

  5. Hole punch

  6. Brass fasteners

  7. String
What You Do:

  1. Print the template pages.

  2. Glue them on card stock, or heavy paper.

  3. Cut out the parts.

  4. Punch holes in the joints and at the top of the head.

  5. Connect the bones at the joints with brass fasteners.

  6. Fasten string to the top of the head.

  7. Hang!

Other Spooktacular Stuff

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Halloween has a fascinating history. Learn about the history of Halloween and more about Halloween.

More Awesome Skeleton Crafts

Be sure to check these out. They're unique and fun skeleton crafts. Also, vote for your favorites and add your own ideas!

1

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Paper Chain Skeleton Craft

Make the best rattling skeleton with paper chains!1 point

2

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Plastic Cutlery Skeleton Craft

Can you imagine skeletons made with plastic forks more...0 points

3

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Spool Skeleton Craft

Create a skeleton out of old spools from thread.0 points

4

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Milk Jug Skeleton Craft

Resurrect recycled milk jugs into a life-size skel more...0 points

5

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Wool Skeleton Craft

Who would have thought children could make such a more...0 points

6

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Wooden Spoon Skeleton Craft

Kids can make and then play with this wooden spoon more...0 points

7

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Cardboard Box Skeleton Craft

Make this gorgeous skeleton out of your old cardbo more...0 points

8

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Pipe Cleaner Skeleton Craft

Model this pipe cleaner skeleton with your kids, a more...0 points

9

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Multiple Skeleton Projects

Explore these free skeleton and skull craft patter more...0 points

Did you know . . . babies have more bones than an adult!? Honest. Check it out.

Countdown to Halloween

Halloween: October 31, 2012

Skeleton Videos on YouTube

Kid Science Stanley the Skeleton - Full

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Kid Science Stanley... 0 points

Halloween Craft -

2

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Halloween Craft - "T... 0 points

Making Skeletons at Halloween Party

3

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Making Skeletons at... 0 points

Have you ever wondered why the colors orange and black are used to represent Halloween? Orange is used because it illustrates the harvest. Black is used because it symbolizes death. Get even more cool facts about Halloween here.

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Disclosure: I earn money from the sale of items on this page.

This Halloween Magazine page written by

LeanneChesser

Leanne Chesser was a teacher who used these skeleton crafts with her kids in the classroom. She's also a life coach and business owner.
She is a mom... more »

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