How to Make a Bat for a School Project

Start by readying materials for the project. Having materials easily accessible for elementary students will ensure a successful learning activity. Post images of bats around the classroom for inspiration.

Using images around the classroom, discuss the body structure of bats and other interesting bat facts with elementary students: Bats have a head, arms that stretch out into wings, legs with feet, a tail structure and powerful eyes and ears. Their bodies are covered in hairs and can live for up to 30 years. Bats are mammals, and the largest type of bat has a wingspan of 6 feet.

Have each student draw a bat with black crayon on a piece of white paper. Encourage students to draw all the details of a bat along with its surroundings in the background using other colors of crayons.

With a sheet of black construction paper, have elementary students use scissors to cut a head shape. Using the same sheet of paper cut out an abdomen.

Using another sheet of black paper cut out two wings from black construction paper. Arrange shapes together to form a bat.

With a small amount of glue, attach the head to the abdomen. Affix the wings to the abdomen. To make the wings look like they are moving, fold them in gently using an accordion fold (folding them forward, then back).

Use a white crayon, which will show up on black construction paper, to add eyes to the bat. The white crayon can also be used to add additional details such as lines representing hairs on the bat and veins on the webbing in the bat’s wings. When the bats are finished, hang them around the room with black string.