Let’s celebrate an evergreen classic today with some super fun Sesame Street crafts for kids! Whether you are preparing for Sesame Street Day on November 10th, getting ready for Elmo’s birthday on February 3rd, or celebrating the cookie-loving Cookie Monster on November 2nd, these activities are perfect for little hands.
Many childhood experiences are specific to a generation. For instance, my childhood favorites and my daughter’s differ widely. I know only millennials will truly understand the struggle of a skipping CD Walkman! However, it is incredible that there is one phenomenon that has enthralled kids across generations, from Generation X all the way to Gen Alpha. Yes, we are talking about Sesame Street!
One of America’s longest-running shows and the most influential children’s television program in history, Sesame Street has evolved over the years. Yet, its characters continue to remain classic favorites. My personal favorite has always been Cookie Monster, but I am sure your home has fans of Elmo, Ernie, Bert, Big Bird, and, of course, Oscar the Grouch!
The Fascinating History of Sesame Street
Before we dive into the glue and glitter, it is worth sharing a little history with your children while you craft. It adds a wonderful educational layer to the activity.
After the mid-1960s, nearly every home in America had a TV, and young children were watching over 25 hours of television a week. However, most of these programs were not designed to teach; they were often violent or purely commercial. This led Joan Ganz Cooney, a producer, to wonder: Could TV be used to entertain and educate kids at the same time?
The answer was a resounding “Yes!”
Did you know?
- The original working title for the show was ‘123 Avenue B‘. However, it was changed because that was a real address in New York City.
- The word ‘Sesame‘ was chosen from the phrase ‘Open Sesame’ from Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. It was meant to indicate that this show was an entry to a place where magic and learning happen.
- The first episode aired on November 10, 1969. This is why we celebrate Sesame Street Day on this date every year.
As we celebrate over 5 decades of this magical street, let’s get creative with these 15 amazing Sesame Street crafts!
1. Paper Plate Elmo Face
Elmo is the furry red monster who loves his goldfish and his crayons. This is the ultimate starter craft for toddlers because it focuses on the color red and simple textures.
- Materials: Paper plate, red tissue paper, orange cardstock (nose), white cardstock (eyes), black marker, glue.
- How to Make It: Cut the red tissue paper into small squares. Have your child scrunch them up and glue them all over the paper plate. This creates a “furry” 3D texture. Add a large orange oval for the nose and two big eyes.
- Educational Tip: This is excellent for fine motor skills as the scrunching motion strengthens hand muscles.
2. Cookie Monster Paper Bag Puppet
“Me want cookie!” Puppetry is a huge part of the Sesame Street legacy. Honor Jim Henson by making your own puppets.
- Materials: Blue paper lunch bag, black construction paper, white paper, markers.
- How to Make It: Keep the bag folded flat. The bottom flap serves as the mouth. Glue blue paper (or blue faux fur if you are fancy!) over the body. Glue a black semi-circle under the flap for the open mouth.
- The Key Detail: Remember, Cookie Monster’s eyes are famous for being “googly.” Draw the pupils slightly crossed or looking in different directions for that authentic look.
3. Oscar the Grouch’s “Trash” Pencil Holder
Oscar loves trash, so he would love a craft made from recycled materials!
- Materials: An empty tin can (clean and smooth edges), green paint, brown yarn (for eyebrows).
- How to Make It: Paint the tin can silver or grey to look like a trash can. Paint a separate piece of cardboard green to be Oscar and glue him peeking over the rim. Use bushy brown yarn for his unibrow.
- Lesson: Use this craft to talk to your kids about recycling and keeping our planet clean (even if Oscar likes it dirty!).
4. Big Bird’s Feathery Headband
Let your child transform into the 8-foot-tall yellow bird with this wearable craft.
- Materials: Yellow plastic headband, yellow craft feathers, pink construction paper.
- How to Make It: Glue fluffy yellow feathers all along the top of the headband. Cut a cone shape out of pink paper for the beak and attach it to the center.
- Fun Fact: Did you know Big Bird has a teddy bear named Radar?
5. Bert and Ernie Popsicle Stick Buddies
You can’t have one without the other! This craft celebrates friendship.
- Materials: Jumbo craft sticks, paint (yellow and orange), googly eyes, black yarn (for Bert’s hair).
- How to Make It: Paint one stick yellow (Bert) and one orange (Ernie). Bert needs a long face and a vertical striped shirt. Ernie needs a wider face (you might glue two sticks together) and a horizontal striped shirt.
- Don’t Forget: Bert’s signature unibrow is a must!
6. Count von Count Paper Plate Math Craft
“One paper plate! Ah ah ah!”
- Materials: Paper plate, purple paint, black construction paper, green decorative gems (for the monocle).
- How to Make It: Paint the plate light purple. Cut out a black widow’s peak hairline and a goatee. Add a green circle for his monocle.
- Activity: Once dried, use the Count’s face to practice counting numbers with your child. “How many eyes does the Count have? Two!”
7. Abby Cadabby’s Magic Wand
Abby is a fairy-in-training who loves to rhyme. Her catchphrase is “That’s so magic!”
- Materials: A wooden dowel or chopstick, cardstock, glitter, ribbons (pink and purple).
- How to Make It: Cut a star shape out of cardstock and cover it in glitter. Glue it to the top of the stick. Tie long strands of ribbon to the base of the star so they flow when waved.
- Playtime: Have your child run around turning things into “pumpkins” with their new wand.
8. “Yip Yip” Martian Pom-Poms
The Martians are hilarious characters who are essentially floating blobs with eyes. They are very easy to make.
- Materials: Yarn (blue or pink), pipe cleaners, googly eyes.
- How to Make It: Create a large, messy pom-pom using yarn. Attach two pipe cleaners sticking straight up from the center and glue eyes to the tips.
- Fun Factor: When you shake them, the eyes wobble, just like the characters on TV!
9. Character Corner Bookmarks
Encourage reading with these Sesame Street corner bookmarks.
- Materials: Square origami paper in red, blue, yellow, and green.
- How to Make It: Fold a basic origami corner bookmark. Decorate the triangle flap to look like a face.
- Red: Elmo (add an orange nose).
- Blue: Cookie Monster (add a half-eaten cookie in his mouth).
- Green: Oscar (add a trash can lid rim).
10. Handprint “High Five” Keepsakes
Sesame Street characters have distinct hands (usually with four fingers!).
- Materials: Washable paint, white paper.
- How to Make It: Paint your child’s hand red (for Elmo) or blue (for Cookie Monster). Press it onto the paper. The palm becomes the face, and the fingers are the crazy hair/fur. Once dry, draw the faces on the palm. These make wonderful gifts for grandparents.
11. Snuffleupagus Wooly Yarn Wrap
Snuffy is Big Bird’s best friend and looks like a wooly mammoth.
- Materials: Cardboard cutout of an elephant shape, brown yarn.
- How to Make It: Cut the shape out of sturdy cardboard. Tape the end of the brown yarn to the back and let your child wrap the yarn around and around the body until the cardboard is covered.
- Skill Builder: This wrapping motion is fantastic for developing hand-eye coordination.
12. The Sesame Street Sign Nameplate
Every kid wants to live on Sesame Street. Now they can put the sign on their bedroom door.
- Materials: Green construction paper, yellow paper, white letters.
- How to Make It: Cut a long rectangle from green paper. Cut a smaller yellow rectangle and glue it to the top (like the iconic sign). Use white letter stickers or cut-outs to spell your child’s name (e.g., “SAM STREET”).
13. Cookie Monster Sensory Bin
If your child is too young for complex crafting, try a sensory bin.
- Materials: Rice, blue food coloring, vinegar, plastic letters, “Cookie Crisp” cereal.
- How to Make It: Dye the rice blue (mix rice with a few drops of food coloring and a teaspoon of vinegar, then let dry). This represents Cookie Monster’s fur. Hide the cereal “cookies” and plastic alphabet letters in the rice.
- The Game: Ask your child to find the letter “C” for Cookie!
14. Rubber Duckie Bath Toy Decorating
Rubber Duckie, you’re the one!
- Materials: Yellow foam sheets or a plain yellow rubber duck, waterproof markers.
- How to Make It: If using a real rubber duck, use permanent markers to give it personality (maybe add a unibrow like Bert?). If using foam, cut out a duck shape and let your child decorate it with foam stickers. The foam shapes will stick to the bathtub wall when wet!
15. Super Grover Mask
Grover is a superhero… sometimes!
- Materials: Paper plate, scissors, elastic string, pink felt.
- How to Make It: Cut a paper plate in half. Cut out two eye holes. Paint it blue. Glue a pink nose in the center. Punch holes on the sides and tie the elastic string.
- Roleplay: Put on the mask and a towel for a cape, and fly around the living room to save the day!
Why These Crafts Matter
Participating in these Sesame Street crafts helps bridge the gap between screen time and real-world play. When a child makes an Elmo face, they aren’t just gluing paper; they are engaging with a character that teaches them about kindness, emotions, and friendship.
Sesame Street has always been about inclusivity and learning. By bringing these characters off the screen and into your craft room, you are continuing that 55-year legacy of “Sunny Days.”
So, grab your supplies, put on the famous theme song, and sweep the clouds away with these creative projects!
