Astronaut Puppet Printable

| | | | | |

Are you or know of anyone who is interested in space, planets and fare away stars? Maybe even wishes to become an astronaut one day? Then we have the perfect paper craft for you: This rather adorable Astronaut Puppet Printable! It is such a fun project not only because it’s an astronaut but it allows to engage with the topic whilst developing fine motor skills and introduce a basic mechanical project. Paper Puppets are such a huge hit with Red Ted Art readers, that we couldn’t resist making just one more for you!

astronaut paper puppet
Image source credit – world & stars. Sharing astronaut puppets since June 2023

Disclaimer: The printable is brought to you in collaboration with Learning Resources, a website dedicated to educational but FUN ideas for kids. They are a fantastic organsitation that really cares about learning and children and who I have worked with many times here on Red Ted Art. It enables me to bring you lots of fantastic FREE resources! Do check them out today.

Educational benefits of making this astronaut paper puppet

We love this Astronaut Paper Puppet Project because, not only does the astronaut look simply fabulous and makes you want to go out into space and explore, but it is great for a number of reasons:

  • You get to spend time colouring and crafting with your kids.
  • You can introduce topics such as planets and humanity’s first voyage to the moon.
  • You can introduce the concept of primary and secondary colours while colouring.
  • They are fabulous for fine motor skills (e.g. colouring, cutting out the puppet parts, adding holes & making nods).
  • They make wonderful handmade paper toys to engage with longer.
  • It is a fantastic STEAM project as it introduces a basic mechanical project.

Supplies needed for the Astronaut Paper Puppet:

paper puppet supplies - printable, brads, pens and string
  • Our free Astronaut Puppet printable,
  • Paper / light card stock
  • Scissors,
  • Hole punch (single hole punches are super handy)
  • Brads / split pins,
  • Needle
  • Twine (such as Bakers Twine if you have)
  • Colouring pens, markers or paints..

Hop on over to our sponsors at Learning Resources (Look for words “click to download” or click on the printable image) and download your FREE Astronaut Paper Puppet printable:

astronaut paper puppet in action

How to make your Astronaut Paper Puppet

color in your astronaut

1.) Download the printable! Take your time and enjoy the colouring. This is a great opportunity to listen to a story about space of some mindfulness music.

cut out your astronaut shapes

2.) When all is coloured, cut out all astronaut shapes. 

align the shapes

Then place them in front of you to make sure that you keep the right arm and leg on the right and left arm and leg on the left hand side.

make the puppet holes for the string

3.) Using a thick needle, make a small hole into the four little black dots (adults do this for younger children). Then go ahead and make a bigger hole into the other 8 holes with a punch hole, scissors or embossing tool.

If working with younger children, you can help them “finishing” their project from here on. OR: simply use brads for this project and don’t add the strings. A lot of people prefer that with very young children or large groups of children.

connect the arms and legs to the puppet body

4.) Connect arms and legs with the main astronaut body using your brads or split pins. Place the arms and legs BEHIND the body for the mechanism to work.

Make sure the split pins are secure “loosely” so your astronaut can move and float.

add the mechanism threads to the astronaut

5.) Threat your twine and knot at the end. Find the black little holes and push the needle through it and pull the thread through.

Find the little black hole on the other arm and repeat. Make sure the knots are on the outside and not between main body and arms. Also the arms need to be pointing down before cutting the thread and knotting it off.

6.) Repeat the above for the legs (again make sure the legs point down before knotting off).

7.) Once you have the two straight lines running across the body, you connect them with some more twine (as shown in the picture above). You want to create a “capital I” shape as neatly as possible so the puppet can move arms and legs at its best.

finished dancing astronaut

And done! Hooray!! You can now play with your Astronaut Puppet. Isn’t it fun?

Extension ideas: why not cut out a photo of your child and add the face to the astronauts helmet? A bit like with our elf puppet here:

Child Elf Paper Puppet

Or why not give these Paper Handpuppets a go?

astronaut paper puppets

Remember to pop over to Learning Resources and explore all the fantastic projects and resources they have available for you and your little learners!