Torn Paper Skeletons
📝 This post about torn paper skeletons has been updated with new ideas and resources!
I had completely forgotten about this activity until I came across it while going through my Halloween folder at school. I’ve always loved making torn paper skeletons, so I decided to give it a try with my first graders.
I knew it might be challenging. Tearing paper, especially into small pieces and specific shapes, isn’t always easy for little hands! But I also thought it would be a fun way to see how my students approached a tricky task while practicing their fine motor skills.
And it certainly was a challenge for some! But by the end, everyone had created their own skeleton, and I loved seeing how differently they all turned out.
Making the Torn Paper Skeletons
These torn paper skeletons are easy to make, and you probably already have everything you need in your classroom!
Materials
✔️White copy paper
✔️Black or gray construction paper
✔️Glue
Directions
Begin by looking at pictures of skeletons together and talking about what students notice. What shapes do they see? What do they notice about the lines and bones? Draw attention to the skull, rib cage, arms, and legs.
Show students how to tear paper into different shapes and sizes. Demonstrate how to make smaller pieces, long strips, and circles. Also show them how to tear holes in the paper so the background color shows through.
Give each student a piece of white copy paper and a sheet of black or gray construction paper for the background.
Have students tear pieces of white paper to create their skeletons, arranging and gluing the pieces onto their background paper.
Invite students to add details such as a moon, spooky clouds, or gravestones if they’d like.
That’s it!
A Little Note About This Activity
Keep in mind that tearing paper into specific shapes isn’t easy for every child, and some students may become frustrated. I’ve had this happen with a few students each year. I’ve found that sitting with them for a while, demonstrating different ways to tear the paper, and giving them a little extra support usually helps. Eventually, they get the hang of it and can create their own skeletons!
Look how our torn paper skeletons turned out!
FREE My Skeleton Writing Template
Want to add a little writing to this activity? I created a FREE My Skeleton writing template where students can name their skeleton and write about its personality, what it likes to do, or anything else they can imagine!
Display the finished writing alongside their torn paper skeletons for a fun Halloween classroom display!
💚 Grab the FREE Skeleton Writing Template
Skeleton Books to Read Along the Way
It’s always nice to have a few skeleton books on hand to read before starting this activity. I like to look through Skeleton, Skeleton: A Book About Bones by Katy Hall with students before they begin creating their own skeletons.
And here are a few more skeleton stories I love, including one I literally just read yesterday!
Dem Bones by Bob Barner
The Skeleton and the Cat by Brandon James Scott
Skeletons Are Not Spooky by Duds and Kaine
If You Ever Meet a Skeleton by Rebecca Evans
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