Summer Boredom Buster {Toilet Paper Roll Elephants}

Have your summer adventures included a trip to the zoo?  These toilet paper roll elephants are a great follow up activity.  Click here for directions.

Elephant & Piggie Costume inspired by Mo Willems {Elementary School Character Parade}

I had a reader email me and ask me what costume we used for last year's Character Parade {when he was in Kindergarten}.  Last year, Cole went as Gerald from Mo Willems' Elephant and Piggie Book.  Cole has always loved elephants and this was a perfect costume for him.  I bought the elephant costume on ebay.  The parade was in May and he had grown out of the elephant costume that we had (oh yeah, you read this right, this was not my FIRST elephant costume purchase).

Paper Towel Roll Activities to Pair with Our Favorite Books

These are some of my favorite toilet paper roll activities that pair with some of our favorite books.  Enjoy!

Paper Towel Roll Very Hungry Caterpillar

Toilet Paper Roll Chicka Chicka 123 Tree

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Cardboard Tube Tree

Toilet Paper Roll Elmer the Elephant

A Few Favorite Zoo Animals

Here are a few of my favorite past zoo animal projects.  It's fun to look back at all the different crafts we've created in the past year.  You can click on the image or the link below and see the instructions for making each of these cuties.

Elephant

Giraffe

Lion

Toilet Paper Roll Elmer the Elephant

If you've been following our site, you'll remember that last month we created an elephant made out of a cardboard tube.  I also mentioned how Cole is obsessed with elephants and LOVES all the Elmer books.  Well... we were at the grocery store shortly after that and found tissue boxes that has a patchwork print.  Cole spotted them first and even said "hey look mom, they have Elmer tissues".  So I bought them, and we used them, and then we made ourselves and Elmer the Elephant out of the box.

Elmer Supply List: 1 toilet paper roll, patchwork tissue box, glue, google eyes

Cut out a piece of the box that is the same length as your toilet paper roll.

Cut out ears, a trunk and a tail from the patchwork tissue box.

Glue your piece of tissue box around the toilet paper roll and allow to dry.  I use ponytail holders wrapped around the tube to keep everything in place while the glue dries.

Add your ears, trunk, eyes and tail and cut some feet out of the bottom.  Here is our toilet paper roll Elmer sitting next to Cole's stuffed Elmer.  I think he looks pretty good.

Book Suggestion: Since I already shared a link to the Elmer book, I'll share my favorite Elmer.  Elmer's Special Day is the day when all the elephants paint themselves multi-colored and Elmer paints himself regular gray elephant color.  It's a bunch of elephant shenanigans all around!

Cardboard Tube Elephant

Elephant Supply List: 1 paper towel roll, paint, scissors, glue, google eyes

Start by painting your paper towel roll.  We decided to use watercolors and they weren't very bright, but I think it turned out nicely.

Once the paint has dried, cut off the top of the paper towel roll at an angle.

Cut out 2 ears and a trunk out of the scrap of paper towel roll.

Cut feet out of the paper towel roll.

Glue your ears, trunk and google eyes onto your paper towel roll.

Book Suggestion: The Elmer series of books was given to Cole by his Nana a few years ago.  I was actually pleased when the elephant he painted had some blue and purple in it because it reminded me of Elmer.  If you haven't read about Elmer and his antics you should check them out from your local library.  They are a big hit in our house.