This school house craft for kids using a brown paper lunch bag is perfect for the first week back to school. When completed you can leave the school house flat or open it up at the bottom so it stands upright.
Not only is the finished project super cute, but it also allows students to practice following directions, as well as practice with using scissors and glue. When kids are finished making their school house, you can hang them up as is or add a simple writing assignment to the project like a goal for the school year or what they like about school.
Materials Needed for Lunch Bag School House Craft
- Scissors
- Liquid glue or glue stick
- Markers
- White copy paper or cardstock
- Brown paper lunch bags
- Optional: crayons, colored pencils
- Optional: Colored construction paper
- Free PDF Template
Directions for Making Paper Bag School Craft
Before starting the project decide which method you will be using.
- Method 1: Have the kids color the pieces directly on the printed out template for the school house and then cut them out. This is the easiest, but won’t look as sharp as using colored construction paper. If using this method, print out enough copies of the free template (one per student with extras in case of mess ups) onto white copy paper or cardstock.
- Method 2: The other option is having the kids cut out the white template pieces and then trace them onto colored construction paper. Then they will cut out the pieces for the project from teh construction paper. Using this method students will not be coloring in all the pieces, but the tracing and cutting will add extra time for students to complete. Be sure to copy the free template onto white cardstock. The thicker cardstock will make it easier for the pieces to be used as tracers. Also be sure to have colored construction paper available to the students.
- Print out the free template above. (One per student)
- Have students prepare the template pieces to be ready for gluing onto the paper bags.
- If using the first method, have students color the template pieces on the white paper or cardstock. Then cut them out.
- If using the second method, have students cut out the template pieces from white cardstock. Then have them trace the white pieces onto the appropriate color of construction paper. Cut out the pieces from the construction paper.
4. Set aside the prepared template pieces.
5. Give each student a brown paper lunch bag.
6. Students can use a brown marker or crayon to draw bricks onto their lunch bag. (optional)
7. Before gluing the pieces down, have students place them onto the bag to see how the finish project will look. They might prefer their school house to be shorter. If so, they can cut an inch or so off the top of the bag.
8. Glue the prepared template pieces onto the lunch bag following the steps shown below.
First glue on the roof pieces. Then add the window pieces. (Steps 1-4.)
9. Next, add the planters and bushes. Then add the school door and sign. Add the flag and bell details. (Steps 5-8)
You’ve finished! You can leave the house flat or open the bottom so it stands up on its own.
Optional Modifications
- Simplify this project by having parent volunteers prepare the template pieces for the students.
- Label the parts of the school house on the template before making copies.
- Give students freedom to use any or all of the template pieces or even create their own designs for their school house.
- Add a writing assignment to display with their completed school houses. Write about their goals for the school year, their favorite subject, what they love about school etc.
- Add a photo of the child to the finished schoolhouse to personalize it.
