3D Hippo Cut & Paste Worksheet for Preschoolers
Like other 3D paper crafts, building this hippo from flat cut pieces that fold and glue into a standing shape helps 3-5 year olds grasp that paper can be transformed from flat to solid, while the multi-step process — cut, fold, glue — builds sequencing skills beyond a single-action worksheet. The hippo theme also gives an easy hook for a fun animal fact conversation.
Curriculum
How to use this worksheet
Cut out the hippo pieces along the dotted lines. Fold the marked sections as shown in the picture instructions. Glue the folded pieces together to assemble the 3D hippo, following the order shown in the example. Once assembled and dry, your child can color the hippo if they like.
Materials needed
- Scissors
- Glue
- Pencil (optional)
Extension activities
- •Talk about how hippos spend much of their day in water and why that keeps them cool.
- •Build a simple 'river' scene out of blue paper or fabric for the hippo to sit beside.
- •Compare the size of a hippo to other animals your child knows using pictures or a book.
- •Try folding a second animal from the same technique using scrap paper for extra practice.
- •Count how many separate pieces it took to build the finished hippo.
Tips for parents and teachers
Cutting the larger body pieces is usually easier than cutting small details, so let your child build confidence on the big pieces first. Offer to hold pieces steady while gluing, since 3D assembly requires a bit of physical support that flat crafts don't. A quick hippo fact — like how they can hold their breath underwater for several minutes — gives the craft a memorable detail to talk about afterward.
Written by
Hemsweta Jain · Teacher Cheena
MBA and Early Childhood Educator, teaching since 2014 · Founder of RaisoActive, Mumbai
Every RaisoActive worksheet is designed and checked by the founder before publishing.
Published · Last reviewed
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