American Bison Tissue Paper Craft for Kids

Did you know that the American bison is the national animal of the United States of America? And now you can make your own tissue paper bison with this fun and easy craft for kids!

The American bison symbolizes the spirit of the American West and represents resilience, having been saved from near extinction through dedicated conservation efforts. It also holds deep cultural and historical significance for many Native American tribes, providing essential resources and playing a vital role in their heritage.

Whether you’re learning about the American frontier, Native American history, or just looking for a fun animal craft, this craft is for you!

At the bottom of this page are some fun facts about bison that you can go over while you’re making the craft.

Bison Tissue Paper Craft

Materials

• Bison printable template
• Brown tissue paper
• Brown and black colored pencils, markers, or crayons
• Scissors
• Glue

Instructions

First, download and print out the free bison printable (available for download at the bottom of this page).

Next, color the bison everywhere except the head, shoulder, and end of the tail (although you can color those parts as well so that it’s not as obvious if parts are missed when applying the tissue paper).

Cut brown tissue paper into small pieces, around 1″x1″ and smaller.

Working in sections, cover the head and shoulders in glue and then stick pieces of crumpled tissue paper to the glue.

Continue adding tissue paper until the head, shoulders, and end of the tail are completely covered.

Cut out the bison and the bison’s horn.

Glue the horn to the bison’s head.

Now your cute bison is complete!

This was a really fun craft for my five year old and he was so proud of the bison he made!

Fun Facts About the American Bison

Contrary to popular belief, American bison are different from true buffalo, which are native to Africa and Asia, with distinct physical characteristics like the bison’s hump and thick fur. The term “buffalo” for bison originated from early European settlers who mistakenly called them by that name, and the usage stuck over time.

• Big and Strong: The American bison is the largest land animal in North America, with males weighing up to 2,000 pounds!
• Fast Runners: Despite their size, bison can run up to 35 miles per hour—faster than most humans can run!
• Thick Fur: Bison have thick, woolly fur that keeps them warm during the cold winters on the Great Plains.
• Big Herds: They often travel in large groups called herds, which can include hundreds of bison.
• Grass Eaters: Bison are herbivores and spend most of their day grazing on grasses and plants.
• Hump Power: They have a large hump on their back made of muscle, which helps them plow through snow in the winter.
• Calves: Baby bison are called calves and are usually born in the spring. They can stand and walk just a few hours after being born!
• Important to Native Americans: Bison were incredibly important to many Native American tribes, providing food, clothing, and materials for shelter.
• Conservation Success: Bison were once nearly extinct due to overhunting, but conservation efforts have helped their populations recover.
• National Mammal: In 2016, the American bison was designated as the national mammal of the United States, recognizing its significance to the country’s history and culture.

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