At a Glance
These printable bat outline templates come in three sizes (1, 2, and 4 to a page) with clean, simple shapes designed for little hands to cut around. Use them as a blank canvas for crafting, coloring, collage, stencils, or class displays. Perfect for Halloween, Bat Appreciation Day, or any woodland animal theme in preschool and kindergarten.
Out walking at dusk and a shape swoops overhead, dips, doubles back – it’s a bat! My little ones love this when we go out bat-spotting and I expect some of yours do too! These printable bat outline templates would be great for any little bat lovers out there.
There’s 3 different sizes included in the pack (1 to a page, 2 to a page and 4 to a page), each with a clean outline that was deliberately kept simple so it’s easier for little hands to cut around (or for the teacher who has to cut out a class worth!).
Bats often get an unfair reputation, but they are genuinely remarkable creatures. Did you know that each bat wing is actually a thin layer of skin stretched between four long fingers and a thumb? A nice little fact to share when those scissors come out.
Whether you are getting ready for Halloween, making a woodland nature display, celebrating Bat Appreciation Day, or just a Tuesday with a little bat-fan – let’s get cutting!
What Skills Can Your Children Learn And Practice?
Which skills your little ones will develop depends largely on how you plan to use these printable bat outlines. Here’s a few that they could improve if you decide to get all crafty with them:
- Cutting Skills – if you feel they’re ready, you can let them have a go at cutting out the template all by themselves – they’ll need to be careful and have good scissor control if they want to cut out the template neatly
- Fine Motor Skills – if they’re going to use the template as a base for a collage, they’ll need to use their pincer grip to pick up the pieces and carefully put them where they want them to go
- Creativity – as the template is basically a blank canvas, your children will have a lot of space to exercise their creativity and decide how they want to personalize it
- Hand-eye coordination – to be able to understand what they are seeing and get their hands to go where they want them to go
- Hand and finger strength – the ability to be able to apply enough pressure to make marks on the page and hold the pencil firmly
- Pencil Control – they can practice their pencil control and develop hand strength through coloring this template in
- Spatial awareness – working with three different sizes gives children the chance to notice and compare scale, using language like bigger, smaller, wider, and narrower in a hands-on context.
These bat outlines will also give them a chance to practice their concentration and perseverance skills as they may find it tricky to make their creation look exactly as they want it to and may be practicing skills they are not completely confident with.
How To Prepare These Bat Outlines
First you’re going to want to download the Halloween templates by clicking on the download box at the bottom of the page.
Not a member yet – what are you waiting for? Become a member today! You’ll get exclusive INSTANT access to the ENTIRE library of awesome activities PLUS all of the activity makers.
Materials you May need:
- Safety scissors
- Card Stock or Craft Paper
- Glue
- Some coloring pencils or pens
Once you’ve downloaded the template, you’ll need to print it off onto paper or card depending on what you plan on using it for.
After that you’re all done!
And In Case You Needed Any Inspiration, Here’s A Few Ways You Could Use These Bat Templates:
Laminate and Reuse as a Stencil
Laminate the bat and it becomes a reusable stencil your little learners can trace around again and again – great for pencil control practice and getting a consistent shape to decorate each time. It also works brilliantly on windows with washable paint for a temporary Halloween display that wipes clean.
A Size-Ordering Math Warm-Up
Cut out one bat in each size and ask your little learners to arrange them from smallest to largest – and then back again. Bring in comparative language (wider, narrower, the same). Pair with the Bat Number Matching Game to keep the bat theme going while adding a counting challenge.
A Scissors Skills Workout
Use the three sizes as a deliberate cutting progression. Start with the large outline as this one’s a bit easier to cut out. Once they have got the hang of it, move to medium, then small. The smaller the bat, the more precise the control required. Pair this with the Spider Cutting Practice Strips for a full Halloween-themed fine motor session.
Nighttime Sky Story Starter
Give each child a bat cutout and a sheet of dark paper. Add some star stickers or white paint dots, stick the bat in position, and ask: “Where is your bat going tonight?” This works as a speaking prompt, a writing starter for children who are ready for it, or just as a great piece of art. If you want to keep the bat theme going, the Bat Finger Puppet and Build A Bat Craft are both brilliant next steps.
Holiday Card or Gift
Print out two the same size and stick them together along the base to turn the decorated bats into a Halloween card. They could decorate the one on the front and write a message on the other.
Class Display
Create a class display of bats, showing everyone’s unique flying mammal designs – perfect for brightening up a bulletin board – or lovely turned into some Halloween bunting!
I’m sure you’ve got some other ideas as well (if there’s anything that our other members may find useful, please comment below).
However you use these bat templates, I hope your little ones have a wonderful time with them.
Enjoy and let’s nurture those neurons!
