Author: If you are looking for a fun way to explore the world with kids, this easy globe craft is such a great project to try. Using simple supplies like paper, a cup for the base, and a wooden stick through the middle, kids can create their own little spinning globe that looks really impressive when finished.
This globe craft for kids is perfect for learning about the Earth, continents, and geography while also enjoying a creative craft project. It works great as an Earth Day activity, but it is also great for classroom globe projects, homeschool geography lessons, or anytime you want a hands-on way to talk about our planet.
One of the things I love most about this globe project is the fun 3D effect. The globe itself is made from folded paper circles, which creates a round layered shape that looks like a real globe sitting on its stand.
Supplies You Will Need for your 3D Paper Globe
- Construction Paper (blue for the ocean and green for land)
- Black cardstock (for the globe stand)
- Paper cup (for the base)
- Wooden rod or skewer
- Scissors
- Marker
- Glue
- Hot glue gun (recommended for a firm hold)
How to Make the Paper Globe Craft
Start by creating the globe itself. Cut several circles from blue paper. You will want multiple circles because these will be folded and layered together to create the round 3D globe shape. Around 4 works really well.
Fold each circle exactly in half. Once you have all the circles folded, glue the folded edges together one by one so they form a round layered shape. When finished, the paper should open up into a sphere-like globe that looks really pretty from every angle.
Before assembling the globe fully, draw the continents on the blue paper using a green marker or cut shapes from green paper and glue them onto the globe pieces. Kids can have fun deciding where to place the land to represent the Earth. Older kids can try their best to make it accurate and represent the actual shapes of each continent. My older boys are really into this! Whereas younger kids can do random shapes for the land masses, to symbolise land in general.
After gluing all of your folded earth circles together (you can use a glue stick for this stage), carefully push a wooden rod through the center of the folded paper globe so it can spin like a real globe. This will hold the globe in place while allowing it to rotate.
Now it is time to make the stand. Cut a curved piece from thick black cardstock to form the globe holder that wraps partially around the globe. This curved piece helps the globe look like a real classroom globe.
For the base, turn a paper cup upside down. You can paint or cover the cup with black paper if you like. This will become the bottom stand that supports your globe. Kids can decorate this part however they like best!
Attach the curved cardstock holder to the cup using a hot glue gun. Hot glue works best here because it gives a strong hold and keeps everything stable. Unlike with the folded earth pieces, you do not want any movement with this section, so use a hot glue gun to keep it sturdy.
Once the stand is secure, glue the wooden rod into the stand so the globe sits nicely in the curved holder. Make sure the globe can still spin easily.
Finally, add a few small decorations to the base if you like. We used little triangle shapes to give it a colorful finish, but kids can decorate their globe stand however they want.
This Globe Craft Is Great for Kids
This globe craft with paper is a wonderful hands-on way for kids to explore the world. In addition to looking at maps in books and atlases, they get to build their own globe and see how the Earth is shaped.
It also works well for school projects because it combines creativity with geography learning. Kids can talk about continents, oceans, and different parts of the world while making their craft.
The finished globe also looks great on a desk or shelf, which makes it a fun display piece after the project is finished.
Ways to Use This Globe Craft
This globe craft idea can be used in lots of different ways depending on the time of year.
It makes a great Earth Day craft to help kids think about protecting the planet and learning about the world we live in. It is also a fantastic geography project for school or homeschool lessons about continents and oceans.
Teachers can also use it as part of larger globe projects where students create their own versions of the Earth and present what they learned about different parts of the world.
Because the globe spins on its stand, kids really enjoy interacting with it after the craft is finished, which makes the learning feel more fun and engaging.
More Earth and Geography Crafts
If your kids enjoyed this easy globe craft, there are lots of other fun crafts and projects you can try that explore the Earth and the world around us. Earth Day crafts, map activities, and geography themed projects are all great ways to encourage curiosity about our amazing planet.
- Paper dolls from around the world
- Crafts from around the world
- Countries and nationalities worksheets
- 7 Wonders of the world printables
If you enjoyed this globe craft, please share this post with friends, teachers, or anyone looking for fun crafts for kids. Sharing helps more families discover creative projects like this and makes it easier for others to try these globe craft ideas at home or in the classroom.
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