From simple potato printing to more complex potato-based science experiments, we’ve gathered a potato sack full of unique and creative ideas to excite, engage and inspire your students. Whether you’re teaching preschool, primary grades, or upper elementary students, these potato crafts and projects will bring a touch of fun and learning to your classroom. So, get ready to peel, mash, and create with these 25 fun and crafty potato ideas that will surely leave a lasting impression on your students.
1. Potato Stamp Art
Use potatoes and paint for making potato print artwork. You’ll need potatoes, paint, a knife, and paper. Dip the potato into the paint and press it onto the paper or fabric. Experiment with different colors and shapes to create unique designs.
Learn More: I Heart Arts n Crafts
2. St. Patty’s Potato People
Making potato people for St. Patrick’s Day is a fun and creative way to celebrate the holiday. To make potato people, you will need potatoes, toothpicks, paint, googly eyes, and other art supplies. Hand out materials, and start creating!
Learn More: Buggy and Buddy
3. Sprout Sweet Potatoes in the Classroom
This project is a great way to engage students and supplement various science and biology lessons. A jar, some water, and a potato are all you need to start your sweet potato garden!
Learn More: ABC.net
4. Potato Haircut Heads
Make these fun potato haircut heads with a potato, soil, and grass seed. Once they’ve sprouted, grab those scissors and give your potato friends their first haircut.
Learn More: My Kid Craft
5. Kinetic Sand Potato Heads for Fine Motor Development
Toss some kinetic sand and a variety of Mr. Potato Head pieces into a sensory bin and let your students make their own squishy Mr. Potato Head. We love this sensory idea for preschoolers.
Learn More: And Next Comes ESL
6. Potato Book Character Crafts
Making book characters out of potatoes is a fun project for everyone To make book characters out of potatoes, you will need potatoes, paint, markers, and other craft materials. This project is a great way to bring characters to life and can be used to supplement reading lessons.
Learn More: Hanover Street School
7. “The Couch Potato” Read Aloud
“The Couch Potato” is the perfect potato-themed children’s book. The book tells the story of a potato who is perfectly happy spending all of his time sitting. “The Couch Potato” is a great read for teachers who want to encourage kids to be more active and get healthy.
Learn More: Storytime Anytime
8. Have a Potato Sack Race
Grab a potato sack, toss in a kid, and get hopping. You can’t beat a good, old-fashioned potato sack race to get kids excited, moving, and having fun. We love this traditional carnival game turned competition!
Learn More: Carnival Savers
9. Create a Pair of Potato Pants
“Potato Pants!” is a children’s book written and illustrated by Laurie Keller. Using the book as a starting point, use the concepts within to have students tap into their creativity and make designer potato pants! The book is filled with humor and imaginative illustrations, and sparks creativity in the classroom.
Learn More: Soul Sparklettes
10. Take the Famous Potatoes Quiz
How much do you know about the history of potatoes? Take this fun famous potatoes quiz from the Idaho Potato Commission and find out!
Learn More: Idaho Potato Commission
11. Grow Potatoes in a Grow Bag
These grow bags are the perfect option for small spaces or classroom use. A grow bag is a container made of a breathable material such as fabric, that can be filled with soil or compost to grow plants. What a great way to teach children about gardening and plant growth!
Learn More: Amazon
12. Build a Potato Clock
A potato…turned into a clock? No Way! It seems impossible, but it can be done. This fun kit from National Geographic provides the instructions and materials (minus the potatoes) you need to help young scientists build a working potato clock! Now that’s some amazing science!
Learn More: Amazon
13. Make Potato Play Dough
Grab some baked potatoes, mash them up, and mix in a load of flour. Now your students can get their hands messy kneading and coloring their potato play dough. The best part…it’s completely nontoxic, so even toddlers can get in on the fun.
Learn More: Idaho Potatoes
14. Try Potato Wheel Printing
Check out this idea for potato wheel printing! This potato project uses sliced potatoes and a paring knife (used by adults of course) to carve intricate geometric designs. These potato slices are threaded onto a straw, dipped in paint, and used for crafty print projects!
Learn More: The Crafty Crow
15. Play Hot Potato
Hot Potato is a classic game that can be played with a large group. It only requires a potato and some kids. The objective of the game is to pass the “hot potato” around as quickly as possible without being caught holding it when the music stops. What a fun classroom brain break!
Learn More: Empowered Parents
16. Book Character Potato Parade
Grab your book character potatoes and put on a potato parade. Have your students craft their potato characters, then join together with other classes for a potato parade. You could always make your parade part of a PTO event, so even parents can enjoy the cute spuds.
Learn More: Rebecca the Irish Teacher
17. Craft Paper Potato Head
Construction paper, scissors, and glue are all you need to do this simple potato activity. Provide your students with a picture of Mr. Potato’s head, then have them create their own by cutting out the shapes they need. This is a great way to work on fine motor skills.
Learn More: Holly’s Art Corner
18. Potato Osmosis Lab
Discover the effects of osmosis by conducting an experiment with potatoes in salt and pure water. Observe how the concentration of salt affects the potato and learn about the process of osmosis through this engaging activity.
Learn More: Little Bins for Little Hands
19. The Potato Race Game
Grab a potato and race to the finish. This fun game is an open-ended game that students can use to practice various skills. What a neat way to practice reading and math skills!
Learn More: Pitter Patter Place
20. Become Mashed Potato Sculptors
Our parents always told us not to play with our food…but now we think we should let kids dive right in and have fun! Using instant potatoes, students can sculpt and build using their vegetables. And the best part… it’s art you can eat!
Learn More: More FM Rodney 88.9
21. Mr. Potato Head Travel Game
We love this idea for an indoor recess activity! This portable potato game has students working to build a potato head using a spinner and cutting out pieces. Spin the spinner and cross your fingers that you get the right potato parts!
Learn More: Get Away Today
22. A “Tweet” Potato Bird
Engineer a new bird species using sweet potato! With such unique shapes, sweet potatoes can become almost anything. A few feathers, some googly eyes, and toothpick legs turn this tater into a totally unique bird.
Learn More: Fun Littles
23. Sweet Potato Goop for Sensory Play
Frozen sweet potato puree, water, cornstarch, and a few bits and bobs make a fun (and messy) sensory play experience. Your little ones are sure to love this squishy, messy, sweet potato goop!
Learn More: Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails
24. Make Potato Oobleck
If you’ve ever made oobleck, you know how much fun it is. Did you know that you can make oobleck from potatoes too? This fun recipe is an easy way to get some potat-tastic fun into your day and put a smile on your students’ faces.
Learn More: Steam Powered Family
25. Adorable Potato Print Monsters
Monsters are supposed to be scary, but we can’t help but love these adorable potato print monsters. A rainbow of colors, some googly eyes, and sliced potatoes are the tools you need to create cute, crafty creatures.
Learn More: Artsy Craftsy Mom
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