Bundle up and get ready to craft some polar bear friends playing in the arctic snow! This printable playset lets you create a mini diorama inside a recycled milk jug or you can use the pieces to act out stories. It’s even a good way to learn more about polar bears and where they live.

This set of animals and their environment is the first in a series of critter habitat dioramas. In the coming months, you’ll be able to make turtles, monkeys, and more, each in a fun display!

There are so many ways to play and learn from animals and it’s even more fun when they’re super cute!

For now, let’s get started with some furry friends and their pal!

• Card Stock
• Colored Pencils (optional)
• Empty Gallon Jug (it helps if it has a flat bottom)
• Craft Knife and Cutting Mat (optional, but helpful)
• Scissors
• Glue (optional)
• Fake Snow
• Printable Playset

Step 1
Download and print the polar bear page you want on card stock. The PDF file contains a full-color version and a black and white version you can color yourself.

If you want to color the pieces, start there. Polar bears, snow and ice don’t usually have a lot of color to them, but you can add some color like we did!

Step 2
For more precise cutting, use a craft knife to cut out around the pieces. This is best for adults or teens to do.

When you cut out the shapes, be sure to keep the pieces attached to the base. On the pieces where the elements aren’t fully connected to the base, you can just leave the background in place to attach the animal to the base.

If you don’t want to use a craft knife, small scissors make it easier to cut out the small pieces.

Step 3
Use the craft knife or one blade of the scissors to score along the top of the rectangle bases. This helps fold the base smoothly.

Fold each base piece back on the scored line.

Step 4
Use the craft knife or scissors to cut off the top of a plastic gallon jug. Clean and dry the bottom piece. Cut around the base so that it’s shorter at the front and taller and iceberg-shaped at the back. For the sample, we cut the base on the diagonal.

Step 5
If you want some pieces to stay in your diorama permanently use a little glue on the bottom of the tabs. This is helpful so the pieces don’t fall over while playing.

Now start adding in the rest of the pieces to set up the scene you want.

Now start adding in the rest of the pieces to set up the scene you want.

It looks like these polar pals might even like playing some hide and seek!

The plastic jug looks a lot like ice, which is perfect for these creatures to live on, but you can add some fake snow for a sensory element. Sprinkle it around the characters or fill the bottom of the container. Just be aware that it might get everywhere!

Happy crafting!