Fun Tennessee Crafts for Kids to Make and Learn

When you’re ready to put together a unit study about Tennessee, be sure to include these simple Tennessee crafts for kids! In this list, you’ll find activities featuring local wildlife, industries, culture, and more!

The state of Tennessee is pretty distinctive on a map of the United States. It’s the only state that is nearly a perfect horizontal rectangle. 🙂 But Tennessee is unique in lots of other ways too! And there’s a lot to learn about the Volunteer State with your kids!

One of the largest cities in Tennessee is Memphis, which is located on the river. Memphis is well-known as one of the places where barbecue became famous. Try these fun pig crafts while you’re learning about this area!

Looking for even more hands-on ways to explore the Volunteer State? Check out these Tennessee activities for kids!

Table of Contents

Easy Art Projects Inspired by Tennessee Landmarks

Bring Tennessee’s iconic landmarks to life with these fun and simple art projects! These activities are perfect for kids and families looking to combine creativity with learning.

Great Smoky Mountains Collage
Capture the misty beauty of the Smokies with a layered paper collage. Use shades of green, gray, and blue construction paper to create the rolling mountains, and add cotton balls or tissue paper for the fog. It’s a hands-on way to explore Tennessee’s astonishing natural beauty right at your craft table.
Design Your Own Graceland
For music lovers, turn Graceland into an art project! Provide kids with a printed outline of Elvis’s famous home and encourage them to color or paint it. Add glitter or rhinestones to give it a rocking touch. Bonus idea? Decorate musical notes and guitars to display alongside their Graceland creation.
Mini Parthenon Sculpture
Nashville’s Parthenon makes a great inspiration for a 3D craft. Use supplies like cardboard, craft sticks, and glue to recreate this historic replica of a Greek temple. For younger kids, you can simplify it by using playdough or clay to mold a mini version.
Beale Street Bright Lights Canvas
Beale Street’s glow and energy are perfect for a painting project. Use a black canvas or paper and bright neon paints or markers to draw colorful music signs, streetlamps, and instruments. Younger kids can use stickers to add even more pop to their art.

These projects are not just creative but also a fun way to talk about Tennessee’s rich culture and history. Gather your materials, spark their creativity, and enjoy a trip through the Volunteer State without leaving home!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a commission when anything is bought. This is at no additional cost to you.

A picturesque stream flows over rocks surrounded by autumn foliage. The text reads: Tennessee Unit Study - 14 Pages of Printables, including Tennessee Handwriting and Coloring Pages. — Tennessee State Unit Study

A Tennessee lapbook with sections labeled state bird, state flower, state tree, and state animal. It includes Tennessee handwriting and coloring pages alongside a map to color and multiple foldable components featuring state symbols and information. — Printable Tennessee Lapbook

Would you like to save this?

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later! You'll also get regular recipes & printables to your inbox!

Why Crafts Are Important for Children

Crafting isn’t just about glue sticks and construction paper – it’s a powerful tool for helping kids grow and learn! When children engage in crafts, they practice fine motor skills like cutting, drawing, and folding, all while using their hands to bring creative ideas to life.

Creating a Tennessee craft project is a fun way to build strength and coordination without them even realizing they’re doing it!

Crafts also encourage creativity and imagination, giving kids the freedom to explore new ideas and think outside the box. Whether they’re making a colorful Tennessee state flag or designing their own textile version of the Smoky Mountains, these activities help them express themselves and develop problem-solving skills as they figure out how to turn their ideas into reality.

Plus, year-round crafts are a fantastic way to connect learning with doing. Exploring topics like Tennessee’s history, geography, and culture through hands-on projects makes those lessons stick.

For instance, creating crafts inspired by a canceled Tennessee-based show or designing a dramatic scene from a soap opera set in Memphis can help bring the stories and culture of the Volunteer State to life in a fun and memorable way.

Above all, crafts create moments of bonding and accomplishment. Whether kids are working with parents, teachers, or friends, crafting offers a chance to slow down and enjoy the process together.

And when kids hold up their finished creation, they’ll feel a sense of pride and confidence that inspires them to keep exploring and learning!

The Best Tennessee Themed Craft Ideas

Get ready to spark some creative fun with these Tennessee-themed crafts! Kids will love making their own version of the Tennessee state flag, complete with its bold red, white, and blue colors and iconic three stars. For a nature-inspired activity, try creating Smoky Mountain art using shades of green and gray to capture the misty beauty of this famous landmark.

Don’t stop there! Incorporate Tennessee's state symbols into your projects. Make adorable mockingbird puppets or craft colorful tulip poplar flowers with construction paper. These crafts are a great way to explore the Volunteer State’s unique identity while keeping little hands busy. Whether you’re crafting for school, a homeschool project, or just for fun, these ideas bring a touch of Tennessee straight to your table!