Free Printable Elmer the Elephant Template – Looking for a free printable Elmer the Elephant template you can trust? Start with official publisher resources. They give you real outline templates, coloring sheets, ear patterns, and craft pages—without a paywall or a mystery download.
Elmer, the patchwork elephant created by David McKee, is a classroom and homeschool favorite across the United States. Families use the templates for story-time crafts, bulletin boards, Elmer Day, and simple “color and cut” projects. This page explains what a template is, how to print it on U.S. letter paper, and where to download legitimate free files.
What Is an Elmer the Elephant Template?
An Elmer template is a printable outline or activity sheet based on the patchwork elephant from McKee’s picture books. Most free pages fall into one of these types:
- A blank elephant outline you color or cover with paper squares
- Ear or mask pieces you cut and wear
- Coloring sheets that already show Elmer’s patchwork grid
- Craft instruction sheets (paper-plate mask, milk-carton Elmer, parade garland)
The official packs also include mazes, cards, and games. Those extras are useful, but the outline and ear pages are what most parents and teachers mean when they search for a free printable Elmer the Elephant template.
Where to Get Official Free Printables
The safest downloads come from Elmer’s official site and HarperCollins, the U.S. publisher of the books. No account is required for the files listed below.
1. Official Elmer activities hub
The publisher’s activities page is the best first stop. It hosts free PDFs such as the Elmer ear template, a paper-plate mask, a milk-bottle Elmer craft, a coloring sheet, a maze, a crossword, and a “pin the trunk on Elmer” game.
Download the collection from the official activities page:
elmer.co.uk/activities
2. Official Elmer Day activity pack (18 pages)
This free PDF is the closest thing to an all-in-one template pack. It includes a “color in Elmer” page, an ear template with a headband tab, an elephant-parade garland (body and ear cutouts), a greeting card, a dice-and-color game, a maze, a crossword, and simple craft directions.
Get the pack here:
Elmer Day Activity Pack (PDF)
3. Official Elmer ear template
If you only need wearable ears for dress-up or a class photo, use the standalone ear-making PDF. Print on card stock, color the patches, cut the ears, and tape or glue the tab to a paper headband.
Download the ear template:
Elmer Ear Template (PDF)
4. Official coloring sheet
Want a ready-to-color Elmer page instead of a blank outline? The official site publishes character coloring sheets alongside newer book titles. One current example is the Elmer and the White Bear coloring sheet.
Download the coloring sheet:
Elmer Coloring Sheet (PDF)
5. HarperCollins U.S. resource page
HarperCollins points American readers to the same official printables and lists what is inside the activity pack. Use this page if you want publisher context, read-aloud ideas, and a clear U.S. starting point.
Visit the HarperCollins Elmer resources page:
HarperCollins Elmer printables
Free Printable Elmer the Elephant Template
How to Print the Template in the United States?
Official PDFs are often sized for A4 paper. They still print well on standard U.S. letter paper (8.5 x 11 inches).
- Open the PDF on a computer or phone.
- Choose Letter paper, not A4, if your printer offers both.
- Set the scale to Fit or Fit to printable area so nothing clips off the edge.
- Print a test page on plain copy paper first.
- For crafts you will cut out, reprint on white card stock.
One color copy is enough if children will decorate the elephant themselves with crayons, markers, or paper squares. Print extra outlines if you are making a class parade or a bulletin-board herd.
Easy Craft Ideas Using the Template
Patchwork collage. Print the elephant outline. Cut 1-inch squares from construction paper, scrapbook paper, or tissue paper. Glue the squares onto the body so each child invents a new patchwork pattern.
Sponge-print Elmer. Cut a kitchen sponge into small squares. Dip each square in washable tempera and stamp color onto the outline. This is a low-mess option for preschool.
Wearable ears. Use the official ear template. Color, cut, and attach the ears to a sentence-strip or card-stock headband.
Window Elmer. Trace the outline onto a sheet of contact paper or a recycled laminating pouch. Fill the shape with tissue-paper squares, trim, and tape it to a sunny window.
Story retell puppets. Print two small outlines, color them, glue each to a craft stick, and act out the book.
These projects support fine-motor practice, color recognition, and the book’s theme: being different is something to celebrate.
Classroom and Homeschool Tips
- Read Elmer first, then hand out the template so children already know why the elephant is covered in squares.
- Offer a limited color set (six to eight crayons or paper colors) if you want the finished herd to look cohesive on a wall.
- Pair the craft with a short writing prompt: “I am unique because…”
- For mixed ages, younger children stamp or glue squares; older children design their own patterns or write a caption.
- Keep scissors and extra glue sticks at the table. Card-stock prints are easier for small hands to cut.
Elmer Day is usually marked in late May. You can use the same printables any time of year for a color unit, a friendship lesson, or a rainy-day craft.
Official vs. Unofficial Printables
Search results mix official publisher files with fan-made outlines and coloring sites. Official pages state the copyright (David McKee / Andersen Press / licensed partners) and give a direct PDF.
Be careful with random “template” blogs that ask for an email before you see the file, or sites that copy book art. Those pages may not be free to use in a classroom, and the art may not be licensed. If you need a template for school, stick to the official activity hub and the activity-pack PDF linked above.
FAQ
Are these Elmer templates really free?
Yes. The official activity page, ear template, coloring sheet, and 18-page pack linked in this article are free publisher downloads. You should not have to pay or create an account.
Can teachers print copies for a whole class?
The official resources are provided for educational and home use. Print what you need for your students, and do not sell the files or upload them to a public share drive as if you created them.
What paper should I use?
Copy paper is fine for coloring. Use 65–110 lb white card stock for ears, masks, and cut-out elephants.
Is there a blank elephant outline in the official pack?
Yes. The Elmer Day activity pack includes pages you color or decorate, plus cut-out elephant and ear shapes for a garland. The ear template is also a standalone PDF.
Do I need the picture book?
No, but the craft is more meaningful after you read Elmer. Many U.S. public libraries keep multiple copies.
Use the official links, print on letter paper, and let kids build their own patchwork elephant. That is the simplest, legitimate way to get a free printable Elmer the Elephant template today.