Circus Animal Crackers

• Use a box of plain animal crackers to help 8- and 9-year-old children make circus crafts. Have the children use markers to color the animal crackers any color they prefer. Paint each animal cracker with clear nail polish. After it dries, hot glue a small magnet to the back of each cracker to make circus animal magnets. To make pins, do the same thing except glue a craft pin to the back of each animal cracker instead of a magnet.
  
  

Clown Face and Hat

• Give each child a large piece of construction paper. Have them color the paper any color they prefer using markers and crayons. Roll the hat into a cone shape and glue the edges. Poke a hole in each side of the hat and attach an elastic string to each hole to make a clown hat. Give the children another sheet of paper and have them draw a clown face on it. Cut out the eyes and holes of the mask. Poke a hole on each side of the mask and attach a small piece of elastic to create a clown mask.
  
  

Cotton Candy Crafts

• Paint an empty paper towel roll white to use as the handle for the cotton candy. If you do not have an empty paper towel roll, roll a sheet of white construction paper into a slim cone and tape closed to use as the handle. Stretch out several pink or blue cotton balls and glue them to the handle. You can also use light blue or pink spray paint if you cannot find any blue or pink cotton balls. For another cotton candy idea, stretch the cotton balls and place them in clear plastic bags. Take a marker and write "Cotton Candy" on the outside of the bag.
  
  

Self-Hardening Clay Projects

• Self-hardening clay is available at most craft stores and online. Give the children some clay and have them make a circus animal. Print pictures and instructions of some clay projects for the children to use as guidance. Leave the clay out overnight to harden. Spray paint clear gloss on the clay circus animals the next day to make them shiny. Other circus ideas they can make with the clay include clowns, circus tents, popcorn and circus foods.