On this page
Bath time on the savanna. This baby elephant coloring page shows a young calf standing in a blue water hole, its trunk curled up at the end and a few drops falling from the tip. Two huge ears fan out beside a round head with shiny eyes and pink blushing cheeks. Behind the calf you can spot a flat topped tree, a sandy plain, a couple of clouds and a bright sun.
It is a great page for little kids. The body alone takes up about a third of the sheet, so children aged 3 to 8 get plenty of room. Plan on around 20 minutes at the table.
Baby elephant coloring page color ideas
Gray is the natural pick, and a soft gray crayon gives a gentle look. Try a blue gray or a warm brown gray for a change. Keep the inside of each ear pink, because that color makes the big shape easy to read.
For the water, go past plain blue. Start with a pale blue, then add a darker blue near the edges and under the feet. The ground looks best in sandy tan or golden yellow, which sets off the cool colors of the elephant and pool.
Feeling silly? Here are some fun choices:
- A purple calf with yellow toenails
- A pink calf splashing in green water
- A sky blue calf with polka dots on its ears
Tips for the trunk and toes
The trunk has curved lines across it, and these are skin folds. A darker gray along each one adds shape without any extra drawing. Press a bit harder near the lines, then ease off as you move away.
Look down at the feet. Each one has three round toenails. Leave them white or try a pale cream. It is a tiny job that makes the feet look real, and young kids love finding them.
Color the drops last. They are small, so use a sharp crayon or a colored pencil. A blue outline with a white center makes them seem to sparkle.
Paper matters on a page with this much gray. Thin printer paper can pill if a child rubs one spot over and over, so remind them to move on once a patch looks even. Card stock holds up much better, and it also stands up on a shelf when the picture is done. Gray crayons run out fast in a busy classroom, so you may want a spare box. A mix of black and white will do in a pinch, if kids lay the white down first and add a light black layer over it.
Real facts about elephant calves
Elephant moms wait a long time for their babies. According to the Smithsonian National Zoo, an Asian elephant is pregnant for up to 22 months, the longest of any animal. Most of the time, one calf is born. It can weigh 150 to 350 pounds and stands up to nurse soon after birth.
By about 6 months, a calf starts to eat plants. It also has plenty of help growing up, since the herd works as a team to raise and protect its young.
Things to do with the page
Here is a quick math idea. Have your child count the drops, then draw three more and count again. You can also ask how many months 22 is in years and months, which is a nice stretch for second graders.
For a craft, cut out the elephant and glue it to a sheet of blue paper. Add strips of tissue paper for grass and cotton balls for clouds. Teachers can build a whole water hole mural if each child adds a different animal.
Keep the animal fun going
The savanna has more babies to color. Print the baby giraffe coloring page for a tall friend, or try the baby lion coloring page for a playful cub. You will find a farm crowd on the baby animals coloring page.
Questions
How much does a baby elephant weigh?
The Smithsonian National Zoo says an Asian elephant calf weighs between 150 and 350 pounds at birth. A big calf can outweigh a grown adult.
Does an elephant have to be gray?
Not on your page. Gray looks real, but pink, purple and blue elephants are all fair game for a young artist.
Is this page easy enough for a preschooler?
Yes. The body and ears are very large, so a 3-year-old can fill them with a chunky crayon. The small water drops are a good extra challenge.
