Start by downloading the free pirate ship template at the bottom of the post. Use scissors to cut out each of the pieces of the template.

Grab a paper plate. If it's similar to the pirate boat template, that would make it easier for young children to trace the template onto the paper plate.

Cut the paper plate in half.

Trace the ship template onto the paper plate and cut out the deck. Or simply cut a step out of the center of the ship.

Paint a stripe at the top of the ship with one color. We painted it a brown color.

Paint the rest of the ship. We painted it red and then added a few strokes of brown paint over it to give it a weathered look.

Cut each of the pirate ship templates out of white, brown, blue, and black paper.

Glue the skull bones diagonally onto the black flag. Then glue the pirate skull on top of the bones creating the pirate flag.

Next, glue the pirate flag to the top of the mast. The masts are the poles that come out of the ship and hold the sails.

Glue a sail underneath the pirate flag on one mast and then two other sails on the other mast.

Next, glue the smaller circles onto each of the larger circles from the template. These will be the ship windows or portholes.

Glue the port holes to the side of the ship.

Next, glue the anchor to either the front of the ship or towards the back.

Lastly, glue the mast base to the back side of the center of the ship.

Viola, you have an awesome pirate ship!