Under the Sea Crafts for Kids

Fish Crafts

How to Make Crafts and Activities Relating to Fish and the Sea Including: Water Bottle Fish, Sock Sea Creatures, Octopus, X-ray Fish, a Math Game, Picture Frame, Puffer Fish, Fish Toy, Sea Turtle, Wind Mobile, Sponge Painting, Fish in a Fish Bowl, Changeable Fish in Water Picture, and a Sea Shell Macaroni Crab.

 

Humpback Whale Paper Plate Craft for Kids

What you will need: Dinner-sized paper plates, paint, marker, glue, and scissors.

How to Make a Paper Plate Humpback Whale :

1. To make the body of the humpback whale fold a dinner-sized paper plate in half.

2. Print out the patterns for the flukes and flippers and cut them out. Place the fluke pattern in the middle of another paper plate and the flipper pattern on the sides of the fluke pattern. Place the flipper patterns on the paper plate so that the convex edge of the flipper pattern is on the fluted edge of the plate. There is only one flipper pattern so you will have to turn the pattern over and trace it on the other side of the plate to make the other flipper. Cut out the flipper and flukes.

3. Fold the fluke pattern in half, fold up the flukes as shown in the picture, and glue it closed. Glue the fluke to the folded body paper plate as shown in the picture. Glue the body paper plate closed.

4. Fold the end of each flipper and glue them on to each side of the body as shown in the picture.

5. Cut the folded side of the body paper plate so that there is a hump on top of the whale's head as shown in the picture.

6. Visit some web sites with pictures of humpback whales and then paint the whale, let it dry and then draw in details with a marker.

Enchanted Learning Web Site has a printable humpback whale information sheet.
National Geographic has great pictures and information about whales.
American Cetacean Society also has great information about humpback whales.

 

Water Bottle Fish Craft for Children

What you will need: Plastic water bottle, tissue paper, scissors, white glue, paint brush, and colored paper.

How to Make the pop bottle fish:

1. Remove the label from the water bottle.

2. Hold the bottom of the bottle with one hand and grasp the bottle about two inches up from the bottom with the other hand. Twist the bottle like you would a balloon to make the tail fin. (See picture to the right)

3. Insert a pen or something long and skinny inside the bottle to punch out any areas that were dented in when you twisted the bottle.

4. Cut pieces of tissue paper into one-inch squares or irregular shapes.

5. Paint white glue on the bottle and stick the tissue paper squares on the glue to cover the entire bottle.

6. Cut fins from colored paper and glue to the fish to finish.

How to Print or Copy these instructions.

©2000, Carolyn Warvel -*See Copyright Information

 

Sock Sea Creatures

What you will need:

Socks - Children's stretchy socks in a variety of colors and designs, the stretchier the better. I used socks that were 75% cotton, 22% polyester and 3% spandex from K-mart. They were on sale, 3 pairs for 50 cents, Poly-fil - for stuffing the socks, Tiny rubber bands, Eyes, Scissors, and a low temp. glue gun.

How to make Sock Sea Creatures:

Sock White Whale

Stuff the a sock almost all the way to the top. Tie off the cuff with a rubber band to make the whale's tail. The top of the head is the heel of the sock. Push in the toe of the sock to make the mouth and glue it shut. Cut fins from fun foam and glue on. To finish glue on eyes.

 

Sock Fish

Stuff the a sock almost all the way to the top. Tie off the cuff with a rubber band to make the tail. The top of the head is the heel of the sock. Cut off the toe of the sock, take out extra stuffing, and then roll the cut end up to make the lips. Glue them closed. Cut fins from fun foam and glue on. Add spots with a magic marker, and glue on eyes.

Sock Octopus

Cut the sock off the heel and cuff of the sock. Stuff the toe with fiber fill and then use a rubber band to tie it off. Cut slits in the top of the rest of the sock for the legs. Glue on eyes and use a magic marker to draw the nose.

See other Sock Creatures.

How to Print or Copy these instructions.

©2000, Carolyn Warvel -*See Copyright Information

 

Paper Bag Octopus Craft

What you will need: Paper lunch bags or larger, grocery bags, paper scraps (junk mail), colored paper, large wiggly eyes (optional), tape, glue, and paint.

How to Make a Paper Bag Octopus:

1. Stuff a paper back with wrinkled up paper scraps.

2. Cut strips of paper about 2" wide depending on how big you are making your octopus. Fan fold the strips and glue them together to make longer legs.

3. Gather eight legs together and stuff the ends into the stuffed bag.  Tape the bag closed around the legs.

4. Have fun painting your octopus.

5. To finish glue on wiggly eyes or make your own eyes.

How to Print or Copy these instructions.

©2000, Carolyn Warvel -*See Copyright Information

 

Math Fun with X-ray Fish

Children help the X-Ray find the answer to math problems by moving the X-ray fish picture over another sheet of paper with numbers printed on it until the correct number appears in the bubble. Go to the Educational Math Crafts and Activities Page for direction to this activity.

©2000, Carolyn Warvel -*See Copyright Information

 

 

"Searching for Treasure" Math Game

This game can be used for any level. Just write the math problems your child is reviewing on the outside of the oysters. Hide a small treat behind one or more of the oysters. Your child then points to one of the oysters, answers the equation, and opens it up to see if he is correct and maybe find a treasure. Go to the Educational Math Crafts and Activities Page for direction to this game.

©2000, Carolyn Warvel -*See Copyright Information

Puffer Fish Craft   

What you will need: Old egg cartons, construction paper, fishing line, wiggly eyes and glue.

How to make and egg carton puffer fish:

1. Cut the 2 bottom (cup) parts of an egg carton out.  Colored egg cartons are good for colorful fish.

2. Draw an outline of the cups on construction paper that goes with the egg cup.

3. Take the outline and add a fish head outline and top and tail fin outlines. Cut out the outlines together. (It will look like a flat fish) If you would like a pattern (click here) (Printing Problems?)

4.  Apply glue to the egg cup rims and them glue together with the construction paper outline in the middle.

5.  Add craft eyes and draw in fin details with  lines.

6. You can add a little fishing line when gluing together body if you want to hang it after glue dries.

How to Print or Copy these instructions.

Comments:

This turned out real cute.  My 4 year old was crazy  about the puffy looking fish. Joan J. Ivy

My daughter had a great time making the puffer fish into a porcupine puffer fish by poking cut up pieces of pipe cleaners into the egg carton body so that it looked spiny. Carolyn

©2000, Carolyn Warvel -*See Copyright Information

 

No Sew Stuffed Woven Fish Toy Craft

What you will need: Two different colors of felt, wiggly eyes, scissors, polyester fiber fill, and hot melt glue

How to make:

1. Print out the pattern. (Printing Problems?)

2. Cut the body pattern out twice from two different colors of felt placing the dotted lines on a fold.  Cut the tail pattern out from one of the two colors.

3. To weave the fish body tuck tab 1 between the layers of tab C,

4. Tuck tab B between the layers of tab 1,

5.   Tuck tab 1 between the layers of tab A. Slide tab 1 up a little.

6. Tuck tab C between the layers of tab 2.

7. Tuck tab 2 between the layers of B

8. Tuck tab A between the layers of 2.  Slide the tabs up a little.

9. Tuck tab 3 between the layers of tab C.

10. Tuck tab B between the layers of 3.

11. Tuck tab 3 between the layers of A.

12. Glue the felt together between the two fins. You may want to put some glue between the woven felt layers.

13. Glue the tail fin to one side of the inside of the fish. Glue around the edge of the side fins leaving an opening where the tail fin was glued.

14. Stuff the fish with polyester fiber fill. Glue the rest closed.

How to Print or Copy these instructions.

©2000, Carolyn Warvel -*See Copyright Information

 

Stuffed Paper Sea Turtle Craft

What you will need: Paper, paper glue, scissors, stapler, crayons or markers, fiber fill, poster board or something similar.

How to make:

1. Print out the patterns for the turtle's shell, turtle's head, flippers and tail and belly. (Printing Problems?)

2. Cut out the patterns and glue the flippers onto poster board with paper glue and then cut them out again. Use the stomach and tail pattern to trace the outline onto poster board and then cut it out.

3. Color all the body parts.

4. Cut the shell at the back, front and sides where indicated.  Fold the flaps back at the fold lines.  Turn the shell over and staple the darts closed on the solid lines. Carefully turn the shell right side out.

5. Staple the the back and front flippers in place.

6. To assemble the head fold all the flaps back and then place glue on flap A. Glue flap A under flap B. Place glue on flap D and glue under flap C.  Place glue on flap E and glue under flap F.

7. Fold on the dotted lines so that the two triangles at the bottom are folded up.

8. Staple the shell onto the stomach starting at the back or tail area. Then staple both sides and fill in all the way around the turtle. Leave the neck area open and stuff with fiber fill. 

9. Staple the head on where indicated and staple the shell to close it up. 

10. To finish fold down the flippers.

How to Print or Copy these instructions.

©2000, Carolyn Warvel -*See Copyright Information

Fish in Water Sponge Painting Craft

What you will need:  Sponges, Sponge rollers with wave pattern (made by Plaid found in craft stores), paint, different colors of paint, and light blue construction paper

 

How to make: 

1.  Cut fish shapes out of sponges or use fish shaped sponges.

2.  Squeeze dark blue paint onto a foam plate.  Show children how to roll the sponge back and forth to pick up the paint and then roll it back and forth onto the blue construction paper to make waves.

3.  Squeeze different colors of paint onto separate foam plates.  Have at least one sponge fish  per plate.  Have the children press the sponges filled with paint onto their picture.

4.  You can also use an eraser on the end of a  pencil dipped in paint to make bubbles.  We also used jumbo dotters (Made by Plaid and found at craft stores) of different shapes to make plants at the bottom of the sea.

How to Print or Copy these instructions.

©2000, Carolyn Warvel -*See Copyright Information

 

Fish in a Fish Bowl Craft

What you will need: Construction paper and poster board, sandwich size resealable bag, fish tank gravel, Easter grass, staples, glue, different colors of paper to cut fish from.

 How to make:

1. Print out the fish bowl pattern and cut out two fish bowls shapes from construction paper and two from poster board. (Printing Problems?)

2. Staple a plastic bag around the edge of the cut out construction paper fish bowls on all sides except the top. Have the children put a handful of gravel, some Easter grass, and some fish that they drew and cut out inside the bag. Have them arrange the fish the way they want.

3. Seal the bag and staple it to the paper. It should be stapled all the way around near the edge of the cut out.

4. Now glue the poster board fish bowls on top of the construction paper fish bowls to cover up the staples.

How to Print or Copy these instructions.

©2000, Carolyn Warvel -*See Copyright Information

 

Changeable Fish in Water Picture

Danielle loved this project so much that she had me make a seashore all the way around the edge of the picture. She picked out turtles, and birds, and frogs to put on the shore. She even had  one of the shore birds standing up.

What you will need: Two pieces of blue construction paper, pictures of fish, glue, crayons or markers, scissors with a wave pattern, scissors, glue.

How to make:

 1. To make the water fold one paper in half. Cut slits about 3/4 of an inch apart using the wave pattern scissors down the length of the paper starting at the fold. Do not cut all the way to the end. When you open up the paper you should have slits across the length of the paper all in a row. Now glue the paper to just another piece of blue paper around the edges. The children should be able to stick the fish and boat inside the slits.

2. Print out the sea creature pictures. Have your children color the pictures and cut them out. If you have children that can draw fairly well, have them draw their own fish and boat.  For younger children you may want to have the fish and boat pictures already cut out. Just  have them color the pictures and place them in the waves.  (Printing Problems?)

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Comments:

(I thought that this was a cute little thing for my children to do. I thought that this would look more life like if you glued some sand (gathered from a beach or local park) to the bottom of the page and perhaps some tiny seashells you can purchase or find at the beach. Thank you for all your great ideas Jennifer

©2000, Carolyn Warvel -*See Copyright Information

 

Sea Shell Macaroni Crab

This cute little crab was made from sea shell macaroni and pipe cleaners.

What you will need: Sea shell macaroni, pipe cleaners, red paint, glue gun, and tiny sea shells.

How to make:

1. Paint the macaroni red and let it dry.

2. Cut pipe cleaners in half and glue to the under side of the shell.

3. Glue two tiny sea shells to the two front legs for claws.

4. To finish, glue the eyes to the shell.

5. Make a crab habitat by decorating a small heavy duty paper plate with paint and colored sand or (colored salt) or maybe some small sea shells or rocks or aquarium rocks.

How to Print or Copy these instructions.

©2000, Carolyn Warvel -*See Copyright Information

 

Under the Sea Crafts on other Pages

1. Sea Shell Paperweight Craft
2. Stuffed Fish, Sea Stars and Sea Horse Craft
3. Fish Puppet Craft
4. Pop Bottle Goldfish Craft
5. L'oreal Goldfish Craft
6. No Mess Sand Art Craft
7. Fish in Water Paper Plate Craft
8. Paper Plate Star Fish Craft
9. Plastic Milk Jug Whale Craft

How to Print or Copy these instructions.

©2000, Carolyn Warvel -*See Copyright Information

 

Under the Sea Crafts on The Resource Room

You can find more paper crafts on The Resource Room. The Resource Room is designed specifically for Sunday School teachers and Christian home school parents.  We have Bible lessons for preschool and primary age children.  Each lesson comes with activity and craft ideas to reinforce the lesson.

 

©2000, Carolyn Warvel -*See Copyright Information

 

Under the See Crafts Ideas on Other Web Sites:

Ocean Diorama from Enchanted Learning.com - Just print out the patterns of the whales and tie them inside a box decorated to look like the sea.

Artist's Helping Kids - Has lots of links to site with Ocean Crafts, Aquatic Crafts, and Sea Life.

Making Friends.com - Has fishing crafts, under the sea crafts, sea life creatures, fish crafts and even a mermaid paper doll. I must see page!

Everything Preschool - Has lots of great ideas, but no pictures.

Kaboose.com - has Under the Sea printable coloring sheets.

Crayola - Make an under the sea diorama and sea creatures from Model magic.