How to Create an Ocean Fish Craft Activity

As we dive into summer and the beautiful warm weather, it’s the perfect time to add a fish craft to your list of activities. A fish craft is a great way to introduce facts about fish, marine life, the ocean, and other bodies of water. A craft pairs well with an entertaining book, an exciting lesson plan, or a rainy day. Continue reading to see how you can easily use this fish craft with your kiddos.

Why Use a Fun Fish Craft?

A simple Fish Craft for kids can be a fantastic activity in the classroom or at home for several reasons. First and foremost, it encourages creativity and imagination as children get to design and decorate their own fish. They can experiment with different colors, patterns, and materials, allowing their artistic abilities to shine.

Additionally, crafting promotes fine motor skills development as kids cut, glue, and assemble the various components of their fish. It also provides an opportunity for hands-on learning about marine life, as children can discuss different fish species and their characteristics while creating their crafts.

Finally, engaging in a craft activity fosters a sense of accomplishment and pride in children, as they can proudly display their finished fish and share their artistic creations with others. Overall, a simple fish craft is an enjoyable and educational experience that combines creativity, learning, and fun for kids in both classroom and home settings.

How to Create a Fish Craft

Creating a fish craft out of paper is super simple. The templates provided make it easy for you to prep in the classroom or at home. All you have to do is print the templates on plain white paper or colored construction paper.

Many people like to print the template directly onto colored cardstock or construction paper, making it easy to cut out. Others like to print them onto white paper so students can decorate and color them on their own. The choice is up to you!

See how simple it is to complete this adorable fish craft by watching the video below!

Exciting Books About Fish

Reading books with this simple fish craft will make the activity more meaningful for kids. Here is a list of fun books that are easy to add to lesson plans with this craft.

1. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss: This classic book by Dr. Seuss introduces children to a colorful underwater world filled with whimsical fish. It encourages playful imagination and introduces basic counting and rhyming skills.
2. The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister: In this beautifully illustrated story, the Rainbow Fish learns about the joy of sharing and friendship. Kids will be captivated by the shimmering scales of the Rainbow Fish and the important lesson it learns along the way.
3. Swimmy by Leo Lionni: Swimmy is a little fish who uses his cleverness and bravery to save his school of fish from danger. This book promotes teamwork, courage, and creativity and features captivating illustrations.
4. Hooray for Fish! by Lucy Cousins: Dive into the vibrant underwater world with Little Fish and discover all kinds of playful fish, from stripy fish and spotty fish to shy fish and bold fish. This book is filled with bright colors and rhyming text, making it a joyful read-aloud experience.
5. Fish is Fish by Leo Lionni: This imaginative tale explores the friendship between a fish and a tadpole. As the tadpole turns into a frog, he ventures onto land and describes his experiences to his fish friend. The book highlights the importance of embracing differences and understanding others.
6. Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen: Meet Mr. Pout-Pout Fish, a gloomy fish with a permanent pout. Through a series of encounters with his underwater friends, he learns that spreading cheer and kindness can turn his frown upside down. This book emphasizes the power of positivity and friendship.
7. The Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark by Ken Geist: A fishy twist on the classic tale of the Three Little Pigs; this book follows three brave fish who outsmart the Big Bad Shark. It teaches the value of teamwork, creativity, and quick thinking.
8. Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae: Join a lively cast of underwater creatures as they play and swim in the ocean. This rhyming book features colorful illustrations and introduces children to various marine animals, sparking their curiosity about the ocean’s wonders.
9. The Fisherman and His Wife by Rachel Isadora: Based on a traditional fairy tale, this book tells the story of a fisherman who catches a magical fish. His wife’s greed leads to a series of ever-increasing wishes, but soon they realize that having too much can bring its own problems. This book explores the themes of contentment and gratitude.
10. Gilbert the Goldfish by Kelly DiPucchio: Gilbert is an ordinary goldfish longing for a more exciting life. When a chance encounter leads to an unexpected adventure, Gilbert learns to appreciate the value of home and the importance of friendship. This book encourages children to embrace their own unique qualities.

These fish books offer a variety of engaging stories and valuable lessons for young readers to enjoy.

Add the fish craft to your collection of activities this summer and watch as kids light up!

Ocean Animals Craft Bundle

If you love the fish craft, you’ll also love the Ocean Animals Craft Bundle! There are 13 different ocean animal crafts kids will enjoy! There is a crab, dolphin, fish, jellyfish, octopus, pufferfish, scuba diver, seahorse, shark, starfish, sting ray, turtle, and whale. A little bit of everything for all kids!