Easy Fish Painting For Kids [Free Template]

If your kids are curious about ocean life or just love a good painting project, they’ll have a blast with this easy fish painting for kids!

It’s a fun and simple way to add a splash of the sea to your summer activities—even if you’re totally landlocked.

This goldfish art project is perfect for home or the classroom. It allows little ones to get creative while learning about underwater animals.

Scroll down to see how to make it with your kids, and don’t forget to check out more of our favorite ocean crafts for kids!

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Fish Art For Kids

It’s simple enough for young children to paint on their own and it’s great for fostering your child’s creativity!

Supplies

• White art paper or watercolor paper 
• Liquid watercolors (or regular watercolor paint)
• Googly eyes (we used .5″ eyes)
• Circle punches (we used .5″, 1″ & 1.5″ punches)
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Black marker
• Paintbrush
• Beta fish template (unlock the image at the end of the post to go to the download page)

Directions

Start by downloading and printing the template. Once the template is printed, gather the materials for this fun activity. Get those scissors ready, and let’s help the kids bring this beta fish to life!

First, guide your child to paint the beta fish in any shade of paint that you want. Let dry, then cut out and set aside.

Paint the seagrass in varying shades of green. Let dry then cut out and set aside. Paint the seashells in your choice of colors then let dry. Cut out and set aside.

Next, help your child to paint your art paper with the liquid watercolor in shades of blue, green and hints of yellow. Let dry completely. 

Now, glue all the pieces onto the blue background. To give it a little more depth, glue some of the seagrass pieces behind the fish shape and some in front of the fish.

After you’ve glued everything to the blue background, glue the googly eye onto the fish.

Finally, encourage your child to use the circle punches to cut out a few circles of varying sizes. These will be the bubbles. Use the black marker to draw on the reflective lighting on each bubble (see pictures for example).

While you’re here, check out our ocean coloring pages There are so many fun ideas!

Fun Humpback Whale Headband Craft

Ocean Unit For Kids

With an ocean unit study, you can make learning interesting and engaging. Pick your favorite ideas from the list below and get started right now!

Fun Ocean Books For Kids

One of the most effective strategies to help your children develop and grow is to read aloud to them. Reading gives many benefits, including enhanced vocabulary, focus, and imagination! Add in some of these highly-rated ocean books for kids:

The Snail and the Whale– Julia Donaldson, author of the famous book The Gruffalo, brings kids another fun book about an unlikely set of friends. Snail and Whale have lots of fun together in this colorful book!

Shark Lady– This children’s book is based upon the true story of Eugenie Clark, aka, The Shark Lady. Learn about her love of sharks, her discoveries, and the inspiring message of going after what you want in life.

The Rainbow Fish -This is a classic children’s book with a wonderful message for children. In it, a fish learns to share his favorite possession, his glittery scales, with his friends!

Ocean Kids’ Crafts

Handprint Jellyfish Craft – Looking for a fun and ocean-themed activity to keep the kids entertained? Look no further than this adorable handprint jellyfish craft! Not only is it easy to make, but it’s also perfect for teaching little ones about these fascinating creatures. So get your crafting supplies ready and get started!

Related: Ocean Cutting Practice Pages

Shark Headband Craft – This shark craft is perfect for turning any little one into a fearsome predator of the sea. It’s also a great way to get them excited about learning more about ocean life.

Paper Plate Octopus Craft – This octopus craft is perfect for kids who love the ocean. It’s a fun way to practice fine motor skills, and it’s a great way to learn more about sea creatures. Plus, it’s just plain adorable!

Shark Painting for Kids – This easy peasy craft would be perfect when added to any ocean-themed lesson plans! Your kids will have so much fun painting a shark, and their little hands will get a good fine motor-workout, too!

Ocean Activities For Kids

These fun ocean themed board games will keep your kids entertained for hours on end. From cooperative games to math games, there’s something here for everyone. Plus, they’re all educational, so you can feel good about letting your kids play them.

Try this Paper Plate Fish Craft

Want to make learning fun? Try out these ocean pattern block mats! They’re a great introductory STEM activity and will help kids practice fine motor skills.

These ocean animal printable preschool worksheets are perfect for kids who love ocean animals. With a variety of activities to choose from, your little one will be entertained and educated at the same time!

Try these layers of the ocean coloring sheets next time your kids need a calming activity. They’re the perfect activity for younger and older kids, as little ones can practice coloring while older kids can learn about the different zones of the ocean.

Download these free ocean theme coloring pages and let your kids’ creativity soar!

Octopus Paper Bag Puppet Craft

Share With Us

Did you make this activity with your kids or students? We’d love to feature them on our social media!

For a chance to have your child’s project featured, simply snap a picture of the completed project and post it to our Facebook page, email it to us directly by clicking here, or use #simpleeverydaymom on your social media!

Free Goldfish Template