Do you have a big pile of recycled cardboard tubes sitting around? Put them to good use making this Humpback whale toilet paper roll craft.

It’s an easy whale craft for kids that comes with a free template!

We love creating this whale craft when we’re teaching kids about the ocean and whales.

Make this craft with your kids or students this summer. Read on below to see exactly how we made this cute little whale!

Cardboard Tube Humpback Whale Craft

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Supplies

• Toilet paper roll
• Colored cardstock or construction paper
• Scissors
• Markers
• Googly eyes (optional)
• Tape
• Humpback whale template (enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you)

Directions

Download the humpback whale template, print, and cut out the pieces you need.

Glue the paper eyes or googly eyes just above and slightly outside the mouth.

Use a grayish blue marker to draw curved lines along the whale’s belly piece.

Position the belly just below the mouth and glue it in place.

Take a piece of tape and place it along one edge of the whale’s body. Tape it to the cardboard tube. Tape the other side of the whale body, then wrap it around the toilet paper roll and tape it in place.

Fold the whale’s flippers along the dashed line, then glue it to the side of the whale’s body. Repeat this for the other side.

Finish off by gluing the water to the top, back of the front of the whale’s head.

Now your child has a cute Humpback whale craft to show off!

Ocean Ideas For Kids

Whenever we’re learning about new animals, we love to introduce the topic through books. Below are some of our favorite whale 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!

Baby Beluga – This book based on the popular song, is a great book for young readers!

Whales: An Illustrated Celebration – Kids who want a simple way to learn more about whales will love this beautifully illustrated book. It’s loaded with facts and a variety of species.

For some more ocean crafts, check out our picks below:

• Paper Plate Octopus Craft: Make this cute octopus craft with some paint, glue, and paper plate!
• Humpback Whale Puppet Craft: If your child loves paper bag crafts, they’ll love making this humpback whale version.
• Paper Plate Fish: Kids who love bright and colorful crafts, have to make this fish craft!

This ocean sensory bin is great for when you want something done for you. If you prefer the DIY route, try out this frozen ocean sensory bin.

The ocean playdough kit is a great way for kids to get hands-on with their play. Plus, the pre-made dough is ready to go, so all you need to do is open the box and start playing.

It’s a fun way to explore the ocean world without getting wet, and it’s also a great way to develop fine motor skills. So whether your child is a beach bum or a landlubber, the ocean play dough kit is sure to be a hit!

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 Humpback Whale Template