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

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 craft with your kids or students? We’d love to feature them on our social media!
For a chance to have your child’s craft 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!
More Ocean Activities

Humpback Whale Toilet Paper Roll Craft
This toilet paper roll Humpback whale is a fun ocean animal craft for kids
Materials
- Toilet paper roll
- Colored cardstock or construction paper
- Scissors
- Markers
- Googly eyes (optional)
- Tape
- Humpback whale template
Instructions
- 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.
Layal
Sunday 20th of February 2022
I would like to have this template
Sam
Wednesday 23rd of February 2022
Of course! All you have to do is enter your email in the form at the end of the post and the link will be sent to you :)
Growwithgracechildminding@gmail.com
Thursday 19th of August 2021
I would love to do this with my childminding group. Many thanks
Sam
Thursday 19th of August 2021
Of course!
Marcie
Friday 23rd of July 2021
Would love to do this craft for our VBS this weekend. How long does it take to receive the email? Thanks!
Sam
Tuesday 27th of July 2021
It should be within the hour at most.
Quantella Smith
Wednesday 16th of June 2021
I would love to do the humpback whale toilet paper roll with my summer school class. Thank you so much
Sam
Wednesday 16th of June 2021
Yay! Glad to hear it! If you need the template, all you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of the post and the link will be sent to you.
Joy
Monday 14th of June 2021
So cute!
Sam
Wednesday 16th of June 2021
Thanks, Joy!