Are you searching for a fun and simple ocean animal craft for kids to make?

If so, you’re going to love this octopus paper bag puppet craft! It’s cute, easy to make, and great for summertime.

We’re sharing a free printable template for it too! Be sure to download it and then watch our quick video tutorial to see exactly how we made it.

Also, check out our ocean crafts for kids for lots more ideas!

Octopus Puppet Craft

paper bag octopus craft image collage with the words paper bag octopus

Supplies

Brown paper bag
Colored cardstock or construction paper
Scissors
Markers
Glue
Octopus template (enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you)

Directions

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

hand holding paper bag octopus craft template

Make the octopus head by gluing the eyes just below the eyebrows, one on each side.

hand gluing eyes to paper bag octopus craft

Place the cheeks on the outside of the eyes and slightly lower, then glue them in place.

Use a marker to draw spots on the top of the octopus’s head.

Glue the completed head to the flap portion of the brown paper bag.

Position the blue rectangle on the main part of the brown paper bag and glue it down. Use a dark blue marker to draw waves on the paper.

hand gluing blue paper to paper bag octopus

hand drawing waves on paper bag octopus craft

Place the octopus body just below the head and glue it to the front of the blue paper.

Finish by using the same marker to draw on the suction cups along the bottom of the tentacles.

hand drawing suckers on paper bag octopus craft

Your kids are going to love this cute octopus craft!

More Summer Ideas

It’s no secret that kids spend a lot of time on screens during the summer months. And while there’s nothing wrong with a little screen time, it’s important to make sure that kids are also getting plenty of time to play and be creative.

That’s why we’ve put together a list of fun summer activities that will help keep kids busy, off screens, and learning. From arts and crafts to activities and more, there’s something for everyone on this list. So check it out below and start planning your summer fun today!

Kids’ Summer Books

The summertime is a great time to curl up with a good book! And what better way to enjoy a book than by reading it aloud to your kids?

Not only is reading aloud a great way to bond with your children, but it also has a number of other benefits.

For one thing, it can help to develop your child’s language skills. Hearing complex words and sentence structures can help to expand your child’s vocabulary, and following along with the text can improve reading comprehension.

Additionally, reading aloud can also be a great way to introduce new concepts and ideas. So add in one or all of these popular summer kids’ books:

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!

Summer Kids’ Crafts

It’s no secret that kids love crafting. Whether it’s painting a picture, making a collage, or creating a puppet, there’s something about crafting that just appeals to kids.

And during the summer months, when they’re out of school and have more free time, crafts can be the perfect activity to keep them occupied.

Not only will they have fun, but they’ll also be honing their creative skills. So if you’re looking for a way to keep your kids entertained this summer, why not encourage them to get crafty?

Check out some of these popular summer kids’ crafts:

Mermaid Handprint Craft– This mermaid handprint craft is not only super easy to make, but it’s also so cute. And the best part is that you don’t need any paint, so there’s no big messy cleanup afterward. Just grab some construction paper, scissors, and glue sticks, and you’re good to go.

Paper Plate Fish Craft– We love creating paper plate crafts, and this fish one might be our new favorite because it’s SO colorful and lets kids paint, cut, and glue.

Shark Handprint Craft – This shark craft is perfect for kids who love to explore and enjoy a screen-free activity. Just gather a few supplies from around the house – paper, scissors, and glue – and the free template! The best part is that there’s no need for paint, so the cleanup is quick and easy.

Summer Activities For Kids

These cool shark connect the dot printables are so much fun for kids! Not only do they get to exercise their fine motor skills as they trace the dots, but they also get to practice counting. These printables are perfect for a rainy day activity or a Shark Week themed party.

Looking for a fun and educational activity for your little ones? Check out these jellyfish worksheets for kids! They’re great for helping kids practice handwriting, scissor skills, and letter recognition.

These ice cream color by number printables for kids are both fun and educational! They’ll love coloring in the ice cream cones, and they’ll also get a chance to practice their counting and colors. Plus, these printables are a great way to keep them busy on a rainy day or during summer break.

More Summer Ideas

If you love summer, check out these fun ideas:

This shark milk and cookie mug is hilarious and perfect for summer!
Store jewelry or simply display this beautiful ocean resin dish.
Throw your necessities in this cute personalized beach bag and you’re ready to go!

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!

5 from 7 votes