One of the things our kids enjoyed doing while hanging out at the beach was digging for little crabs! They’re so cute and even if they try to pinch you, they don’t hurt.

If your kiddos love crabs and the beach, they’ll have fun making this paper plate crab craft! This is a simple ocean craft for kids that won’t require any special supplies.

craft craft image collage with the words paper plate craft

Crab Craft For Kids

Did you read Eric Carle’s A House for Hermit Crab? If you haven’t added it to your read-aloud list this summer, you definitely should! After you read the book, have fun making crabby friends together with this fun paper plate craft!

Supplies

Paper plate
Red paint
Paintbrush
Colored cardstock or construction paper
Scissors
Glue
Pencil
Tape
Crab template (click the “click here to get your freebies” image at the end of the post)

Click here to see our favorite kids’ craft supplies.

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 crab to life!

First, guide your child to paint a paper plate in 1-2 thin coats of red paint. Let dry completely before moving on.

Place the crab body template in the middle of the paper plate, trace, and cut it out.

hand tracing crab body template on red paper plate

Click here to see why I recommend these craft supplies

Glue the eyeballs to the eye stalks, then arrange them in the middle, top of the crab body. Flip the paper plate over and tape the eyes in place.

hand gluing eyes to eye stalks of paper plate crab

Position the crab’s claws on each side of the body, towards the top of the shell. Flip over and tape them in place.

Next, help your child to place the upward curved leg below the claw, followed by the other two legs. Tape them to the back of the paper plate to secure them.

Finally, encourage your child to use a black marker to draw on a smile in the top, middle of the crab shell.

Be sure to check out our animal crafts while you’re here! Your kids will love creating more fun DIYs like this one!

Fun Paper Plate Fish Craft

Kids’ Ocean 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!

Ocean Crafts For Kids

Paper Plate Shark Craft – With shark week coming up, this shark craft is the perfect way to get your kids excited about the ocean! It’s a fun and hands-on activity that will help them learn about these amazing creatures. Plus, they’ll have a blast making their own shark!

Related: Ocean Dot To Dot Printables

Jellyfish Paper Bag Puppet Craft – Looking for a fun pretend play activity for your kids? This jellyfish craft is perfect! It’s cute, simple to make, and great for ocean-themed pretend play. Plus, it’s a great way to recycle those old paper bags.

Just grab a few supplies from around the house and you’re all set. Your kids will have lots of fun with this one!

Collage of ocean-themed kids’ crafts including smiling shark and fish faces made from paper plates, colorful jellyfish with dangling tentacles, and friendly octopus characters created from handprint shapes.

Paper Plate Pufferfish Craft – This adorable pufferfish activity is an easy way for kids to explore ocean life through hands-on creativity. With a simple template and easy-to-find materials, it’s perfect for a summer afternoon or an under-the-sea themed lesson plan.

Octopus Handprint Craft – This octopus craft is perfect for ocean-themed summer crafts! They’re easy to make, and you don’t need paint. Just grab some cardstock, scissors, and glue. The kids will love how cute these octopus handprints turned out, and you’ll have a sweet keepsake.

Ocean Activities For Kids

These color by number ocean animal printables are the perfect summer activity for kids! Not only are they a fun way to spend a summer day, but they also help improve fine motor skills and number recognition. And what’s more, they’re a great way to sneak in some learning while still having fun.

Try this Octopus Name Craft

If you’re looking for a fun and engaging activity for your little ones, pattern blocks are a great option! These colorful ocean pattern block mats feature different ocean-themed scenes that kids can complete using pattern blocks.

Not only is this a great way to fine-tune fine motor skills, but it also helps with shape recognition and problem-solving.

Collage of ocean animal-themed educational activities including a color-by-number turtle and shell worksheet, pattern block seahorse and turtle mats, and a fish tracing and writing worksheet for early learners.

Add these ocean animals tracing worksheets to your next family beach vacation. They’re the perfect way to keep little hands busy on a rainy afternoon at the seaside. They’ll be building finger strength and practicing their handwriting skills as they write about sharks and jellyfish with this easy printable!

If your kiddos love to go fishing, check out these fish line tracing printables from Crystal & Co. This resource offers a playful way for preschoolers to strengthen hand-eye coordination and pencil grip. With cheerful underwater illustrations and simple exercises.

Octopus Paper Bag Puppet Craft

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!

4.88 from 8 votes