One of the most magical creatures in the ocean has to be the octopus!

They’re amazing ability to camouflage, squeeze through tiny holes, and unique appearance make it one of kids’ favorite ocean animals. This paper plate octopus craft is great for little octopus fans!

Not only will this craft engage those little minds, but it’s also perfect for expressing creativity and following directions. Check out our quick video below to see how to create this craft, then download the free printable template.

If you need more ideas, look at all of our ocean crafts for kids.

Octopus Paper Plate Craft

Supplies

• Paper Plate
• Colored cardstock or construction paper
• Paint (we used orange and blue)
• Paintbrush
• Pencil
• Glue
• Scissors
• Black marker
• Octopus template (enter your email in the form at the end of this post to get the template)

Directions

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

Paint a paper plate with 1-2 thin coats of paint. Let it dry before moving on.

Place the octopus head template on the paper plate, trace it with a pencil, and cut it out.

Position the eyes in the middle of the head, one on each side of the head, and glue them in place.

Use the black marker to draw on the mouth and eyebrows. Next, use a marker (in a couple shades darker than the paint you used) to draw spots on the top of the octopus’s head.

Take the tentacles and wrap each one around your fingers or a marker to get them to curl. We wrapped the outside tentacles tightly and the middle tentacles loosely.

Place the 8 tentacles around the bottom of the octopus head and glue them in place.

That’s it! This is one fun ocean animal craft the kids are sure to enjoy!

Ocean Camp Ideas For Kids

Let’s deep dive into more fun! Whether you’re looking for engaging activities for kids at camp or want to bring the ocean fun home, we’ve got you covered.

Here are some ocean-themed camp ideas to explore!

Under The Sea Children’s Books

Reading books with your kids isn’t just a fun bonding activity; it’s also a great way to contribute to their development. Children who are exposed to books early on are more likely to become proficient readers themselves. But that’s only the beginning. Reading also enhances vocabulary, improves memory and cognitive function, and boosts creativity.

Books can expose kids to different cultures, perspectives, and experiences that they wouldn’t otherwise encounter. Plus, sharing stories with your children sets the foundation for a lifelong love of learning and literacy!

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 Creatures Crafts For Kids

Jellyfish Craft – Create a magical jellyfish with just paper, glue, and our printable template! This easy jellyfish craft is perfect for little hands. Have your kids choose their favorite colors to create cute, colorful jellyfish. Once finished, hang them up to create a swimmingly fun ocean scene!

Clownfish Craft For Preschool – This craft couldn’t be any easier, but it’s still a ton of fun. Kids can work on their cutting and pasting skills and create something to be proud of. This clownfish craft is perfect for a rainy day camp activity or a fun craft to do at home.

Shark Headband Craft – Do your kids love sharks? Well, you have to check out this craft! Kids can decorate and customize our printable headband template to transform into a snappy shark. If they don’t feel like coloring, we have a pre-colored version they can use instead!

Paper Chain Octopus Craft – Paper chains are a classic craft for kids. They’re great for development as they must connect each piece using hand-eye coordination, critical thinking, and fine motor skills. But why make plain paper chains when you can make a cool octopus instead?!

Ocean Activities For Children

These shark worksheets are a great addition to any ocean unit. Kids can practice handwriting, letter recognition, and more with these fun activities. Download our free printable worksheets and let the underwater learning begin. 

Kids love a good coloring activity, and our jellyfish dot to dots are no exception! This activity lets kids work on their numeracy skills while completing each jellyfish image. Once complete, your little ones can hang them up around the house or classroom to show off their work!

Our ocean animal worksheets are perfect for preschoolers! A complete collection of entertaining learning activities, this set of worksheets has something for everyone. Each activity has kids develop their memory, fine motor skills, and problem-solving capabilities in a fun way. 

Bring some extra fun to the learning day with these A House for Hermit Crab printables. From crafting to practicing phonics, these printables offer many educational opportunities! Print these activities out, and your kids can learn something new in the theme of their favorite ocean storybook.

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 Fun For Kids

Free Octopus Template