Paper Plate Octopus Craft For Kids [Free Template]

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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 DIY paper plate octopus craft is great for little octopus fans!

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

paper plate octopus craft image collage with the words paper plate octopus in the middle Pin

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Octopus Paper Plate Craft

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 to get started making this fascinating sea creature.

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 octopus to life!

hand holding paper plate octopus templatePin

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

hand painting paper plate bluePin

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.

hand gluing eyes onto paper plate octopus craftPin

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.

hand drawing spots on top of paper plate octopus headPin

Next, help your child to 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.

hand wrapping tentacle paper around markerPin

Finally, encourage your child to glue the 8 tentacles around the bottom of the octopus head.

hand gluing tentacles onto paper plate octopus craftPin

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

hand holding octopus paper plate craftPin

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!

2 paper plate octopus craftsPin

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 kids choose their favorite colors to create unique jellyfish. Once finished, use them to create a swimmingly fun ocean scene in your homeschool or classroom!

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 ocean unit study craft to do at home.

A collage of ocean-themed kids' crafts including jellyfish with ribbon and paper chain tentacles, paper clownfish art in orange and yellow, blue shark headbands, and two smiling jellyfish with large eyes and decorative spots.Pin

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!

A collage of ocean-themed preschool worksheets including alphabet tracing with sea animals, dot-to-dot jellyfish activities, and a set of handwriting practice sheets featuring letters J, O, D, S, and W with corresponding sea creatures.Pin

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. 

hand holding octopus paper plate craftPin

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 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!

Pin
5 from 6 votes

Paper Plate Octopus Craft For Kids

Author: Sam
Prep Time: 8 minutes
Active Time: 15 minutes
Drying Time 10 minutes
Total Time: 33 minutes
This paper plate octopus is a fun summer craft for kids to make!

Materials

  • Paper Plate
  • Colored cardstock or construction paper
  • Paint we used orange and blue
  • Paintbrush
  • Pencil
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • Black marker
  • Octopus template

Instructions

  • Download the octopus template, print, and cut out the pieces you need.
  • Begin by painting 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.
  • Next, 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.
  • Finish off by gluing the 8 tentacles around the bottom of the octopus head.

Video

Did you make this?

Don’t forget to leave a comment below and make sure to follow on Pinterest, Facebook and TikTok for more!

Free Octopus Template

Freebie download imagePin

photograph of found of Simple Everyday Mom, Sam

Meet Sam

Sam is the crafter and founder of Simple Everyday Mom. She has been featured in Oprah Mag, Good Housekeeping, The Spruce Crafts, Country Living, The Bump, and more.

5 from 6 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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81 Comments

  1. Sandra munoz says:

    Thank you love it

    1. You’re welcome!

  2. Quiero la plantilla, por favor.

    1. Of course! All you need to do is click the “Click Here To Get Your Freebie” image at the end of the post and then enter your email in the form and the link will be sent to you. Or if you’re already a subscriber, when you enter your email in the form, it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page ◡̈

  3. Such a wonderful craft! Thank-you

    1. Kamille - Community Support Assistant says:

      That means a lot—so happy you enjoyed it!

  4. Can’t wait to receive this template

    1. Kamille - Community Support Assistant says:

      Yay! Hope it lands in your inbox soon—enjoy!

  5. Can’t wait to complete this craft with my class! Looks adorable!

    Can you please share the free template with me?

    1. Kamille - Community Support Assistant says:

      Of course! All you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the confirmation link sent to you. Or if you’re already a subscriber, you just need to enter your email in the form at the end of the post and it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page ◡̈

  6. Madelin Alvarez says:

    Here for the octopus template

    1. Of course! All you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the confirmation link sent to you.

  7. YaakubYussof says:

    Looking for the octopus craft template

    1. Of course! All you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the confirmation link sent to you.

  8. Rekha Kaithwas says:

    I am looking for the octopus template

    1. Hi! I just checked your email and it’s listed as “unconfirmed” which means you didn’t click the link in the first email. If you didn’t see it, my best guess is it landed in your junk folder. If you can check that folder for my email ([email protected]) and click the link, you’ll be set ◡̈

  9. I’m looking for the jellyfish template

    1. Of course! All you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you. Once you’ve been confirmed as an email subscriber (by clicking the link in the first email), you simply enter your email in any of the forms and it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page.

  10. Looking for the free template please. Thanks!

    1. Since you’re already an email subscriber, all you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of any post and it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page ◡̈

  11. The octopus craft looks great! Looking for the free template.

    1. Thanks! I just checked your email and it’s listed as “unconfirmed” which means you didn’t click the link in the first email. If you didn’t see it, my best guess is it landed in your junk folder. If you can check that folder for my email ([email protected]) and click the link, you’ll be set ◡̈

  12. Would love the Octopus paper plate craft template. Thank you!

    1. Since you’re already an email subscriber, all you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of any post and it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page ◡̈

  13. Georgy Gilbert says:

    Could I get a copy of this resource please.

    1. Since you’re already an email subscriber, all you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of any post and it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page ◡̈

  14. I would love a copy of this resource 🙂

    1. Of course! All you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you. Once you’ve been confirmed as an email subscriber (by clicking the link in the first email), you simply enter your email in any of the forms and it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page.

  15. Can I please have the template?

    1. Of course! All you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you. Once you’ve been confirmed as an email subscriber (by clicking the link in the first email), you simply enter your email in any of the forms and it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page.

  16. Would love to have the template! Tnx!

    1. Since you’re already an email subscriber, all you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of any post and it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page ◡̈

  17. Merari Morales says:

    Would love to have the template!

    1. Of course! All you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you. Once you’ve been confirmed as an email subscriber (by clicking the link in the first email), you simply enter your email in any of the forms and it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page.

  18. Would love the free octopus template! Thank you!

    1. Of course! All you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you. Once you’ve been confirmed as an email subscriber (by clicking the link in the first email), you simply enter your email in any of the forms and it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page.

  19. Sharon Seidel says:

    Can I have the template please?

    1. Of course! All you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you. Once you’ve been confirmed as an email subscriber (by clicking the link in the first email), you simply enter your email in any of the forms and it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page.

  20. Scott Hopper says:

    Could i please have the template

    1. Since you’re already an email subscriber, all you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of any post and it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page ◡̈

    1. Of course! All you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you. Once you’ve been confirmed as an email subscriber (by clicking the link in the first email), you simply enter your email in any of the forms and it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page.

  21. Hello,
    Nice octopus craft for kids.
    I will appreciate the templates.
    Thank you

    1. Thanks! Of course! All you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you. Once you’ve been confirmed as an email subscriber (by clicking the link in the first email), you simply enter your email in any of the forms and it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page.

    1. Thank you for your kind words! I’m glad you found the craft engaging. It’s a fun, budget-friendly activity that helps kids develop their fine motor skills while exploring their creativity.

  22. The templates, please !

    1. Of course! All you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you. Once you’ve been confirmed as an email subscriber (by clicking the link in the first email), you simply enter your email in any of the forms and it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page.

  23. Could I please have the template for the paper place octopus

    1. Of course! All you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you. Once you’ve been confirmed as an email subscriber (by clicking the link in the first email), you simply enter your email in any of the forms and it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page.

  24. How do I get the Template?

    1. All you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you ◡̈

    1. Thanks ◡̈

    1. No problem!

    1. No problem!

  25. Need this template urgent. Thank you.

    1. Since you’re already an email subscriber, all you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of any post and it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page 🙂

  26. Can I have the template please

    1. Of course! All you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you 🙂

    1. Of course! All you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you 🙂

  27. Shelly Duffy says:

    Please send me the template, It looks fun!

    1. Since you’re already an email subscriber, all you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of any post and it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page ?

  28. Edwin Tee says:

    I need the template urgently.

    1. 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 ?

  29. I need the paper plate octopus template please

    1. Of course! 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 ?

  30. The local preK children are focusing on ocean creatures. Please send me the template for the paper plate octopus. Thank you!

    1. Of course! 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 ?

  31. This is lovely, was looking for an octopus craft to add to our ecosystem and this is perfect!!

    1. Oh, great! I’m so glad!

  32. Hideliza Adizas Frank says:

    I love this!

    1. THanks!

    1. Of course! All you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of post to have the link sent to you.

    1. Thanks, Ashley!

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