Kids love going to the beach during the summer.

The sun, sand, and waves are a perfect combination for a good time. But what happens when you live in a place where there’s no beach?

You can still have fun with this paper plate shark craft!

It’s perfect for kids of all ages and a great way to celebrate Shark Week. Download the free template and make it this summer!

Also, be sure to check out all of our shark activities for kids for more ideas!

Shark Craft Activity

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Supplies

• Paper plate
• Paint
• Paintbrush
• Colored cardstock or construction paper
• Scissors
• Black marker
• Shark template (enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you)

Directions

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

Paint a paper plate blue, then let dry completely.

Begin to create the mouth by gluing the tongue to the bottom of the mouth. Trim off the excess paper.

Next, take the top and bottom teeth and glue them to the top and bottom of the mouth. Trim off the excess paper.

Place the completed mouth in the middle and top of the lower face and glue it in place. Next, glue the lower face to the bottom of the painted paper plate. Make sure to firmly press the paper down to all sides so it sticks.

Take the eyes and glue them in the middle of the paper plate, above the mouth.

Position the top fin in the middle and back of the paper plate and glue it down to secure it.

Next, take the side fins and glue them to both sides of the paper plate, near the lower portion of the face.

Finish off by using a black marker to draw nostril marks in the middle of the paper plate, between the eyes and mouth.

This is a fun summer craft kids will enjoy creating!

Ocean Ideas For Kids

Creating an ocean-themed unit study is a wonderful way to give kids the opportunity to explore and learn. Whether you are working on reading comprehension skills, encouraging creative expression, developing fine motor skills, or promoting scientific exploration, there are plenty of fun ways that kids can engage with ocean-themed activities.

Read on below for our favorite ideas and you’ll have your planning done in just a few minutes!

Ocean Books For Kids

There are so many benefits to reading aloud to kids! For one, it helps them to develop a love for reading. When they see you enjoying a book, it encourages them to want to read themselves. It also helps them to build their vocabulary and understand new concepts.

Reading aloud also gives you a chance to model proper reading techniques, such as using expression and pausing for effect. So next time you’re looking for a fun activity to do with your little ones, reach for a book and start reading aloud!

Try out some or all of these popular 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

Crafting is a great activity for young kids. Not only is it a fun way to spend some time, but it also has some great benefits. For starters, crafting helps to develop fine motor skills. By working on small projects, kids learn to use their hands in a more precise way. This can be helpful in everything from writing to doing puzzles.

In addition, crafting can also help improve problem-solving skills. Working on a project often requires figuring out how to overcome obstacles, and this can give kids practice in finding creative solutions. Finally, crafting is also a great way to boost self-esteem. Seeing a project through from start to finish can provide a real sense of accomplishment, especially for younger kids who might not have a lot of opportunities to experience success.

So next time your child is looking for something to do, encourage them to try their hand at crafting! Try adding in some of our favorite ocean crafts for kids:

Paper Plate Fish – Kids will love making these paper plate fish! They’re colorful and fun, and they’re also a great way to develop fine motor skills and creativity. Plus, they’re perfect for ocean-themed units or birthday parties.

Handprint Jellyfish Craft – This fun and colorful craft is perfect for keeping little ones entertained on those hot summer days, and it also makes for a sweet keepsake to remind you of their younger years. Plus, it doesn’t require any messy paint or other materials, making it quick, simple, and clean to do.

Octopus Paper Bag Puppet – These quirky little creatures are great for encouraging pretend play and sparking kids’ imaginations. Plus, they are super easy to make and don’t require any special supplies. Grab some paper bags, construction paper, and glue and you’re set. Anyone can create these cute and cuddly octopus puppets that are guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s face!

Ocean Activities For Kids

Whether you are a teacher looking to engage your students in STEM activities or a parent searching for fun, hands-on activities to do with your kids, these ocean pattern block mats are the perfect tool. They’re fun and help kids practice fine motor skills and shape identification.

Looking for a fun, active way to get the kids moving and burning off some of their unending energy? Look no further than these ocean animal movement cards! These brightly-colored cards feature illustrations of different ocean animals, along with suggested movements that kids can follow. Whether they’re leaping like dolphins or stretching like a starfish, these cards are sure to keep little ones active and engaged.

These color by number ocean animal printables are perfect for encouraging your child to develop their fine motor abilities while also having fun coloring their favorite ocean animals. Each space on the worksheet is numbered, and your child can simply follow the corresponding numbers and color with crayons or markers. Not only does this activity help with motor skills, but it also provides an educational opportunity to learn about ocean animals.

Need a fun, screen-free activity for the family or classroom? Ocean bingo is a great option! Bingo sheets can be printed out ahead of time (there are plenty of free printables online), and then players can mark off the animals as they spot them. This is a great way to teach kids about the different animals that live in the ocean, and it’s also just a lot of fun.

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 Ideas For Kids

Free Shark Template