Summer is kids’ favorite season for a lot of reasons – swimming, playing in the sun, and eating popsicles all day long.
But summer can also be a time when kids get bored because there’s no school.
Keep your little ones busy with this fun and easy whale handprint craft!
All you need is some paper, scissors, and glue- no paint or messy cleanup required.
This craft is perfect for summer or for any ocean-themed activities. Plus, it’s a great way to keep those creative juices flowing.
So dive in and give it a try! Also, be sure to check out all of our whale crafts for more ideas!
Paper Handprint Whale Craft
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Supplies
- Colored cardstock or construction paper
- Scissors
- Black marker
- Glue
- Whale template (enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you)
Directions
Download the whale template, print, and cut out the pieces you need.
Begin by gluing the whale’s belly to the bottom of the body.
Place the fin in the middle of the body and glue it with a small portion of the fin hanging off the body.
Position the eye above the mouth and glue it near the left part of the head.
Use a black marker to draw on a blowhole at the top, middle part of the body.
Trace your child’s hand onto a piece of blue-colored paper and cut it out. Position the handprint with the fingers facing up and glue the palm end to the blowhole.
Finally, glue the 2 water drops somewhere on the handprint.
That’s it! Isn’t this such a fun handprint craft for kids?
Ocean Fun For Kids
The ocean is a fascinating place and there are so many fun activities that kids can do to learn! Whether it’s through crafts, printables, games, or other activities, there are plenty of ways to help kids engage with learning.
Read on below for our favorite ideas that can help kids practice fine motor skills, reading or pre-reading skills, using scissors, and so much more!
Kids’ Ocean Books
Reading out loud to your child has so many benefits! Not only can it help your child learn to read, but it also strengthens the bond between you. When you read together, your child gets to hear your voice and see your expressions. This can help them better understand the story and make it come alive.
Reading also helps develop your child’s imagination and improve their listening skills. For these reasons and more, we recommend starting with books. Try out one or all of these fun 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
Most parents know that crafting is a great way for kids to express their creativity. But there are actually many more benefits to letting young children craft.
Craft activities can help kids develop fine motor skills, learn to follow instructions, and boost their self-confidence. And the best part is that crafting is fun! So next time your kids ask to get out the scissors and glue, say yes and enjoy watching them create something special.
Add in some more craft projects with these reader favorites:
Easy Shark Painting Craft – This easy shark craft for kids is the perfect way to introduce your child to watercolors, and have them create a masterpiece that they can be proud of. All you need is the printable template, some paint, and scissors. Let your child’s creativity shine as they choose what colors to use and how to arrange the different parts of the shark on their paper. This project is sure to be a hit with any budding artist!
Jellyfish Paper Bag Puppet Craft – Jellyfish are such fascinating creatures! They’re gentle and beautiful, but also a bit mysterious. This jellyfish puppet is the perfect way to bring a bit of the underwater world into your home. It’s fun and easy to make, and kids will love playing with their very own jellyfish friend.
3D Crab Craft – This paper crab craft is the perfect activity for a summer afternoon! Kids will love being able to bring their creations to life and see them transform into a 3D shape!
Ocean Activities For Kids
These ocean pattern block mats are not only super cute, but they’re also a great way for kids to practice their fine motor skills and shape recognition. Each mat features a different ocean animal and the corresponding outlines for each of the shapes. Not only is this a fun activity for kids, but it’s also a great way to help them develop their hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills.
These shark connect the dot printables for kids are so much fun! They help kids practice counting, fine motor skills, and more. Plus, they’re great for creativity too!
Kids will have a blast with these crab worksheets! The label a crab worksheet is great for teaching children about the different parts of a crab, while the c is for crab letter maze helps them practice their letter recognition. And the letter c handwriting practice page is perfect for getting those little hands moving and writing.
More Fun Ocean Ideas
Need more ocean in your life? Check out these great ideas!
- This baby sea turtle beach dish looks so much like the real thing and is perfect for keeping jewelry in or just to display!
- Does your little girl love jewelry? If so, you have to get her this adorable seashell beach themed bracelet!
- Turn your child into a shark rider with this customized wall art. It’s hilarious!
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!
Whale Handprint Craft For Kids
Keep your little ones busy with this fun and easy whale handprint craft! All you need is some paper, scissors, and glue- no paint or messy cleanup required.
Materials
- Colored cardstock or construction paper
- Scissors
- Black marker
- Glue
- Whale template
Instructions
- Download the whale template, print, and cut out the pieces you need.
- Begin by gluing the whale's belly to the bottom of the body.
- Place the fin in the middle of the body and glue it with a small portion of the fin hanging off the body.
- Position the eye above the mouth and glue it near the left part of the head.
- Use a black marker to draw on a blowhole at the top, middle part of the body.
- Trace your child's hand onto a piece of blue-colored paper and cut it out. Position the handprint with the fingers facing up and glue the palm end to the blowhole.
- Finally, glue the 2 water drops somewhere on the handprint.
Whale Handprint Template
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. Read more.
Sanobar
Tuesday 17th of October 2023
Please share the link of whale
Sam
Tuesday 17th of October 2023
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.
Kimberly
Friday 14th of July 2023
There is no way to enter my email in the form to download this craft. Please help.
Sam
Friday 14th of July 2023
Hi! The form is above the comments section, under the heading titled “Whale Handprint Template”. If you're not able to see it, it most likely means you have a firewall or adblocker blocking it from appearing. If you can allow the page or try from a personal device, you should be able to see it. Also, you can open it in an incognito window to see it as well.
Maby Jimenez
Monday 5th of June 2023
Hi! This whale handprint craft is amazing! Could you please share the template? I will appreciate it! It’s for my son’s homework :)
Thanks! Maby
Sam
Wednesday 7th of June 2023
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.