9 Ocean-Themed Crafts for Preschoolers
Are you ready to dive into a sea of creativity with your little learners? We have just the thing that will make waves in your classroom—nine ocean-themed crafts for preschoolers. These fun and easy ocean-themed projects will keep your tiny sea explorers engaged and eager to learn.
From a fishing game your entire class will love to play to silly beach creature feet that make dramatic play an ocean-themed exploration, these ocean crafts for preschoolers are perfect for sparking imagination and learning about the wonders of the ocean. Prepare for a tidal wave of fun!
Magnetic Fishing Game
This magnetic fishing game takes just a few supplies to make and is a great way for kids to work on their fine motor and problem- solving skills. You can pair up your preschoolers to make this a fun partner activity! If you don’t want to use magnets for this craft, try magnetic strips or magnetic building tiles instead for an easy swap.
Leaping Dolphin Craft
Turn an old CD and an empty tissue box into a magical dolphin display that will wow your preschoolers. This leaping dolphin craft can be changed up to feature any sea creature, but the spinning and leaping will be just as magical.
This bubble wrap jellyfish craft from Preschool With a Purpose is the perfect way to dive into our curriculum. Test the waters and download this free activity!
Beachy Creature Feet
From crab claws, fish fins, and sea gull toes, a few sheets of colorful craft foam can become beachy creature feet that your preschoolers can use during dramatic play. Attach these creations to the tops of their shoes or onto their hands and let kids spend a day pretending to be at the beach with their favorite sea creatures.
DIY Ocean Snow Globe
Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could take a piece of the ocean with us no matter where we went? With this ocean inspired DIY snow globe, your students can do just that. While the example uses a snowman–we are giving it an ocean makeover. Help your preschoolers make a fish, a shark, a dolphin, or even a mermaid that can happily live inside their snow globe.
Saltwater Painting
For this craft, we’re pulling inspiration from the salty sea. By mixing paint, water, and salt, your preschooler will make a sea-worthy creation that’s perfect on its own or for adding stickers or drawing sea creatures. Saltwater painting helps kids strengthen their fine motor skills and decision making as they sprinkle and splash the salt through their paint.
Jellyfish in a Bottle
This project is easy to make and will leave your preschoolers absolutely giddy when they get to take their very own jellyfish in a bottle home with them. While you could use crafting bottles for the jellyfish’s new home–empty water or soda bottles are an inexpensive alternative that work just as well. Teacher tip: Make sure the water and jellyfish don’t escape by adding a few drops of glue around the lid.
Turtle Crafts
These turtle crafts have so many possibilities. Your little sea explorers can get creative with the turtle’s shell by decorating with scraps of tissue paper, colorful pompoms, or creating a tie dye pattern with markers and water. There’s plenty of ways for each turtle to be an individual, or you can keep the setup simple with one design. Either way, the turtle making station will be the place to be in your classroom.
Puffy Paint Ocean Painting
Whip up a DIY version of puffy paint (shaving cream, glue, and paint) and let your preschoolers create a puffy painted ocean, complete with tissue paper seaweed and coral. Then pop in a few fish crackers to liven up the ocean. If you think the crackers will be too delicious for your kids to resist–paper fish work too!
Paper Bag Shark Puppet
If you are a fan of “Shark Week” or even if “Baby Shark” is more your speed—you’ll love this shark- inspired craft. Using a paper bag, paint, and wiggle eyes, each of your students can create these adorable shark paper bag puppets. Beware: these puppets may inspire your students to start singing a few rounds of “Baby Shark.”
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About the Author:
Amanda Mushro is a writer and content creator whose creative tips, tricks, and life hacks have reached millions of people through TV segments, videos, and her writing. However, her favorite job is being a mom of three.