feel that fish are often grossly underrated. In our daily lives, they are frequently diminished to simply being something we put on a dinner plate or watch idly in a tank. However, viewing them this way means we miss out on the incredible tapestry of stories, legends, and cultural significance that fish hold around the world. You would be surprised how widely respected these aquatic creatures are!
Before we dive into the glue and glitter, let’s take a moment to appreciate the rich history behind our finned friends. Teaching children the backstory of what they are creating makes the craft session much more meaningful.
Fish in Religion and Mythology: More Than Just Food
Throughout history, fish have symbolized much more than just a meal. They represent life, fertility, knowledge, and divinity. Here are a few fascinating facts to share with your children while you craft:
- Ancient Wisdom: In ancient Sumerian mythology, the fish was a symbol of Enki, the god of water, knowledge, and creativity.
- Sacred Symbols: The Syrian chief goddess Atargatis was closely associated with fish. In fact, her priests were the only ones allowed to eat fish during her special festivals because the creature was considered so sacred.
- The Great Fish: The story of Jonah and the Whale (or Great Fish) is a powerful narrative about second chances that appears in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
- Joy and Freedom: In Buddhism, a pair of golden fish is one of the eight auspicious symbols. They represent happiness and freedom because fish have complete freedom of movement in the water, untethered by fear.
- The Avatar: In Hinduism, the god Vishnu appears as Matsya, his first avatar, which takes the form of a great golden fish that saved the first man from a great flood.
- ** The Stars:** If your birthday falls between February 19 and March 20, you fall under Pisces, the 12th sign of the zodiac, represented by two fish swimming in opposite directions.
Now that we know there is so much more to fish than meets the eye, let’s celebrate these amazing creatures with some fantastic arts and crafts!
20 Creative Fish Crafts for Kids
We have curated a list of 20 distinct projects ranging from simple paper plate art for toddlers to intricate recycled projects for older kids. These activities help develop fine motor skills, color recognition, and patience.
1. The Classic Paper Plate Tropical Fish
This is a staple of childhood crafting.
- The Method: Take a standard paper plate. Cut a small triangle wedge out of one side (this creates the mouth). Glue that wedge onto the opposite side of the plate to create the tail.
- The Fun: Let the kids go wild painting stripes, spots, or gluing on tissue paper squares to make a vibrant tropical reef fish.
2. The Shimmering Rainbow Fish
Based on the beloved book by Marcus Pfister, The Rainbow Fish teaches us that sharing brings happiness.
- The Method: Cut a fish shape out of blue cardstock. Provide the kids with shiny aluminum foil or holographic paper cut into small semi-circles (scales).
- The Lesson: As they glue the shiny scales among the blue paper scales, talk about the importance of kindness and friendship.
3. Japanese Koinobori (Flying Carp) Windsocks
Koi fish are famous for their resilience and beauty. In Japan, Koinobori streamers are flown to celebrate Children’s Day.
- The Method: Use a toilet paper roll as the body. Paint it bright colors. Glue circles of tissue paper around the roll to mimic scales. Glue long streamers of crepe paper to the bottom. Punch holes at the top, add string, and hang them up to “swim” in the wind.
4. Celery Stamp Fish
A great way to use leftover vegetables!
- The Method: Cut a stalk of celery. The cross-section is shaped like a perfect “U” or a scale. Dip the end in paint and stamp it repeatedly onto a paper fish outline. It creates a perfect, uniform scale texture that looks professional but is easy for toddlers.
5. Cupcake Liner Beta Fish
Cupcake liners have a natural “ruffle” that looks exactly like the fins of a Beta fish.
- The Method: Flatten one large cupcake liner for the body. Fold two other liners in half or quarters and glue them as the flowing tail and fins. Add a googly eye, and you have a 3D fish!
6. Handprint Goldfish Bowl
A lovely keepsake for parents.
- The Method: Draw a large fishbowl on white paper. Paint your child’s hand orange. Press it horizontally onto the “bowl.” The thumb becomes the top fin, and the fingers are the tail. Use blue fingerprints to make bubbles rising to the top.
7. Woven Paper Angelfish
This is excellent for fine motor skills and teaching patterns (over, under, over, under).
- The Method: Cut a fish shape with vertical slits cut into the middle (don’t cut through the edges). Provide strips of colored paper. Have the child weave the strips through the fish. Trim the edges to fit.
8. Bubble Wrap Print Pufferfish
Bubble wrap is an irresistible sensory material.
- The Method: Cut a circle of bubble wrap. Paint the bubbly side. Press it onto paper to create a textured, polka-dotted circle. Add fins and a face. This texture perfectly mimics a spiky pufferfish!
9. Recycled CD Fish
Do you have old CDs or DVDs collecting dust? Their shiny surface is perfect for aquatic crafts.
- The Method: The CD is the body. Glue foam hearts on the back for fins and a tail. Use permanent markers to draw designs on the shiny side. Glue a large googly eye over the center hole (or near it).
10. Egg Carton Whale
Okay, it’s a mammal, not a fish, but it lives in the sea!
- The Method: Cut a single cup from an egg carton. Paint it blue. Add a pipe cleaner “spout” of water coming out of the top and draw a smile. These are cute little ocean friends.
11. 3D Construction Paper Loop Fish
This adds dimension to your art.
- The Method: Cut strips of colorful paper. Loop them into circles and tape the ends. Glue these loops onto a fish outline to create 3D scales. This looks fantastic on a wall display.
12. Plastic Bottle Shark
Turn a water bottle into a predator!
- The Method: Remove the label from a small plastic bottle. Put the lid on tight. Cut grey foam fins and a tail and glue them on. Paint the bottle grey or fill it with grey shredded paper. Draw sharp teeth near the cap (the mouth).
13. Paper Fan Fish
A simple folding technique.
- The Method: Take a rectangular piece of paper and accordion-fold it (back and forth). Fold the whole strip in half and glue the inner edges together to make a fan. Add a tail and a head cut from construction paper.
14. Rock Painting Fish
Go for a nature walk and find smooth, oval stones.
- The Method: Use acrylic paints to turn the rocks into fish. These are great because you can hide them in the garden or local park for other children to find.
15. Pasta Shell School of Fish
Dry pasta shells are naturally shaped like fish.
- The Method: Paint various pasta shells in bright colors. Glue them onto a blue background to create a massive school of tiny fish. Use green yarn for seaweed at the bottom.
16. Tissue Paper Suncatcher
Let the light shine through!
- The Method: Cut a fish outline from black cardstock. Stick it onto clear contact paper. Let the kids fill the middle with ripped pieces of colored tissue paper. Seal with another layer of contact paper and cut it out. Tape it to the window.
17. Clothespin “Chomping” Sharks
This is an interactive toy.
- The Method: Print or draw a shark. Cut it in half horizontally (separating the top jaw from the bottom). Glue the top half to the top prong of a clothespin and the bottom half to the bottom prong. When you squeeze the clip, the shark’s mouth opens!
18. Paper Bag Puppet Fish
Perfect for storytelling.
- The Method: Use a standard brown lunch bag. The flap at the bottom (when folded flat) serves as the mouth. Decorate the bag with scales and fins. Put your hand inside and move the flap to make the fish talk.
19. Magnetic Fishing Game
A craft that doubles as a game.
- The Method: Cut several fish shapes out of felt or cardstock. Attach a paperclip to the mouth of each fish. Make a fishing rod using a stick, string, and a small magnet. Now, try to catch the fish!
20. Salt Dough Starfish and Fish
A science and art project combined.
- The Method: Mix flour, salt, and water to make dough. Shape them into fish or starfish. Bake them until hard. Once cool, paint them and seal them with varnish. These last for years.
Why These Crafts Matter
Engaging in these fish crafts is about more than just keeping kids busy. It is an opportunity to discuss marine biology, environmental conservation, and the importance of keeping our oceans clean.
As you sit down to fold, cut, and glue, remind your children of the stories we touched on earlier. Tell them about the wisdom of Enki or the resilience of the Koi.
Whether you are a teacher looking for a classroom theme, a parent needing a rainy day activity, or a homeschooler teaching marine life, these 20 fish crafts provide a sea of possibilities. So, grab your scissors and dive in!