Ocean Invertebrate Crafts
We are learning today with our ocean invertebrate crafts. Little artists will not only learn that any animal that lacks a vertebra, or backbone, is an invertebrate but many more fun facts. More than 90 percent of all living animal species are invertebrates. But, today we are focusing on learning about the invertebrate animals that live in our oceans.
In this first craft, we learn about the invertebrate sea anemone. We use your little artist’s hand prints to make the flowing sea anemone tentacles. Just like the children’s fingers the sea anemone use its tentacle to grab and touch. You can make this project using paint, stamp pads, or hand print paper cutouts. Click the image below for the printable base.
Sea Anemone Craft Project
This starfish craft is a simple color and cut project. If your little artist has advanced scissors skills they may want to cut out the exact shape. Children are fascinated to learn that starfish can grow back an arm if they lose it. So if they are a little hasty with the scissors glue them back on. Click the image below to print and make this cute ocean invertebrate craft.
Starfish Ocean Invertebrate Crafts
Our last three crafts are part of the cephalopods family. Cephalopod means ‘head-footed’. That means the tentacle legs come directly from the head. You might think this information is above your little artist’s head. But never underestimate a child’s mind that can store long scientific dinosaur names.
In our first cephalopod craft, we are making a giant octopus. This project is great for learning about spirals and how to count to eight. Sometimes depending on the class I use this project to introduce addition. We might glue on a few legs, count how many we have, and ask if we add one more how many will we have? Click the link to see how we make this almost three foot tall octopus.
Octopus Craft Project
Next up we are practicing our scissors skills. Your little artist might refine their small motor skills while making this jellyfish craft. They may learn to cut straight, zig-zag, or wiggle lines. Sometimes it is fun to print this jellyfish pattern on different colored papers. It is fun to make one or a whole group. Which is called a ‘smack’ of Jellyfish. Click the link to print your own.
Jellyfish Craft Project
The last of today’s Ocean Invertebrate Crafts is the squid. Little artists can cut and glue lots of tentacles onto this project. We start by decorating and making the squid’s body. Then we add different size streamers. Click the image below to find out more.
Squid Craft Project
We hope you had fun with our crafty trip to the sea. Maybe your child learned a thing or two. I know you will always be there to remind them, ‘You’re so creative!’