Foil Fish Craft for the Ocean Theme

Inside: Invite your preschoolers to create a foil fish craft for the ocean theme. Recycle cardboard and use scraps you already have!

We finish our school year with the beach and ocean theme, as it’s close to summer. (We aren’t in school during the actual summer, so it works out well.)

My classes in the past have enjoyed these ocean activities:

• Spool Stamped Fish
• Ocean Sensory Bin
• Ocean in a Bottle

Today I am sharing a simple fish craft that we can add to the ocean collection.

Our two and three year olds created these, but preschoolers would have just as much fun!

I love using cardboard for arts and crafts.

Not just because it’s free (when recycled), but also because it’s durable.

Some example of past cardboard projects:

• Heart Wands
• Squirrel Craft
• Big Pumpkin Collage
• Colorful Cardboard Eggs

And that’s just a small selection of what we’ve done over the decades!

Watch Video

Supplies

You can add whatever you want to these fish! I happened to have tissue paper and construction paper shapes, so that’s what I used.

• Cardboard
• Aluminum foil
• White glue
• Tempera paint
• Tissue paper circles
• Construction paper pieces
• Sequins
• Glue stick
• Scissors

Tinted Glue

First, you can tint your glue. This is optional, but something I love to do.

I put a few drops of tempera paint in each glue bottle. Easy!

For this activity, I chose the brighter colors.

More: Why Squeezing Glue Is Important

I didn’t use a template for this. I just found a small round plate and traced around it and added the back fin.

Then, I cut out the shape, making sure each child got one.

Cover with Foil

Rub glue stick across one side of the cardboard fish and press a sheet of aluminum foil on top.

Rub the foil so it’s smooth.

Cut away excess foil.

Note: I always keep a UHU glue stick in my teacher drawer that’s just for me. I find it’s more durable than the glue sticks the children use. (But they are more expensive, hence why the children get the Elmer’s glue sticks!)

The Activity

Now comes the fun part.

Time to decorate the fish!

First, squeeze the glue on top.

If this is your children’s first time squeezing glue, show them how to keep the bottle turned upside down so that the glue will flow out.

They will need to squeeze with both hands.

If they are toddlers or young preschoolers, they most likely won’t be able to get a lot of glue out at once, but there are always exceptions!

If someone has a firm squeeze and the glue is coming out of the bottle quickly, twist the cap a bit to slow the flow.

You can also remind them to move the glue around so that it doesn’t puddle in one spot.

I usually say “Make the glue dance!” as they move the glue all around.

Then it’s time to press the pieces on top.

Make sure the children are pressing their pieces on top of the glue or they won’t stick.