Super Easy Paper Plate Fish Craft for Preschoolers
This seriously adorable paper plate fish craft is so easy you can have your preschooler create their very own. I love this craft for a cute summer craft, or when we are ready to talk about the oceans, coral reefs, or my kids ask to watch Finding Nemo again.
My son told me this year his resolution was to do more crafts with mommy.
Creating fun craft projects with your children is a great way to bond and make memories. We always create these silly crafts and then name them. Sometimes they do obvious names like “orangey” or “cute fishie” but other times he picks incredible names like Norman, or Farchesco.
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Supplies for the Paper Plate Fish Craft
How to Make the Paper Plate Fish Craft
Step 1: Draw the fish shape
Draw a fish shape on a paper plate. Curve the cuts gradually on two sides without letting them meet, so there is room for the face, and leave a little tail at the back.
Step 2: Cut and paint
Cut out the fish. Paper plates can be tough to cut, so little hands may need help. Then paint it. For a clown fish, paint orange stripes, skipping a stripe all along the body.
Step 3: Outline and prep the scales
Once the paint is dry, add black outlines to the stripes. Cut the bowls off plastic spoons for the scales (an adult job), or swap in small folded paper circles.
Step 4: Glue on the scales
Glue the spoon scales onto the plate, starting at the edge of the first stripe. Add each new row between the curves of the row before for a full look, then let it dry.
Step 5: Sketch the fins
While the glue dries, sketch a tail and two triangle fins on another paper plate and cut them out.
Step 6: Paint the fins
Paint the bigger half of each fin orange with black edges, and paint the scales to match the body.
Step 7: Assemble the fish
Attach the fins to the top and bottom of the fish and the tail at the back.
All done!
Add a googly eye to the face and paint a black mouth underneath. Your paper plate clown fish is finished!
We'd love to see yours! Snap a photo and share it in the comments.
Grab the Printable
Skip the prep and grab the print-ready templates for this craft from my shop.
Mix and match to save 35%. Add any 10 items to your cart and get 35% off your whole order. Ready-made sets count as one item.
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