Looking for a fun craft project? This fish bowl paper plate craft includes a goldfish puppet on a popsicle stick that you can pretend to make swim! It’s a craft that’s sure to make a splash. Use your creativity and imagination to bring this cute fish craft to life.
Let’s dive in so you can create your very own underwater masterpiece!
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Why You’ll Love This Goldfish Bowl Craft
This is a great activity for kids of all ages; it’s cute, fun and imaginative. If you’re looking for a craft for kids who love animals or want their own pet fish, you’ll love this idea. Kids can strengthen their fine motor skills, flex their creative muscles and try out some imaginative play with the cute fish puppet.
Get ready for a fin-tastic time filled with smiles, giggles, and a sense of accomplishment!
Materials
- Paper plate
- Pom poms
- Brown craft paper
- Construction paper
- Cardboard
- Popsicle stick
- Blue, white and yellow paint
- Paint brushes
- Scissors
- Gluestick
- Orange pen
Instructions
Step 1
Paint 3/4 of the paper plate blue. Leave a white space at the top to help make it look like an aquarium. Then draw an oblong shape along the top of the painted area to make it look like the opening of the fish bowl.
Step 2
Cut a half circle from the brown craft paper and attach it to the bottom of the painted part of the paper plate using double-sided tape or glue.
Cut a small slit in the paper plate; this is where the popsicle stick will move when the craft is complete.
Step 3
Print and cut the templates then trace them onto the corresponding colored construction paper and cut them again. Then attach them to the paper plate with glue or double-sided tape.
Step 4
Start adding the details of the aquarium. First, paint white bubbles and let it dry.
Use the photos as an example of where to place the decorative aquarium plants and other decorations.
Step 5
Cut out the fish template and trace it onto the craft paper and cut it out again.
Paint the craft paper goldfish orange and let it dry. Add some details using the orange pen. Draw some scales and fins.
To make the goldfish eyes, cut out a small circle and shade the inner part using a marker then attach it to the fish.
Attach a popsicle stick to the back of the fish with glue or double-sided tape.
Step 6
Glue pom poms to the brown craft paper and then insert the popsicle stick into the front of the paper plate and make your goldfish move around!
Video Instructions
If you prefer watching video instructions, check out the YouTube channel for CraftyKidsPlay! You can watch the How To Video for this Fish Bowl Craft Here!
Template Download
This fish bowl craft template is for your own individual use only, not for resale. You can download the template PDF and print it at home on regular paper. Then use the template to trace onto construction paper to make the fun come to life.
Tips & Troubleshooting
If your pom poms keep coming off, try using a hot glue gun to make them stick. You can also skip the pom poms and decorate your fish bowl craft with other crafty items.
For the youngest crafters, make the process smoother by pre-cutting templates and smaller pieces. This helps minimize frustration and allows them to focus on the more enjoyable aspects of coloring, painting, and assembling.
Always have adult supervision when cutting a slit in the paper plate for the popsicle stick to go through.
While templates are provided, encourage children to add their unique touches to the craft. Let them choose colors, patterns, and additional decorations to truly make it their own underwater masterpiece.
Patience is key when waiting for painted or glued elements to dry. To avoid smudging or smearing, ensure each layer is completely dry before moving on to the next step. You can use a hairdryer on low heat to speed up the drying process.
Variation Ideas
Adding your own crafty details will give each paper plate fish bowl craft its own unique look. Kids can try out their own design for fish scales or aquarium plants and get creative.
If you like the look of the brown craft paper, you don’t have to cover it with pom poms. You could also paint it, draw aquarium gravel rocks on it, or cover it with glitter glue.
Want to give your fish a more whimsical look? Try adding some googly eyes instead of colored paper on the fish’s face. You could also use small pieces of ripped white tissue paper for the bubbles, or different colors of ripped tissue paper to cover the brown craft paper at the bottom of the plate.
Benefits of This Fish Aquarium Craft For Kids
Creativity and Imagination:
This craft encourages children to use their imagination as they design and create their own unique underwater world. From choosing colors to deciding on the placement of decorative elements, kids have the freedom to express their creativity.
Fine Motor Skills Development:
Cutting, tracing, and attaching various elements require precise hand-eye coordination, aiding in the development of fine motor skills. These activities help refine the control and coordination of small muscle movements in children’s hands.
Following Instructions:
The step-by-step nature of this craft guides children in following instructions, enhancing their ability to understand and execute tasks sequentially. This skill is crucial for academic and everyday activities.
Pride and Sense of Accomplishment:
Completing a craft project fosters a sense of accomplishment in children. Displaying their finished fish bowl craft can boost their confidence and pride in their artistic abilities.
Storytelling and Role-Play:
The fish bowl craft provides a tangible prop for imaginative play. Older children can use the fish bowl that they created as a storytelling prompt, inventing narratives and engaging in pretend play as they bring their underwater world to life.
Final Thoughts
Kids will have a great time making their own paper plate fish bowls; it’s oceans of fun! The joy of crafting and the excitement of bringing their imaginative underwater worlds to life are just a few snips, glues, and strokes away.
Stick around Crafty Kids Play for more fun ideas, crafts and sensory activities! There’s always something new and exciting swimming your way! Happy crafting!
