Paper Plate Starfish Craft for Kids (With Free Template)
You will absolutely love how easy this Paper Plate Starfish Craft is. Let your toddlers and preschoolers create a variety of fabulous under the sea paper plate crafts. Then hang them on your classroom wall for an ocean adventure.
Even if you’re at home during summer vacation with kids of different ages, don’t worry. Just because this is the perfect toddler craft, doesn’t mean that your older kids won’t love it too.
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The Summer break can be tough on parents who aren’t used to having their kids home every day. If you’re trying to get ready for this Summer, then start with these Summer activities for kids. Or invest in the Summer Activity Pack, which is filled with educational ideas for young kids.
Table of Contents
Materials Needed
- The free starfish template
- Paper Plate
- Acrylic Paint
- Paintbrushes
- Scissors
- Q-tips
How to Make a Paper Plate Starfish Craft
1. Download and print the free printable for kids found below.
You can find the free star template at the bottom of the post. Just click the large blue button to get your copy.
2. Cut out the sea star shape and trace around it onto the paper plate.
This template is suitable for small paper plates, around 7 inches in diameter.
Of course, you can always skip the paper plates completely and just use the template to create on. Or draw a star by hand on the paper plate instead.
3. Paint the plate any color you like.
Let your children choose the different colors they want. This is the perfect time to let your kids create many different ocean animals. So make sure you get a second paper plate ready, because they won’t want to stop with just one.
4. When the base color is complete. Take a q-tip, or finger, and make dots in a different color, around the starfish.
Using fingers to paint is a great way to explore the sensory side of painting, and develop fine motor skills. Lets not forget, it’s so much fun too.
In fact, it’s one of my daughters favorite things to do when we get the paint out. No matter what different tools I give her, her fingers always end up in the colors.
5. Let the paint dry before cutting out the starfish.
These little guys make fantastic decorative items for your classroom wall. Hang them up, next to some little fish, sea turtles and maybe even a little mermaid. Your early years classroom will look like an underwater wonderland.
Different ways to create this fun craft
Another fun idea, that I didn’t try this time, would be to include googly eyes and a smile on your starfish craft. Let it smile at you from its place on the wall.
You could also try using torn up bits of tissue paper to make a rainbow starfish. All you need are some glue sticks to make this craft incredibly colorful.
One more idea is to make the starfish spots using bubble wrap. Bubble wrap is always a fun way to play and create some easy crafts. Just paint the bubble wrap, then turn it over and press it down to make the spots.
Finally, if you don’t have any paper plates handy, remember you can always do this craft with regular construction paper.
More Ocean Crafts
Are you getting ready for a beach trip? Or maybe just looking for under the sea themed crafts? Here are some more easy peasy kids craft ideas that are perfect for little learners.
- Paper Plate Jellyfish Craft
- Paper Plate Turtle Craft
- Rainbow Fish Art
- Crab Rocking Paper Plate Craft
- Paper Plate Seahorse
- …
For more great craft ideas, see this list of 18 sea creatures kids can make.
Summer Activity Pack
Educational printables for preschoolers and kindergarteners for this Summer.
Are you going to try this Paper Plate Starfish Craft with your kids?
Don’t forget to pin the idea for later
