Use sea creatures as the basis for a variety of art projects for kids.
Teaching about sea creatures through thematic units is common in many classrooms with young children. There are a variety of creatures that live in the sea, and you can use this concept to study a variety of academic concepts related to these animals. To enhance the unit, you can create a variety of art projects to go along with the reading, math and science lessons.
Octopus
Make your own octopus using a plain paper plate. Paint the plate a solid color using any type of washable paint. Glue eyes on the front, and then cut eight strips of paper to use as tentacles for the octopus. Color these the same color you chose to paint the body. Glue each leg to the back of the paper plate and punch a hole in the top of the plate. Tie clear fishing line to the octopus and hang it from the ceiling as a decoration.
Sea Anemone
One animal found in oceans throughout the world is the sea anemone. Create your own anemone using a plain Styrofoam ball. Cut the ball in half and use one half for your sea animal. Color the ball any color of your choice. Flip it over so that the flat side rests on the table, and use coordinating pipe cleaners to create the spines of your sea anemone. Cut each pipe cleaner into 3-inch strips and stick them in the top of the ball. Cover the entire ball using this technique.
Ocean Animal Scene
Create your own sea creature scene using crayons and watercolors. With your crayons, draw an underwater scene on any size paper, adding a variety of sea creatures. To make them authentic-looking, reference photographs of actual animals found in the waters closest to your area. Then, use blue watercolor paint and a large brush to paint over the entire scene. The use of watercolors will allow your crayons to come through, and create the look of the water to complete your drawing.
Balloon Fish
There are many varieties of fish that live in the sea. Choose your favorite fish and create a balloon representation of that creature. Pick an appropriate color balloon and blow it up, careful not to make it too full. Tie off the balloon and use this as your fish's body. Use construction paper to create fins and glue them to the side of your balloon. Add any other details to make your fish look realistic, and finish it off by drawing eyes on the balloon with a permanent marker. Create an entire school of fish using this technique.
