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This simple jellyfish paper plate craft is a fun way to learn about this exciting under water animal. Using streamers as the tentacles let’s kids get creative and also adds a fun and flowy look to the craft!
I love projects with classic, easy-to-find supplies like popsicle sticks, toilet paper rolls, and paper plates. There is something nostalgic and timeless about them. I keep all these supplies stocked in a drawer and on hand so I’m ready to craft when my kiddo is!
Although this craft is great for the preschool age, it’s s not just for preschool. You can make this really with any child by adjusting the steps and helping as needed. If you’re learning about the ocean it can be great to pair with a paper plate shark or crab paper plate craft too!
Why kids love paper plate crafts
If you’re looking for ways to use basic supplies, we’re so glad you’re here and are cheering you on! Getting creative can feel way more daunting than it is, and the more you make, the more ideas you’ll have. Kids love paper plate crafts for a lot of the same reasons we do!
- Easy to find supplies are everything! Easy to find, easy to make, easy on parents and easy for kids.
- The best kind of kids projects are things you already have in your home, or can easily grab on your next grocery store trip.
- If you mess up it’s very easy and possible to start over.
- They can paint or color the plates and make their jellyfish faces and tentacles as happy or silly as they want! Letting them get creative with it is the best part.
A Few Fun Jellyfish Facts
Before you get into this craft, it can be fun to teach kids a few interesting things about jellyfish!
- Jellyfish don’t have brains or hearts, they can sense things like light and vibrations.
- They use their tentacles to capture food.
- Some jellyfish can even glow in the dark! If you have glow in the dark paint that could be a really fun addition to this project!
Supplies for your Jellyfish Paper Plate Craft
- Paper plates
- Scissors (remember to do the cutting if your child isn’t ready to yet.)
- Googley eyes
- Markers, crayons or paint
- School glue
- streamers or construction paper scraps or cardstock
Steps for Your Making a Jellyfish
Begin by painting or coloring your plate. You can paint it any color you want! If you’re wanting this to be a faster craft then using markers, crayons or colored pencils is great! Or you can pre-paint your plates too.
Allow to fully dry and then cut your plate in half, making scallops along the bottom. Glue on or add eyes to your jellyfish. While this is not a factual representation of the creature, it definitely gives it more of a personality.
Pick out what colors you want for your tentacles! I recommend at least two different colors but you can make this however you want.
Cut to the length you desire and glue to the back of the plate. I stacked them a bit to give a little more dimension.
Turn the plate back over and add any other details you want with paint or markers.
Tips for Making a Paper Plate Jellyfish:
- Let kids decide how long they want to make the tentacles, but help them cut the streamers if needed. If you don’t have streamers handy you can use construction paper or cardstock!
- You can make eyes for the jellyfish or use googley eyes!
- If you have a kiddo who will want to craft right away, you can even pre-paint the plate so that they can start assembling without having to wait for the paint to dry.
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Get the How-To
Supplies
- 1 single paper plate
- 1 bottle school glue (or glue stick)
- 2-3 yards streamers (in colors of choice, you only need enough to make the tentacles, about 10-12 inches of each piece.)
- 2 googley eyes (optional)
- 2 tbsp paint, in color of choice (could also use markers)
Instructions
- Begin by painting or coloring your plate. You can paint it any color you want! If you're wanting this to be a faster craft then using markers, crayons or colored pencils is great, or you can pre-paint your plates too.
- Allow to fully dry and then cut your plate in half, making scallops along the bottom.
- Glue on or add eyes to your jellyfish.
- Cut your streamers to the length you desire and glue to the back of the plate.
- Turn the plate back over and add any other details you want with paint or markers.