Paper Plate Fish Craft for Kids
I’ve been slowly working my way through a bunch of paper plate crafts, trying different ideas and themes as I go. Today I’m sharing a fun little paper plate fish craft that turned out even cuter than I expected!
This one is simple enough to make with basic craft supplies, and you can really let your creativity shine when it comes to colors.
I went with bold orange and yellow stripes for a tropical look, but you can easily switch it up to any color combo you love. Think rainbow fish, pastel tones, or even glitter if you’re feeling fancy.
It’s perfect for sea animal crafts or an under the sea themed afternoon. I love how it pairs with other paper plate crafts.
Let’s dive in!
What you’ll need
I’ve included a free printable template to help you cut out the fins, mouth, and tail. So all you have to do is trace, cut, and glue.
Free Paper Plate Fish Template
To make things easier, I created a simple template you can print and cut out. It includes:
- A heart-shaped mouth
- Side fin
- Top and bottom fins
- A curved tail fin
The download includes two versions:
- A black and white version for tracing onto colored paper. You can print it on regular paper or cardstock, then trace the shapes onto your colored paper.
- A colored version you can cut and glue directly if you want to skip the tracing.
How to make this Paper Plate Fish
Step 1: Paint your plate
Start by painting your paper plate. I used orange and yellow stripes for a tropical feel, but this is a great time to get creative.
Rainbow colors, watercolor blends, metallics, anything goes. You can even sponge or splatter the paint for a different texture. Let it dry completely before moving on.
Step 2: Cut out the template pieces
While the plate is drying, print and cut out the fish template. Trace each shape onto your colored paper and cut them out. You’ll need:
- Tail fin
- Top fin
- Bottom fin
- Side fin
- Mouth
Step 3: Assemble your fish
Glue the tail fin behind the plate.
Then attach the top and bottom fins. Flip it over and glue the side fin to the middle of the fish body.
Add the googly eye and the heart-shaped mouth last. Now your fish is really coming to life!
Additional tips from my craft table
- Sponge brushes work great for younger crafters or group projects.
- Pre-cut the paper pieces if you’re prepping for a classroom or group setting.
- No googly eyes? Just draw one on with a black marker.
- Try using a second paper plate as a backing if your paint warps the first one.
A quick note on sharing this file
If you love this template and want to share it with friends, teachers, or fellow crafters, I’d be so happy! Please just share the link to this blog post instead of sending the file directly. It helps support my site and allows me to keep creating free crafts for everyone to enjoy.
Thanks for supporting my little corner of the internet!
You might also like
Print the instructions for this craft
Use this printable version to follow along while crafting or to prep in advance.
Paper Plate Fish Craft for Kids
This bright and cheerful paper plate fish is such a fun and easy craft to make with just a few basic supplies.
Materials
- Free printable fish template
- 1 paper plate
- Paint (I used orange and yellow)
- Googly eye
- Colored cardstock or construction paper (orange and red)
- Glue
Tools
- Paintbrush
- Scissors
- Pencil for tracing
- Printer and paper
Instructions
- Download the free printable template.
- Start by painting your paper plate. I used orange and yellow stripes.
- While the plate is drying, print and cut out the fish template. Trace each shape onto your colored paper and cut them out.
- Glue the tail fin behind the plate.
- Then attach the top and bottom fins. Flip it over and glue the side fin to the middle of the fish body.
- Add the googly eye and the heart-shaped mouth last
Share or save for later!
If you try this paper plate fish craft, I’d love it if you shared it on Pinterest! Seeing your versions always makes my day, and it helps more people find these fun, creative projects too. Just snap a pic and pin it to your favorite craft board, or tag me if you share it on Instagram so I can see what you made!
