Because of their shape and ability to sting, many preschoolers are interested in learning about jellyfish. Make discussions about this animal more fun by letting the class complete different jellyfish-themed activities.
Jellyfish crafts will keep preschoolers on their toes, making it easier for them to grasp new information about jellyfish. Use the activities below and let the class have fun while learning!
Great Jellyfish Crafts for Preschoolers
With this activity, preschoolers can make jellyfish based on their preferences — whether they want them to have big eyes, green-colored bodies, or sparkling heads!
To begin, provide a paper plate, different colored paints, and glitter to the class. Let them decorate their paper plates, and once done, guide them to trim the paper plate to form a jellyfish shape. Turn the plate over and instruct them to put PVA glue in the freshly cut edge.
Next, tell the class to cut stands of ribbons of various lengths and add them to the paper plate. Have them cut out a pair of black and white circles for the eyes and make a hook using a ribbon.
Supplies:
- Felt
- Glitter shaker pots
- Paper Plate
- PVA glue
- Ribbon
- Scissors
- Stapler
- Washable kid friendly paint
For other easy paper plate crafts you can give to preschoolers, check out artycraftykids.com.
Create a colorful jellyfish with the class and have them display their artwork in their bedrooms or the classroom. It’s a fun activity that will make children love jellyfish even more!
Prepare beforehand by making an outline shape of the top of a jellyfish using black construction paper. Grab your contact paper and tape it onto the jellyfish outline with the paper backing side up. Cut colorful tissue papers into small squares.
For the next steps, have the class cover the inside of the jellyfish outline by gluing the tissue paper. Once finished, tell them to stick colorful ribbons as tentacles and add large googly eyes.
Supplies:
- Black construction paper
- Colorful ribbon
- Contact paper
- Double-sided tape
- Large googly eyes
- Scissors
- Tissue paper
Visit happytoddlerplaytime.com to know which books you can combine with this craft!
This activity enables preschoolers to make their jellyfish using recyclable materials. It also tickles their imagination and creativity as the little ones can play with their jellyfishes after!
Instruct the children to cut strips of newspaper and use them to cover the yogurt. The yogurt should have several layers of Mod Podge (or watered-down glue) and newspapers.
As the newspaper is drying, ask the class to loop beads on the thread. Remind them to leave about an inch of the thread empty, as they’ll use it to tape to the yogurt cup.
Let them paint the yogurt cup with glow-in-the-dark paint and let it dry. Flip the cup right-side up and have the children glue some wiggly eyes.
Supplies:
- Empty, clean yogurt cup
- Glow-in-the-dark beads
- Glow-in-the-dark paint
- Mod Podge
- Newspaper
- Paintbrush
- Scissors
- Tape
- Threading/lacing cord
- Wiggly eyes
Check out how colorful these jellyfishes look by heading to artsymomma.com.
With your supervision, the class can finish this activity in 10 minutes or less. They can then spend the next hours playing with this craft alone or with their peers.
Begin by instructing the class to cut a paper plate in half. Draw a jellyfish head on the paper plate and let the children decorate the head. Provide paints, pens, glitters, and other embellishments.
To make the tentacles, let the children cut some string and straw. Show them how to thread the straws onto the string. Once done, attach the tentacles to the back of the head using sticky tape.
Supplies:
- Paint
- Paper plates
- Scissors
- Sharpies
- Straws
- String
Learn more about summer activities for preschoolers on taminglittlemonsters.com.
Use this activity to introduce lessons on ocean animals or keep the class busy on a lazy summer day. The colorful chains also help children learn more about colors.
Download and print the jellyfish template on A4 cardstock. Have the children color the jellyfish’s head and the layer below it and cut out the parts. Stick everything together using glue.
For the paper chains, print the last page of the template on A4 construction papers of different colors. Cut out the strips and show the class how to form a loop and insert another loop into the first loop. Let the children repeat the process until they’re happy with the length of the chain.
Have the children glue the chains to the jellyfish’s head, and they’re done! They can hang the jellyfish near windows, so it’ll move with the wind.
Supplies:
- A4 Construction papers of different colors
- Glue stick
- Jellyfish printable
- Scissors
- Watercolor or crayons or colored pencils
- White A4 cardstock
To download the template, go to craftsbyria.com.
Creating this colorful jellyfish art is a fun way of celebrating underwater creatures. Just make sure to prepare a damp cloth to clean the children’s hands after!
Brush a thin layer of paint on the palm of the children’s hands using a sponge brush. Have them press firmly with their fingers slightly apart on the scrapbook paper. Lift their hands carefully and allow the paper to dry. Turn the paper 180 degrees, so the fingers look like tentacles.
Next, instruct the class to cut small strips of green construction paper to make seaweeds. Let them glue the seaweeds to the bottom of the scrapbook paper.
Have the class draw some jellyfish tentacles with a matching colored pencil or pen and glue on googly eyes. Finish the activity by showing them how to add bubbles around the jellyfish.
Supplies:
- 1 -2 sheets of green construction paper
- 1 sheet of scrapbooking paper
- Craft glue
- Craft paint
- Googly eyes
- Sharpie pen or colored pencil
- Sponge brush
Find other animal-themed crafts on madetobeamomma.com.
By using simple materials, preschoolers can create their own jellyfish. They can make several of these and hang them around the classroom to make the space an aquatic wonderland!
Start by teaching the class how to cut strips of tissue paper. Encourage them to use different colors and cut strips in different lengths. Glue one end of the strips inside a cupcake liner.
For the final touch, let the class add some googly eyes to give their jellyfish more character and personality!
Supplies:
- Cupcake Liners
- Glue and duct tape
- Googly eyes
- Scissors
- String
- Tissue paper
Easypeasyandfun.com features more cupcake liner crafts that preschoolers can easily do, so check their site today!
This is an excellent summer activity preschoolers will surely love making! It also encourages them to be creative as they need to mix and match different colored beads.
Have the children paint the egg cups in their preferred colors. Then, teach them how to make beaded tentacles using a piece of yarn and 16 beads. Let them repeat the process until the jellyfish have three tentacles each.
Using a toothpick, show the children how to push the top end of the yarn through one of the button holes. Repeat with the other two tentacles and tie a knot with three pieces of yarn.
Poke a hole in the center of the egg cup and let the children loop it and tie the open ends together to form a hanger. Guide them to hot glue the button up into the egg cup, with the tentacles having down. Add googly eyes and let it completely dry before hanging.
Supplies:
- 2 cardboard egg cups
- 2 large 4-hole buttons
- Googly eyes
- Hot glue gun
- Paint
- Pony beads (17 per yarn string, 102 total)
- Toothpick
- White craft glue
- Yarn
Head to allfreekidscrafts.com to learn more about this craft and other fun activities for preschoolers!
The class will love learning about jellyfish and other ocean animals with this craft. They can treat their jellyfish as a pet and play with them after!
Start by letting the class cut tissue paper into small pieces. Then, instruct them to draw a wavy line at the bottom of the paper plate and cut along that line. Punch a hole to make several holes along this area.
Have them glue the tissue paper squares into the paper plate. Once the paper plate is completely filled, let the children cut yarn strands of the same length and thread them through the holes at the bottom of the paper. Glue some googly eyes, draw a mouth, and the project is complete!
Supplies:
- Black marker
- Glue
- Googly eyes
- Hole punch
- Paper plates
- Scissors
- Tissue paper
- Yarn
Browse through nontoygifts.com to see how adorable these jellyfish look!
Help the class complete this activity, and they’ll have colorful jellyfishes that swim!
Ask the class to paint their paper plates blue. While waiting for them to dry, help them make the jellyfish by using a piece of cardboard for the body and different colored yarns for the tentacles. Let them paint the jellyfish in their preferred color, glue some googly eyes, and attach the yarn to the body.
Next, cut a slit in the middle of the paper plate and glue a kraft stick behind the jellyfish. The stick will allow the children to control the jellyfish and make it “swim” around.
Supplies:
- Cardboard
- Craft knife (Adult use only)
- Glue
- Googly eyes
- Jumbo craft stick with sticky adhesive
- Paint
- Paintbrush
- Paper plate
- Scissors
- Yarn
Teach the class to make other ocean animals by following the crafts on iheartcraftythings.com.
Conclusion
Teaching preschoolers these crafts will help them develop a love for jellyfish and other ocean animals. It’ll also help them understand what jellyfish are and how they behave.
Make all of your classes fun and engaging by visiting us again, as we regularly feature activities on various themes!
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